spadille
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of spadille
1720–30; < French < Spanish espadilla, equivalent to espad ( a ) broadsword, spade in cards (< Latin spatha; see spade 2) + -illa diminutive suffix
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.
I heard high-pitched voices, and "spadille," "basto," "matador"—all the queer words of quadrille, their favoured game.
From Hugh Wynne, Free Quaker by Mitchell, S. Weir (Silas Weir)
A National Assembly is spadille, but there is still a basta, a second trump which we wish to play out in East Prussia.
From Withered Leaves. Vol. I. (of III) A Novel by Gottschall, Rudolf von
"Look! spadille, the ace!" he cried; "I have your neckcloth."
From The Youth of Jefferson A Chronicle of College Scrapes at Williamsburg, in Virginia, A.D. 1764 by Anonymous
My dear friend," said his Excellency, "ever since a blackguard in Paris defeated me in a fair spadille combat—breast to breast, card to card, by pure genius—I have been a republican.
From The Youth of Jefferson A Chronicle of College Scrapes at Williamsburg, in Virginia, A.D. 1764 by Anonymous
In two hours Sir Asinus was sitting at spadille in the exceedingly undress costume of shirt, pantaloons, and silk stockings.
From The Youth of Jefferson A Chronicle of College Scrapes at Williamsburg, in Virginia, A.D. 1764 by Anonymous
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
