Euchre

[funnydeal]

Could anyone tell me what "euchre" means?

I learned how to play that card game, but I don't know what "euchre" means, I guess that word is just an exclamation but I am not sure.

Thanks in advance and please correct me.

 

[aledu]

Could anyone tell me what "euchre" means?

I learned how to play that card game, but I don't know what "euchre" means, I guess that word is just an exclamation but I am not sure.

Thanks in advance and please correct me.

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Pick up the cards, you cur.


Dear Word Detective: Where I grew up the most popular card game around was euchre, a fast, trick-based game where you had to bid for and take three or more tricks to make your point. "Euchre" is also used as a verb meaning to prevent your opponent(s) from making their bid. Searching for an origin for the word "euchre," however, has led me to the ever-popular blank wall. "Eucharist" comes from Greek roots meaning thankful, grateful, and showing favor, which is almost completely the opposite of the verb meaning of "euchre." The next closest word I can find is "eucaryote," which also comes from the Greek. Its root word is defined as "having nuts." Jokes aside, I can't believe that's a relative either. So can you help track this one down? -- Chansen, via the internet.

Ah yes, the ever-popular blank wall. I know it well. I've spent so much time there, in fact, that I've often been tempted to rename this column "How the Heck Should I Know?"

The origin of "euchre" (which has also been spelled "uker," "yuker" and "eucre" at various points since its appearance around 1848) is a bit of a puzzle. You're right about "Eucharist," which means both the institution and the elements of the Christian Communion ceremony, having nothing to do with the game of euchre, although it might be interesting if it did. The root of "Eucharist" is the Greek "eukharistia," meaning "gratitude." And a "eukaryote" (as it's usually spelled) is a cell with a complex nucleus, but probably not complex enough to want to play cards.

All of which leads us to the one even remotely plausible theory about "euchre" I've been able to root out, which is that "euchre" comes from the Spanish phrase "ser yuca," meaning "to be the best" or "to win." This origin would certainly make sense given the highly competitive nature of the game, and would also fit in with the slang use of "euchre" as a verb meaning "to win decisively."



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Como dijo el novato, ¡sepa la bola!, pero esto lo encontre en http://www.word-detective.com/012000.html

Saludos.
aledu

 

[funnydeal]

aledu

Thanks for your research. Although, I don't think that the root could be "yuca", by the way I had to look out for that word too.

Euchre is an addictive game.


¡Sepa la bola!

 

[aledu]

aledu

Thanks for your research. Although, I don't think that the root could be "yuca", by the way I had to look out for that word too.

Euchre is an addictive game.


¡Sepa la bola!

funnydeal:

I didn´t quite get the meaning of yuca. I just thought it was a plant. Did you find any other meaning for yuca? If you did, I would appreciate if you post it so that we can expand our knowledge.


Thanks.
aledu

 

[araceli]

Hola:
Un sinónimo de YUCA es MANDIOCA.
No encontré otro significado más que el de planta.
Chau

 

[funnydeal]

En el diccionario sólo encontré que es una planta, así que estuve preguntando y tengo dos versiones:

1.- Alguien que hace las cosas bien, alguien que manda, me dijeron que se usa enHonduras, espero que haya alguien en el foro de ese país que lo corroboré o lo niegue.

2.- Diminutivo de "yucateco(a) yucatecos(as)" Yucatán es un estado de la República Méxicana.

Creo que ellos se referían a la primera opción, aunque tengo mis severas dudas.