court card

British  

noun

1. US equivalent: face card.  (in a pack of playing cards) a king, queen, or jack of any suit

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Etymology

Origin of court card

C17: altered from earlier coat-card, from the decorative coats worn by the figures depicted

Example Sentences

Each suit would have had 13 cards, including three all-male court cards: the King, the Lieutenant, and the Second Lieutenant.

From National Geographic

Just like in a regular deck of cards, each suit has face or court cards — usually called king, queen, page and knight.

From New York Times

The minor arcana is similar to a standard deck of playing cards, separated into four suits containing 10 numbered cards and four court cards.

From Washington Times

There was one other student but I quickly ascertained that he was only at the meeting to get his court card signed.

From Salon

Two court cards usually form a good "assisting" hand, but where the game is very close it is advisable to assist, even upon a lighter hand.

From Project Gutenberg