| E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898. |
| | | Deck. | | |
A pack of cards, or that part of the pack which is left after the hands have been dealt.
| |
| “But whilst he thought to steal the single ‘ten,’ |
| The ‘king’ was slyly fingered from the deck.” | |
| 1 |
| |
Shakespeare: 3 Henry VI., v. 1. |
|
|
To sweep the deck. To clear off all the stakes. (See above.) | 2 |
To deck is to decorate or adorn. (Anglo-Saxon, decan; Dutch, dekken, to cover.)
| |
| “I thought thy bride-bed to have decked, sweet maid, |
| And not have strewed thy grave.” | |
| 3 |
| |
Shakespeare: Hamlet, v. 1. |
|
|
Clear the decks—i.e. get out of the way; your room is better than your company; I am going to be busy. A sea term. Decks are cleared before action. | 4 |
| |
|
|
