What is "panel game"

Panel \Pan"el\, n. [Orig., a little piece; OF. panel, pannel, F. panneau, dim. of pan skirt, lappet, part or piece of a wall, side. See 2d Pane.]

1. (Arch.) A sunken compartment with raised margins, molded or otherwise, as in ceilings, wainscotings, etc.

2. (Law)

   1. A piece of parchment or a schedule, containing the names of persons summoned as jurors by the sheriff; hence, more generally, the whole group of persons summoned on a particular day, from whom a jury is to be selected; also, the jury selected from that group.
      --Blackstone.

   2. (Scots Law) A prisoner arraigned for trial at the bar of a criminal court.
      --Burrill.

3. Hence: Any group of persons selected to judge a contest, conduct a discussion, serve as advisers, or participate in any group activity in which they will provide information or make judgments.

4. Formerly, a piece of cloth serving as a saddle; hence, a soft pad beneath a saddletree to prevent chafing.

5. (Joinery) A board having its edges inserted in the groove of a surrounding frame; as, the panel of a door.

6. (Masonry) One of the faces of a hewn stone.
   --Gwilt.

7. (Painting) A slab or plank of wood upon which, instead of canvas, a picture is painted.

8. (Mining)

   1. A heap of dressed ore.

   2. One of the districts divided by pillars of extra size, into which a mine is laid off in one system of extracting coal.

9. (Dressmaking) A plain strip or band, as of velvet or plush, placed at intervals lengthwise on the skirt of a dress, for ornament.

10. A portion of a framed structure between adjacent posts or struts, as in a bridge truss.

11. (A["e]ronautics) A segment of an a["e]roplane wing. In a biplane the outer panel extends from the wing tip to the next row of posts, and is trussed by oblique stay wires.

    Panel game, a method of stealing money in a panel house.

    Panel house, a house of prostitution in which the rooms have secret entrances to facilitate theft from customers by accomplices of the inmates.

    Panel saw, handsaw with fine teeth, -- used for cutting out panels, etc.

    Panel thief, one who robs in a panel house.

n. 1 A game show featuring a panel of celebrity. 2 (context obsolete English) A method of stealing money in a panel house.