card sb. (1 always in fig. phrases; 2 cf. ‘That law . . . is the card to guide the world by’, Hooker)
1.
playing-card
John V. ii. 105
“the best cards for the
game,”
Tit. V. i. 100
“As sure a card as ever
won the set;—card of ten,”
card with ten pips, hence phr. “fac'd it with a card of
ten,” put on a bold front Shr. II. i. 399 (cf. the
use of ‘facing-card’ in the 17th
cent.=imposing allegation or argument); —“cooling card,”
app. term or some lost card-game, used
fig.=something that cools one's ardour 1H6 V. iii. 84;—“Pack'd cards
with,” made a fraudulent arrangement with
Ant. IV. xii. [xiv.] 19
2.
card on which the 32
points are marked in the mariner's compass
Mac. I. iii. 17
“All the quarters that
they know I' the shipman's card”
; fig. guide, directory
Ham. V. ii. 115
“the card or calendar of
gentry; speak by the card,”
to be exact to a point, express oneself with
nicety Ham. V. i. 148.
