▪ I. ‖ passe, n.2
(pɑs)
[Fr., f. passer to pass: see quot. 1903.]
In roulette, the section of the cloth covering the numbers 19 to 36; a bet placed on this section.
| 1850, etc. [see noir 2 a]. 1902 Encycl. Brit. XXXII. 304/1 Pair indicates even numbers, impair odd numbers; manque includes the numbers from 1 to 18; passe, from 19 to 36. 1903 ‘L. Hoffmann’ Card & Table Games (ed. 3) 649 So called because in this event the ball ‘fails’ (Fr. manque) to fall into a higher number than 18. Passe is so called because the ball ‘passes’ that number. 1923, etc. [see manque]. 1937 G. Frankau More of Us vii. 76 By plying rake on impair, manque, passe, parity, or any number you might put your fish on. 1971 P. O'Neil-Dunne Roulette for Millions iv. 38 The roulette table is divided into six areas which, starting from the top nearest the wheel, are labelled: manque for low; passe for high; impair for odds; pair for evens. |
▪ II. passe
obs. f. pace n.2, pasch, pass, peise.