canasta
(kəˈnæstə)
[Sp., lit. ‘basket’, ult. f. L. canistrum canister.]
A card game of Uruguayan origin, in which two packs are used with four jokers, combining features of rummy and pinochle; canasta is also the name of a meld of seven cards.
| 1948 Harper's Bazaar July 47 The Uruguayan rummy game, canasta,..is rapidly winning over even the most fervent Oklahoma devotees. Ibid., Here the Baroness counts up the canastas at the end of a hand. 1949 Bookseller 12 Nov. 1171 (Advt.), A new card game—Canasta—is said to be sweeping the world. 1958 ‘J. Welcome’ Run for Cover iv. 82, I resolved to go for my canastas as soon as possible. |