from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Deal \Deal\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Dealt} (d[e^]lt); p. pr. & vb.
n. {Dealing}.] [OE. delen, AS. d[=ae]lan, fr. d[=ae]l share;
akin to OS. d[=e]lian, D. deelen, G. theilen, teilen, Icel.
deila, Sw. dela, Dan. dele, Goth. dailjan. See {Deal}, n.]
1. To divide; to separate in portions; hence, to give in
portions; to distribute; to bestow successively; --
sometimes with out.
[1913 Webster]
Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry? --Is.
lviii. 7.
[1913 Webster]
And Rome deals out her blessings and her gold.
--Tickell.
[1913 Webster]
The nightly mallet deals resounding blows. --Gay.
[1913 Webster]
Hissing through the skies, the feathery deaths were
dealt. --Dryden.
[1913 Webster]
2. Specifically: To distribute, as cards, to the players at
the commencement of a game; as, to deal the cards; to deal
one a jack.
[1913 Webster]