from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Trump \Trump\, n. [A corruption of triumph, F. triomphe. See
{Triumph}, and cf. {Trump} a trumpet.]
1. A winning card; one of a particular suit (usually
determined by chance for each deal) any card of which
takes any card of the other suits.
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2. An old game with cards, nearly the same as whist; --
called also {ruff}. --Decker.
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3. A good fellow; an excellent person. [Slang]
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Alfred is a trump, I think you say. --Thackeray.
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{To put to one's trumps}, or {To put on one's trumps}, to
force to the last expedient, or to the utmost exertion.
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But when kings come so low as to fawn upon
philosophy, which before they neither valued nor
understood, it is a sign that fails not, they are
then put to their last trump. --Milton.
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Put the housekeeper to her trumps to accommodate
them. --W. Irving.
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