Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

pinochle

American  
[pee-nuhk-uhl, -nok-] / ˈpi nʌk əl, -nɒk- /
Also penuckle,

noun

  1. a popular card game played by two, three, or four persons, with a 48-card deck.

  2. a meld of the queen of spades and the jack of diamonds in this game.


pinochle British  
/ ˈpiːnʌkəl /

noun

  1. a card game for two to four players similar to bezique

  2. the combination of queen of spades and jack of diamonds in this 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

Etymology

Origin of pinochle

1860–65, < Swiss German Binokel, Binoggel < Swiss French binocle literally, pince-nez ( binocle 1 ), probably adopted as synonym of the less current French besicles spectacles, folk-etymological alteration of bezigue bezique

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But there are many things that bring her joy: a tight network of friends, some kept since her days at Howard, others made recently over fiercely competitive rounds of the card game pinochle.

From Washington Post

Whatever the task — from roasting peanuts for his grandfather’s pinochle buddies to building a tool shed from scratch — it had to be done right.

From Los Angeles Times

He spends much of his time watching any one of his six grandkids or playing pinochle and dominoes.

From Washington Post

Now, she said, “I would love to find someone who plays a good game of pinochle.”

From New York Times

One day last winter, after brunch and a brisk walk around my Williamsburg neighborhood, my girlfriend and I wound up in an empty dive bar, having a drink and playing pinochle.

From New York Times