baccarat

Alternative forms

• baccara

Etymology

First attested in the 19th century. Borrowed from French baccarat, baccara, likely named after the French town Baccarat (noted for glassmaking) in Grand Est, of ultimately unclear and debated origin (first attested in 1291. (uncertain)). If by some Vulgar Latin *Bacchara, the town is possibly named from Latin Bacchi ara ("altar of Bacchus"; the original pagan reference of the name was forgotten), name of an ancient Roman castellum, of which there remains a relic called the "Tower of Bacha" on the heights of Deneuvre, from whence Baccarat is an ancient suburb. Other hypotheses have also been suggested, including descent from Celtic.

Probably linked to Provençal baccara, although if the town etymology is correct, this may present some geographic difficulty.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbækəɹɑː/, /ˈbɑːkəɹɑː/, /bɑːkəˈɹɑː/
• (colloquial, proscribed) enPR: băk'ə-răt, IPA^(key): /ˈbækəɹæt/

Noun

baccarat (uncountable)

1. (card games) A card game resembling chemin de fer with many forms - usually entailing the player(s) betting against two or three hands dealt - also bearing some similarities to blackjack.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ba.ka.ʁa/
• Rhymes: -a

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

baccarat m (plural baccarats)

1. Alternative form of baccara

Further reading

• “baccarat”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.