baccarat

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a card game played in casinos in which two or more punters gamble against the banker; the player wins who holds 2 or 3 cards that total closest to nine

Etymology

First attested in the 19th century. Borrowed from French baccarat, baccara, likely named after the French town Baccarat (noted for glassmaking) in Grand Est, of ultimately unclear and debated origin (first attested in 1291. (uncertain)). If by some Vulgar Latin *Bacchara, the town is possibly named from Latin Bacchi ara ("altar of Bacchus"; the original pagan reference of the name was forgotten), name of an ancient Roman castellum, of which there remains a relic called the "Tower of Bacha" on the heights of Deneuvre, from whence Baccarat is an ancient suburb. Other hypotheses have also been suggested, including descent from Celtic. Probably linked to Provençal baccara, although if the town etymology is correct, this may present some geographic difficulty.

In classic literature

Synonyms

chemin de fer

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