This week's theme
Words derived from card games

This week's words
euchre
vole
house of cards
spoof
trump card

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A.Word.A.Day

PRONUNCIATION:

(vohl)

MEANING:

noun:	1. Any of various rodents of the genus Microtus and related genera.
	2. The winning of all the tricks in some card games.
verb intr.:	3. To risk everything in the hope of great rewards. Typically used in the phrase "go the vole".
	4. To try every possibility.

ETYMOLOGY:

For 1: Short for volemouse, from Norwegian vollmus, from voll (field) + mus (mouse). Earliest documented use: 1805.
For 2-4: From French voler (to fly), from Latin volare (to fly), which also gave us volatile and volley. Earliest documented use: 1680.

USAGE:

"So, as I was determined to go the vole, I have taken care you shall dip as deep as I."
Sir Walter Scott; Tales of My Landlord; 1819.

See more usage examples of vole in Vocabulary.com's dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: