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spadille

[spuh-dil]
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noun
  1. the highest trump in certain card games, as the queen of clubs in omber.
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Origin of spadille

1720–30; < French < Spanish espadilla, equivalent to espad(a) broadsword, spade in cards (< Latin spatha; see spade2) + -illa diminutive suffix
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for spadille

Historical Examples

  • "I think, ladies and gentlemen, that I am Spadille this evening," he proclaimed in a voice of ice.

    The Passionate Elopement

    Compton Mackenzie

  • The ace of spades, or Spadille, was always the first trump; the ace of clubs (Basto) always the third.

    The Journal to Stella

    Jonathan Swift

  • Spadille, spa-dil′, n. the ace of spades in the games of ombre and quadrille.

  • In two hours Sir Asinus was sitting at spadille in the exceedingly undress costume of shirt, pantaloons, and silk stockings.

British Dictionary definitions for spadille

spadille

noun
  1. cards (in ombre and quadrille) the ace of spades
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Word Origin

C18: from French, from Spanish espadilla, diminutive of espada sword; see spade ²
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