Cards. [proximate source uncertain; F. has flux, flus from 15th c., Sp. flux (prob. from F., as the native form would be fluxo, mod. flujo), Flem. (16th c.) fluys (from Fr.); Florio, 1611, gives It. flusso in the same sense (now obs.).
The F. and It. words appear to be merely special uses of the words in those langs. repr. L. fluxus flow, FLUX (for the sense in card-playing cf. run). The Eng. word prob. owes its form to association with FLUSH sb.2]
1. A hand consisting of cards all of one suit, or including a prescribed number all of one suit.
a. 1529. Skelton, Sp. Parrot, 424.
| He facithe owte at a fflusshe, with, shewe, take all! | |
| Of Pope Julius cardys he ys chefe cardynall. |
1599. Minsheu, Pleasant and Delightfull Dialogues in Spanish and English (1623), 38/2. The Queene of Diamonds with which I made the last flush.
a. 1618. J. Davies, Wittes Pilgrimage, Wks. (Grosart), 31/1. Your Prim’s far inferior to their Flush.
1785. in Archæologia, VIII. 132. If they [cards] are all of the same colour, he wins the flush.
1836–9. Dickens, Sk. Boz (1850), 187/1. ‘A flush!’ ejaculated Mrs. Bloss from the card-table; ‘that’s good for four.’
1891. Punch, CI. 26 Dec., 305/1. Now I ’ve seen you, I guess there ’s a straight flush against me, and I can just throw up.
† 2. A certain game at cards. Obs.–0
1598. Florio, Flussata, a play at cardes called Flush.
