snooker
UK[ˈsnuːkə]US[ˈsnʊkər]
n
A cue sport played on a rectangular table covered with a green cloth, with pockets at the corners and in the middle of the long sides, using a cue ball, fifteen red balls, and six balls of other colors.
v
To subject (someone) to a snooker; to leave (an opponent) in a position where a direct shot at the required ball is impossible.
v
(informal) To trick, deceive, or trap.
Etymology
The word 'snooker' originated in the late 19th century as the name for the billiards game invented by British Army officers stationed in India. It is believed to be a slang reference to inexperienced cadets, or "snookers," at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. The term was applied to the game to describe the fate of a player who finds themselves in a difficult position, much like a novice cadet. Thus, the word's journey is not one of classical roots but of military slang being repurposed to define a specific sporting situation, which later expanded into general metaphorical use meaning to trick or thwart.
Analysis
The word 'snooker' is a simplex loanword. It does not contain separable morphemes in its modern English form.
Examples
He spent the afternoon playing snooker at the local hall.
The player was expertly snookered behind the brown ball, with no clear path to the red.
I realized too late that I'd been completely snookered by the fine print in the contract.