Also 8 chart blanch, charte blanche. [Fr. (formerly charte blanche): = blank paper.]
1. A blank paper given to any one on which to write his own conditions.
1707. Ld. Raby, in Hearne, Collect. (1886), II. 43. Who sent Chart Blanch to make a Peace.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 299, ¶ 2. I threw her a Charte Blanche, as our News Papers call it, desiring her to write upon it her own Terms.
1864. Kirk, Chas. Bold, II. III. ii. 154. Louis … returned a carte blanche, which was filled up with the government of Guienne and a long list of inferior posts and emoluments.
b. lit. Blank paper.
1790. Burke, Fr. Rev., 232. I cannot conceive how any man can … consider his country as nothing but carte blanche, upon which he may scribble whatever he pleases.
2. Hence fig. Full discretionary power granted.
1766. Chesterf., Lett., cccc. (1792), IV. 235. Mr. Pitt, who had carte blanche given him, named every one of them.
1809. Windham, Lett., in Speeches Parl. (1812), I. 114. Unless I can have carte blanche as to my military plans.
1861. Beresf. Hope, Eng. Cathedr. 19th C., 185. I may venture to assume carte blanche in arguing the impossibility of basilican revival.
1879. Lond. Soc., Christm. No. 47/1. Our good easy vicar gave me carte blanche to use this organ.
3. Piquet. A hand containing no picture-cards. (The French is avoir cartes blanches to have blank cards; the earlier Eng. was blank or blanche.)
[1651. Royal Game Picquet, 6. If he … find that he hath never a Coat Card in his hand, he saies … I have a Blanche.
1659. Shuffling, Cutting, & Deal., 7. I am blanck.
1676. Cotton, Compl. Gamester, vi. 88. (Picket) He that hath a Blank … his Blank shall hinder the other Picy … and Repicy.]
1820. Hoyle’s Games Impr., 224. Carte Blanche means a hand without a court card in the twelve dealt, which counts for ten, and takes place of everything else.
1850. Bohn’s Handbk. Games, 200.
1882. Laws of Piguet, Law xviii. Carte blanche … scores first, and consequently saves a pique or a repique.
