trump card
/ˈtrʌmp kɑːrd/
noun
Origin
Latin
triumphus — a triumphal procession
Overview
Meaning Now
- A playing card of the suit chosen to rank above all others in a card game.
- A valuable resource, especially one kept in reserve to be used at an opportune moment to gain an advantage.
Literal older meaning
a card belonging to the 'triumph' suit
Language path
Latin → Old French → Middle English → English
Earliest form
triumph
Earliest period
16th century
Journey
The term is a corruption of the word 'triumph', which was used as the name of a card game in the 16th century where the 'triumph' card held superior status. Over time, the name was shortened to 'trump', and the game evolved into what is now known as Whist or Bridge.
Evolution
- Latin
triumphus
“procession of victory”
- Old French
triomphe
“triumph or victory”
- Middle English
triump
“a winning move or card”
- English
trump
“card with superior power”
Connections
Word parts
trump
root
superior suit/card
card
root
stiff piece of paper used for games
Related across languages
French
triomphe
triumph
German
Trumpf
trump card
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.