chemin de fer

noun

che·​min de fer shə-ˌman-də-ˈfer How to pronounce chemin de fer (audio)
plural chemins de fer shə-ˌman-də-ˈfer How to pronounce chemin de fer (audio)
: a card game in which two hands are dealt, any number of players may bet against the dealer, and the winning hand is the one that comes closer to but does not exceed a count of nine on two or three cards

Examples of chemin de fer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
On the light-colored front dial, a chemin de fer minute track frames a central rectangle decorated with a sunray guilloché pattern; applied Arabic numerals line the periphery. Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 29 Apr. 2021

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, railroad

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chemin de fer was in 1891

Dictionary Entries Near chemin de fer

Cite this Entry

“Chemin de fer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chemin%20de%20fer. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on chemin de fer

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!