- loo
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loo1
/looh/, n., pl. loos, v., looed, looing.n.1. a card game in which forfeits are paid into a pool.2. the forfeit or sum paid into the pool.3. the fact of being looed.v.t.4. to subject to a forfeit at loo.[1665-75; short for lanterloo < D lanterlu < F lantur(e)lu, special use of meaningless refrain of an old song]loo2toilet.[1935-40; of uncert. orig.]loo3/looh/, v.i., v.t., n., pl. loos. Chiefly Northern U.S.low2.loo4love.
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formerly lanterloogambling card game often mentioned in English literature. The name derives from the French lanturlu, the refrain of a popular 17th-century song. Popularity of the game faded in the 20th century.The players may number from five to about nine, each playing for himself. A standard 52-card deck is used. In the simplest form of the game, three cards are dealt to each player, and the next card is exposed to establish a trump suit. The player to the left of the dealer leads, and one-third of the pool goes to the winner of each trick. The pool is formed by antes before each deal and may be increased by payments for loo (failure to win a trick) and fines for irregularities.David ParlettAdditional ReadingReliable sources for rules include Joli Quentin Kansil (ed.), Bicycle Official Rules of Card Games (2002); David Parlett, The A–Z of Card Games, 2nd ed. (2004; 1st ed. published as Oxford Dictionary of Card Games, 1992); and Barry Rigal, Card Games for Dummies, 2nd ed. (2005).* * *
Universalium. 2010.
