knock rummy

1 8.7

A rummy game where a player ends a round if unmatched cards total less than ten points

noun

Jargon

: knock rummy

She prefers knock rummy to standard rummy because of the added challenge.

Examples

Let's play knock rummy tonight!
In knock rummy, going out requires your deadwood to total less than ten points.
We played knock rummy all evening during our family vacation.
I love playing knock rummy with friends.
During game night, we decided to play knock rummy, where players can end the round if their unmatched cards total less than ten points.
She quickly learned the rules of knock rummy and enjoyed competing with her friends.
In knock rummy, it's important to keep track of your unmatched cards to avoid going over ten points.

Synonyms

gin

vsknock rummy

15 8.4

A card game like rummy where you end the play if your hand totals under ten points

ends only the round when unmatched cards total under ten points

gin rummy

vsknock rummy

5 3.4

A card game where players make sets and runs and end when leftover cards total under ten points

focuses mainly on ending the round when unmatched cards total under ten points

Surface Forms

knock rummy singular

knock rummies plural

Morphology

knock + rummy

The compound clearly links the verb 'knock' (a signalling action) with the game 'rummy', so a learner who knows both words can plausibly infer this is a rummy variant that involves a 'knock' to end a round. However, the precise mechanic (ending the round when unmatched cards total less than ten) is a game-specific rule that is not directly predictable from the literal meanings, so the relation is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Knock rummy gets its name from the action knock: a player taps the table to show they want to 'end the round' because their unmatched cards add up to less than ten points. So the name reminds players that this version of rummy lets you stop the hand by 'knocking' when your extra cards are low.