spadille

I heard high-pitched voices, and "spadille," "basto," "matador" -- all the queer words of quadrille, their favoured game.

Hugh Wynne, Free Quaker 1871

In two hours Sir Asinus was sitting at spadille in the exceedingly undress costume of shirt, pantaloons, and silk stockings.

The Youth of Jefferson A Chronicle of College Scrapes at Williamsburg, in Virginia, A.D. 1764 Anonymous

Paris defeated me in a fair spadille combat -- breast to breast, card to card, by pure genius -- I have been a republican.

The Youth of Jefferson A Chronicle of College Scrapes at Williamsburg, in Virginia, A.D. 1764 Anonymous

I believed I looked very silly, for I am a miserable Bon Tonist — I cannot lye with a good grace — I did lie however, and so pursued spadille. —

The Offspring of Fancy Anonymous 1778

Toys and merry-makings in childhood — love and its absurdities in youth — spadille and basto in age, shall succeed each other as objects of pursuit — flowers and butterflies in spring — butterflies and thistle-down in summer — withered leaves in autumn and winter — all pursued, all caught, all flung aside. —

The Black Dwarf 2004

I spent so many years of my life very pleasantly, without knowing spadille from basto, that I can the less reconcile it to myself to throw away my time and money upon such unnecessary amusements; but what most mortifies me is, that I should put it in the power of chance to ruffle my temper; and that I should very often lament more pathetically the absence of a black ace than that of a friend; or give a welcome to the ill-looking duce of clubs, as hearty as that I meditate for my Charlotte.

The Offspring of Fancy Anonymous 1778

-- [Erased.] [530] [In the game of ombre the ace of spades, _spadille_, ranks as the best trump card, and basto, the ace of clubs, ranks as the third best trump card.

The Works of Lord Byron. Vol. 4 George Gordon Byron Byron 1806