Billiards played by Kings Commoners Presidents Ladies Gentleman Hustlers alike.

What Is Billiards and How Did It All Start? Billiards began as a lawn game similar to croquet played sometime during the 15th century in Northern Europe. It has since evolved into the present-day style of billiard/pool tables and rules. The game moved indoors to a wooden table with a simple border around the edges and green cloth on top to simulate grass. This is why "green" is considered the standard color. The term "billiard" is derived from the French language, either from the word "billart," one of the wooden sticks, or "bille," a ball. Most of our information about early billiards comes from accounts of playing by royalty and other nobles. It has been known as the "Noble Game of Billiards" since the early 1800's but there is evidence that people from all walks of life played the game since its inception. In 1600, the game of billiards was familiar enough to the public that Shakespeare mentioned it in his play "Antony and Cleopatra." Seventy-five years later, the first book of billiards rules remarked of England that there were "few Tones of note therein which hath not a publick Billiard-Table."