The green fabric seen on today's tables comes from the 1600s and 1500s when billiards was a lawn game played outdoors.
Both versions originated from Carom billiards, a French game with the familiar table except no pockets. The game originates from English billiards, a similar game with colored balls. Pool sometimes known as billiards is an American cue sport that uses a table with six pockets and numbered balls.
