suicide king

English

the suicide king

Etymology

So called because in common depictions, the king of hearts appears to be stabbing himself in the head with his sword.

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

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Noun

suicide king (plural suicide kings)

1. (card games, slang) A king of hearts in a deck of playing cards.

   When Henry played poker, he liked to declare suicide kings wild, as he felt it lent him an air of sophistication.

   • 2008 April 30, Connie Bailey, “Fancy Pants”, in Know When to Hold'em: A Dreamspinner Press Anthology, Frisco: Dreamspinner Press, →ISBN, page 115:

     Bayr laid the card down on top of the cowboy's. “Suicide king,” he said softly, touching the king of hearts' sword with his forefinger.

Synonyms

• king of hearts

See also

• one-eyed jack
• man with the ax
• wild card