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all fours definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: card games in which points are won for taking the high or low or jack or game [syn: all fours, high-low-jack]

Merriam Webster's

noun plural Date: 15th century 1. a. all four legs of a quadruped b. the two legs and two arms of a person when used to support the body <down on all fours> 2. singular in construction any of various card games in which points are scored for the high trump, low trump, jack of trumps, and game

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Seven-up Sev"en-up`, n. The game of cards called also all fours, and old sledge. [U. S.]

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Sledge Sledge, n. [Perhaps from sleds, pl. of sled, confused with sledge a hammer. See Sled, n.] 1. A strong vehicle with low runners or low wheels; or one without wheels or runners, made of plank slightly turned up at one end, used for transporting loads upon the snow, ice, or bare ground; a sled. 2. A hurdle on which, formerly, traitors were drawn to the place of execution. [Eng.] --Sir W. Scott. 3. A sleigh. [Eng.] 4. A game at cards; -- called also old sledge, and all fours.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Old Old, a. [Compar. Older; superl. Oldest.] [OE. old, ald, AS. ald, eald; akin to D. oud, OS. ald, OFries. ald, old, G. alt, Goth. alpeis, and also to Goth. alan to grow up, Icel. ala to bear, produce, bring up, L. alere to nourish. Cf. Adult, Alderman, Aliment, Auld, Elder.] 1. Not young; advanced far in years or life; having lived till toward the end of the ordinary term of living; as, an old man; an old age; an old horse; an old tree. Let not old age disgrace my high desire. --Sir P. Sidney. The melancholy news that we grow old. --Young. 2. Not new or fresh; not recently made or produced; having existed for a long time; as, old wine; an old friendship. ``An old acquaintance.'' --Camden. 3. Formerly existing; ancient; not modern; preceding; original; as, an old law; an old custom; an old promise. ``The old schools of Greece.'' --Milton. ``The character of the old Ligurians.'' --Addison. 4. Continued in life; advanced in the course of existence; having (a certain) length of existence; -- designating the age of a person or thing; as, an infant a few hours old; a cathedral centuries old. And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old art thou? --Cen. xlvii. 8. Note: In this use old regularly follows the noun that designates the age; as, she was eight years old. 5. Long practiced; hence, skilled; experienced; cunning; as, an old offender; old in vice. Vane, young in years, but in sage counsel old. --Milton. 6. Long cultivated; as, an old farm; old land, as opposed to new land, that is, to land lately cleared. 7. Worn out; weakened or exhausted by use; past usefulness; as, old shoes; old clothes. 8. More than enough; abundant. [Obs.] If a man were porter of hell gate, he should have old turning the key. --Shak. 9. Aged; antiquated; hence, wanting in the mental vigor or other qualities belonging to youth; -- used disparagingly as a term of reproach. 10. Old-fashioned; wonted; customary; as of old; as, the good old times; hence, colloquially, gay; jolly. 11. Used colloquially as a term of cordiality and familiarity. ``Go thy ways, old lad.'' --Shak. Old age, advanced years; the latter period of life. Old bachelor. See Bachelor, 1. Old Catholics. See under Catholic. Old English. See under English. n., 2. Old Nick, Old Scratch, the devil. Old lady (Zo["o]l.), a large European noctuid moth (Mormo maura). Old maid. (a) A woman, somewhat advanced in years, who has never been married; a spinster. (b) (Bot.) A West Indian name for the pink-flowered periwinkle (Vinca rosea). (c) A simple game of cards, played by matching them. The person with whom the odd card is left is the old maid. Old man's beard. (Bot.) (a) The traveler's joy (Clematis Vitalba). So named from the abundant long feathery awns of its fruit. (b) The Tillandsia usneoides. See Tillandsia. Old man's head (Bot.), a columnar cactus (Pilocereus senilis), native of Mexico, covered towards the top with long white hairs. Old red sandstone (Geol.), a series of red sandstone rocks situated below the rocks of the Carboniferous age and comprising various strata of siliceous sandstones and conglomerates. See Sandstone, and the Chart of Geology. Old school, a school or party belonging to a former time, or preserving the character, manner, or opinions of a former time; as, a gentleman of the old school; -- used also adjectively; as, Old-School Presbyterians. Old sledge, an old and well-known game of cards, called also all fours, and high, low, Jack, and the game. Old squaw (Zo["o]l.), a duck (Clangula hyemalis) inhabiting the northern parts of both hemispheres. The adult male is varied with black and white and is remarkable for the length of its tail. Called also longtailed duck, south southerly, callow, hareld, and old wife. Old style. (Chron.) See the Note under Style. Old Testament. See under Testament. Old wife. [In the senses b and c written also oldwife.] (a) A prating old woman; a gossip. Refuse profane and old wives' fables. --1 Tim. iv. 7. (b) (Zo["o]l.) The local name of various fishes, as the European black sea bream (Cantharus lineatus), the American alewife, etc. (c) (Zo["o]l.) A duck; the old squaw. Old World, the Eastern Hemisphere. Syn: Aged; ancient; pristine; primitive; antique; antiquated; old-fashioned; obsolete. See Ancient.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

All fours All` fours" [formerly, All` four".] All four legs of a quadruped; or the two legs and two arms of a person. To be, go, or run, on all fours (Fig.), to be on the same footing; to correspond (with) exactly; to be alike in all the circumstances to be considered. ``This example is on all fours with the other.'' ``No simile can go on all fours.'' --Macaulay.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Four Four, n. 1. The sum of four units; four units or objects. 2. A symbol representing four units, as 4 or iv. 3. Four things of the same kind, esp. four horses; as, a chariot and four. All fours. See All fours, in the Vocabulary.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

High High, n. 1. An elevated place; a superior region; a height; the sky; heaven. 2. People of rank or high station; as, high and low. 3. (Card Playing) The highest card dealt or drawn. High, low, jack, and the game, a game at cards; -- also called all fours, old sledge, and seven up. In high and low, utterly; completely; in every respect. [Obs.] --Chaucer. On high, aloft; above. The dayspring from on high hath visited us. --Luke i. 78. The Most High, the Supreme Being; God.