history of the four kings, the n.
a pack of cards; thus study the history of the four kings, to play cards.
![]() | Rabelais I xxii: After supper were brought in upon the place the fair wooden gospels and the books of the four kings, that is to say, many pairs of tables and cards. | (trans.)|
![]() | The Minor 32: Come, shall we have a dip in the history of the four kings this morning? | |
, , | ![]() | Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: history of the four kings, or child’s best guide to the gallows a pack of cards; he studies the history of the four kings assiduously, he plays much at cards. |
![]() | Lex. Balatronicum. | |
![]() | Grose’s Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue. | |
![]() | Crim.-Con. Gaz. 20 Oct. 66/2: The History of the four Kings substituted for the vespers of the Gospel. | |
![]() | Vocabulum 42: history of the four kings A pack of cards, ‘The bloke’s skin is lathy, he studies the history of the four kings closer than the autum-bawler’s patter,’ the man’s purse is thick; he studies a pack of cards more than the parsons’ sermons. | |
, , | ![]() | Sl. Dict. |
![]() | Sl. and Its Analogues. |