court card
Definition
Noun: 1. A playing card bearing a traditional stylized picture of a person, specifically a king, queen, or jack: A "court card" is one of the twelve cards in a standard 52-card deck that represents a royal or court figure, as opposed to the numbered "pip" cards. The three ranks are King, Queen, and Jack (also historically called Knave).
Usage and Examples
- Noun:
- In many card games, the court cards have a higher point value than the numbered cards.
- She drew a court card, the Queen of Hearts, from the top of the deck.
- The probability of being dealt a court card in your initial hand is relatively high.
Advanced Usage
- "Face card": This is a common synonym for "court card" in modern American English. The terms are often used interchangeably.
- In Blackjack, all face cards (or court cards) are worth ten points.
- Historical Context: The figures on court cards often represent specific historical or mythological persons (e.g., Charlemagne as the King of Hearts). The designs, known as "court portraits," vary between different regional deck patterns like the French, German, or Spanish suits.
Variants and Related Words
- Face card (n): A direct synonym for court card.
- King (n): The highest-ranking court card in a suit.
- Queen (n): The second-highest ranking court card in a suit.
- Jack (n): The lowest-ranking court card in a suit (formerly called the Knave).
- Pip card (n): A numbered card (Ace through Ten), which is not a court card.
Synonyms
- Face card: The most common modern synonym.
- Picture card: Another less common synonym, emphasizing the illustrated figure.
Related Phrases and Idioms
- "To court disaster/danger": This phrase uses a different meaning of "court" (to invite or provoke) and is not directly related to "court card."
- While there are few idioms using "court card" specifically, the individual cards feature in many expressions (e.g., "play your cards right," which can involve any card, including court cards).
Noun
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one of the twelve cards in a deck bearing a picture of a face
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