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Glite Dictionary
dummy whist

dummy whist

9.8
A card game for three players where one hand lies face up
  • noun
  • /ˈdʌmi wɪst/
  • Archaic
translation icon : whist de tres
  • We decided to play dummy whist since only three of us were available for cards.

Examples

  • In dummy whist, the dealer's partner's hand lies face up for everyone to see.

  • She explained the rules of dummy whist before we started our game.

  • Have you ever played dummy whist?

  • I learned to play dummy whist last week.

  • In dummy whist, the dealer's partner's hand lies face up for everyone to see.

  • We decided to play dummy whist since only three of us were available for cards.

  • She explained the rules of dummy whist before we started our game.

Surface Forms

dummy whist singular
dummy whists plural

Morphology

dummy + whist

The noun phrase is compositionally built from 'dummy' + 'whist' and denotes a version of the card game whist that involves a dummy (an inactive/placeholder hand). A B1 learner who knows both constituent words can reasonably infer this game-related meaning because naming variants by adding a describing noun (e.g., 'dummy') is a transparent and common pattern.

Etymology

Dummy whist is named for a fourth, face-up dummy hand placed on the table while the other three players play. Because this quiet 'dummy' hand does not play, the name points to that face-up hand and helps you remember this version of whist.