E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Bluff (To),
in the game called Poker, is to stake on a bad hand. This is a dodge resorted to by players to lead an adversary to throw up his cards and forfeit his stake rather than risk them against the “bluffer.”
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“The game proceeded, George, although he affected no ignorance of the ordinary principles of poker, played like a novice—that is to say, he bluffed extravagantly on absurdly low hands.”—Truth: Queer Stories, Sept. 3rd, 1885
