subs. (colloquial).—1. A good fellow, a friend in need, ‘one (GROSE) who displays courage on every suit’: the highest measure of praise.
1774. BRIDGES, A Burlesque Translation of Homer, 26.
| But I, in spite of all his frumps, | |
| Shall make him know I’m king of TRUMPS. |
1837. R. H. BARHAM, The Ingoldsby Legends, ‘The Execution.’
| What must I fork out to-night, my TRUMP, | |
| For the whole first-floor of the Magpie and Stump? |
1843. DICKENS, Martin Chuzzlewit, xxviii. I wish I may die if you are not a TRUMP, Pip.
d. 1849. POE, The Literary Life of Thingum Bob, Esq., in Works, IV. 211. Thingum, my boy, you’re a TRUMP.
1857. T. HUGHES, Tom Brown’s School-days, i. 6. Tom … took his three tosses without a kick or a cry, and was called a young TRUMP for his pains.
1873. W. CARLTON, Farm Ballads, 86.
| The Editor sat in his sanctum, and brought down his fist with a thump: | |
| ‘God bless that old farmer,’ he muttered, ‘he’s a regular Editor’s TRUMP.’ |
2. (provincial).—A FART (q.v.): also as verb.
1774. BRIDGES, A Burlesque Translation of Homer, 456.
| To which her bum plaid thorough-bass, | |
| And made such thund’ring as she TRUMP’D, | |
| Both AJAX and ACHILLES jump’d. |
3. (Scots’).—A Jew’s harp. Whence TONGUE OF THE TRUMP = a chief, an essential: properly the steel spring or reed by which the sound is produced.
1867. MACLEOD, Reminiscences of a Highland Parish, 145. He has two large ‘Lochaber TRUMPS,’ for Lochaber trumps were to the Highlands what Cremona violins have been to musical Europe. He secures the end of each with his teeth, and, grasping them with his hands so that the tiny instruments are invisible, he applies the little finger of each hand to their vibrating steel tongues.
PHRASES.—TO BE PUT TO ONE’S TRUMPS = to be in difficulties (GROSE), driven to the last shift, or full exertion of one’s strength; TO TURN UP TRUMPS = to fall out fortunately: e.g., ‘something may TURN UP TRUMPS’ = something lucky may happen (GROSE): ‘all his cards are TRUMPS’ = he is exceedingly fortunate.
1593. PEELE, Edward the First, iv. Ay, there’s a card which PUTS us TO OUR TRUMP.
1609. HOLLAND, Ammianus Marcellinus, 404. Vpon this strange accident, and for feare of some greater mischiefe to ensue, he was PUT TO HIS TRUMPES.
1655. T. BRIAN, The Pisse-Prophet, iii. Now I am like to have a hard taske of it, and to be so PUT TO MY TRUMPS, that (if I play not my cards sure) I shall lose the set.
1694. CONGREVE, The Double Dealer, ii. 3. Though marriage makes man and wife one flesh, it leaves ’em still two fools…. ’Tis an odd game … [but] since we’ve shuffled and cut, let’s even TURN UP TRUMP now.
