pinochle

[ pee-nuhk-uhl, -nok- ]

noun

1. a popular card game played by two, three, or four persons, with a 48-card deck.
2. a meld of the queen of spades and the jack of diamonds in this game.

pinochle

/ ˈpiːnʌkəl /

noun

1. a card game for two to four players similar to bezique
2. the combination of queen of spades and jack of diamonds in this game

Word History and Origins

Origin of pinochle¹

1860–65, Americanism; < Swiss German Binokel, Binoggel < Swiss French binocle literally, pince-nez ( binocle ¹ ), probably adopted as synonym of the less current French besicles spectacles, folk-etymological alteration of bezigue bezique

Word History and Origins

Origin of pinochle¹

C19: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

He spends much of his time watching any one of his six grandkids or playing pinochle and dominoes.

From Washington Post

We used to play pinochle all night and then I would drive him back to the hotel.

From The Daily Beast

It's a diversion, much like pinochle or gin rummy were in the days when there were only three TV channels.

From The Daily Beast

Euchre doesn't seem the same without a barful of people, and pinochle is not the game that Stein is good at.

From Project Gutenberg

Fred and Edith were getting ready for a concert, and the two semi-invalids were playing pinochle in Fred's den.

From Project Gutenberg

Auction bridge is played with cards, just like pinochle, with the exception of the beer.

From Project Gutenberg

And I am glad to point out also that the pinochle game is not necessarily broken up.

From Project Gutenberg

After that, he divided his time between two saloons, where he played dominoes and pinochle, and his own house.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• poker
• roulette