ˈcourt-card
[An alteration of the earlier name coat-card, q.v. (readily suggested by the personages represented on these cards): see also card n.2 1.]
1. A playing card bearing the figure of a king, queen, or knave; a picture-card.
| 1641 Milton Reform. Wks. 1738 I. 18 To blow them down like a past-board House built of Court-Cards. 1650 Sir E. Nicholas in N. Papers (Camden) 192 If a Presbiterian or Scotch court card were trumpe. 1741 Richardson Pamela (1824) I. 187 When all the court-cards get together, and are acted by one mind, the game is usually turned accordingly. 1816 Singer Hist. Cards 49, 55. 1851 Dickens Child's Hist. Eng. xv, Whom he took with him wherever he went, like a poor old limp court-card. |
2. fig. Obs. slang and dial. [Cf. card n.2 2 c.]
| a 1700 B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, Court-card, a gay fluttering Fellow. 1725 in New Cant. Dict. 1877 E. Peacock N.W. Linc. Gloss., Court-card, ‘He's gotten to be a court-card noo’ is said of some one who has risen very much in social position. |