Definition of "loan shark" []

• Informal One who lends money at exorbitant interest rates, especially one financed and supported by an organized crime network. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Arnie St. Thomas, Marvel said, was a loan shark - and he used the city's money in his operation."
• "Mickey C. putting out his entire smear arsenal because the City high brass upped his loan shark and bookmaking kickbacks 10 percent."