catflap.org Online Dictionary Query

  Seven-up \Sev"en-up`\, n.
     The game of cards called also all fours, and old sledge.
     [U. S.]

  Sledge \Sledge\, n. [Perhaps from sleds, pl. of sled, confused
     with sledge a hammer. See Sled, n.]
     1. A strong vehicle with low runners or low wheels; or one
        without wheels or runners, made of plank slightly turned
        up at one end, used for transporting loads upon the snow,
        ice, or bare ground; a sled.
  
     2. A hurdle on which, formerly, traitors were drawn to the
        place of execution. [Eng.] --Sir W. Scott.
  
     3. A sleigh. [Eng.]
  
     4. A game at cards; -- called also old sledge, and all
        fours.

  Old \Old\, a. [Compar. Older; superl. Oldest.] [OE. old,
     ald, AS. ald, eald; akin to D. oud, OS. ald, OFries. ald,
     old, G. alt, Goth. alpeis, and also to Goth. alan to grow up,
     Icel. ala to bear, produce, bring up, L. alere to nourish.
     Cf. Adult, Alderman, Aliment, Auld, Elder.]
     1. Not young; advanced far in years or life; having lived
        till toward the end of the ordinary term of living; as, an
        old man; an old age; an old horse; an old tree.
  
              Let not old age disgrace my high desire. --Sir P.
                                                    Sidney.
  
              The melancholy news that we grow old. --Young.
  
     2. Not new or fresh; not recently made or produced; having
        existed for a long time; as, old wine; an old friendship.
        ``An old acquaintance.'' --Camden.
  
     3. Formerly existing; ancient; not modern; preceding;
        original; as, an old law; an old custom; an old promise.
        ``The old schools of Greece.'' --Milton. ``The character
        of the old Ligurians.'' --Addison.
  
     4. Continued in life; advanced in the course of existence;
        having (a certain) length of existence; -- designating the
        age of a person or thing; as, an infant a few hours old; a
        cathedral centuries old.
  
              And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old art thou?
                                                    --Cen. xlvii.
                                                    8.
  
     Note: In this use old regularly follows the noun that
           designates the age; as, she was eight years old.
  
     5. Long practiced; hence, skilled; experienced; cunning; as,
        an old offender; old in vice.
  
              Vane, young in years, but in sage counsel old.
                                                    --Milton.
  
     6. Long cultivated; as, an old farm; old land, as opposed to
        new land, that is, to land lately cleared.
  
     7. Worn out; weakened or exhausted by use; past usefulness;
        as, old shoes; old clothes.
  
     8. More than enough; abundant. [Obs.]
  
              If a man were porter of hell gate, he should have
              old turning the key.                  --Shak.
  
     9. Aged; antiquated; hence, wanting in the mental vigor or
        other qualities belonging to youth; -- used disparagingly
        as a term of reproach.
  
     10. Old-fashioned; wonted; customary; as of old; as, the good
         old times; hence, colloquially, gay; jolly.
  
     11. Used colloquially as a term of cordiality and
         familiarity. ``Go thy ways, old lad.'' --Shak.
  
     Old age, advanced years; the latter period of life.
  
     Old bachelor. See Bachelor, 1.
  
     Old Catholics. See under Catholic.
  
     Old English. See under English. n., 2.
  
     Old Nick, Old Scratch, the devil.
  
     Old lady (Zo["o]l.), a large European noctuid moth ({Mormo
        maura).
  
     Old maid.
         (a) A woman, somewhat advanced in years, who has never
             been married; a spinster.
         (b) (Bot.) A West Indian name for the pink-flowered
             periwinkle ({Vinca rosea).
         (c) A simple game of cards, played by matching them. The
             person with whom the odd card is left is the old
             maid.
  
     Old man's beard. (Bot.)
         (a) The traveler's joy ({Clematis Vitalba). So named
             from the abundant long feathery awns of its fruit.
         (b) The Tillandsia usneoides. See Tillandsia.
  
     Old man's head (Bot.), a columnar cactus ({Pilocereus
        senilis), native of Mexico, covered towards the top with
        long white hairs.
  
     Old red sandstone (Geol.), a series of red sandstone rocks
        situated below the rocks of the Carboniferous age and
        comprising various strata of siliceous sandstones and
        conglomerates. See Sandstone, and the Chart of
        Geology.
  
     Old school, a school or party belonging to a former time,
        or preserving the character, manner, or opinions of a
        former time; as, a gentleman of the old school; -- used
        also adjectively; as, Old-School Presbyterians.
  
     Old sledge, an old and well-known game of cards, called
        also all fours, and high, low, Jack, and the game.
  
     Old+squaw+(Zo["o]l.),+a+duck+({Clangula+hyemalis" rel="nofollow">Old squaw (Zo["o]l.), a duck ({Clangula hyemalis)
        inhabiting the northern parts of both hemispheres. The
        adult male is varied with black and white and is
        remarkable for the length of its tail. Called also
        longtailed duck, south southerly, callow, hareld,
        and old wife.
  
     Old style. (Chron.) See the Note under Style.
  
     Old Testament. See under Testament.
  
     Old wife. [In the senses
         b and
         c written also oldwife.]
         (a) A prating old woman; a gossip.
  
                   Refuse profane and old wives' fables. --1 Tim.
                                                    iv. 7.
         (b) (Zo["o]l.) The local name of various fishes, as the
             European black sea bream ({Cantharus lineatus), the
             American alewife, etc.
         (c) (Zo["o]l.) A duck; the old squaw.
  
     Old World, the Eastern Hemisphere.
  
     Syn: Aged; ancient; pristine; primitive; antique; antiquated;
          old-fashioned; obsolete. See Ancient.

  All fours \All` fours"\ [formerly, All` four".]
     All four legs of a quadruped; or the two legs and two arms of
     a person.
  
     To be, go, or run, on all fours (Fig.), to be on the
        same footing; to correspond (with) exactly; to be alike in
        all the circumstances to be considered. ``This example is
        on all fours with the other.'' ``No simile can go on all
        fours.'' --Macaulay.

  Four \Four\, n.
     1. The sum of four units; four units or objects.
  
     2. A symbol representing four units, as 4 or iv.
  
     3. Four things of the same kind, esp. four horses; as, a
        chariot and four.
  
     All fours. See All fours, in the Vocabulary.

  High \High\, n.
     1. An elevated place; a superior region; a height; the sky;
        heaven.
  
     2. People of rank or high station; as, high and low.
  
     3. (Card Playing) The highest card dealt or drawn.
  
     High, low, jack, and the game, a game at cards; -- also
        called all fours, old sledge, and seven up.
  
     In high and low, utterly; completely; in every respect.
        [Obs.] --Chaucer.
  
     On high, aloft; above.
  
              The dayspring from on high hath visited us. --Luke
                                                    i. 78.
  
     The Most High, the Supreme Being; God.