‖ primero
(priˈmero)
Also 6 -row, priemeero, 7 primera.
[Altered from Sp. primera (= It. primiera), fem. of primero first:—L. prīmāri-us: see primer a.]
A gambling card-game, very fashionable from about 1530 to about 1640, in which four cards were dealt to each player, each card having thrice its ordinary value.
(See a long description in Sir J. Harington's Epigram, ‘The Story of Marcus's Life at Primero’.)
| [1526 (Italian title) Capitolo del Gioco della Primiera col commento di Messer Pietropaulo da San Chirico.] |
| 1533 Elyot Knowledge Pref. A vj b, It is soone lerned, in good faythe sooner thanne Primero or Gleeke. 1545 Acts Privy Council (1890) I. 289 A fraye..whiche grewe apon certaine wourdes..for a questyon of playeng at Primero at Domyngo's howse. c 1550 Dice-Play (Percy Soc.) 12 Some kept the goodman company at the hazard, some matched themselves at a new game called primero. 1589 Pappe w. Hatchet (1844) 27 If you had the foddring of the sheep, you would make the Church like Primero, foure religions in it, and neere one like another. 1589 Hay any Work A iij b, Our brother Westchester had as liue playe twentie nobles in a night, at Priemeero on the cards. 1648 Gage West Ind. 26 They challenged us..to a Primera. 1658 Phillips, Primero, and Primavista, two games at Cards formerly much in use. 1762 Sterne Tr. Shandy V. xvi, How the holy man managed the affair, unless he spent the greatest part of his time in combing his whiskers, or playing at primero. 1816 Singer Hist. Cards 27, 248. 1887 All Year Round 5 Feb. 66 Primero..was probably introduced to the English Court in the suite of Catherine of Arragon. |
| fig. 1641 Milton Animadv. Postscr. 73 At that primero of piety, the pope and cardinals are the better gamesters, and will cog a die into heaven before you. |