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chemin de fer

[shuh-man duh fair; French shuh-manduh fer]
noun Cards.
  1. a variation of baccarat.
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Origin of chemin de fer

1890–95; < French: literally, railroad; so called from the speed of the game
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for chemin de fer

Historical Examples

  • Anything over two hours on the chemin-de-fer is considered a journey by these good French people!

    The Real Latin Quarter

    F. Berkeley Smith

British Dictionary definitions for chemin de fer

chemin de fer

noun
  1. a gambling game, a variation of baccarat
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Word Origin

French: railway, referring to the fast tempo of the game
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012