Definitions
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun poker A pair of
aces and a pair ofeights , in a player's hand. - noun poker (
obsolete ) Other various hands, among them afull house of three jacks and two tens. - noun poker An
ace and aneight as a starting hand inTexas hold 'em
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
The aces and eights sense is from a legend that Wild Bill Hickok was holding such cards at the time he was killed in 1876.
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johnmperry commented on the word dead man's hand
The dead man's hand is a two-pair poker hand, namely "aces and eights." The hand gets its name from the legend of it having been the five-card-draw hand held by Wild Bill Hickok at the time of his murder (August 2, 1876). It is accepted that the hand included the aces and eights of both of the black suits and either the jack or queen of diamonds. The term, before the murder of Hickok, referred to a variety of hands.
June 20, 2008
yarb commented on the word dead man's hand
Pushing up the ante, I know you've got to see me -
read 'em and weep: the dead man's hand again...
- Motorhead, Ace of Spades
June 20, 2008
chained_bear commented on the word dead man's hand
Yarb, didn't they sing that song on "The Young Ones" once?
June 20, 2008