How Do You Spell YARBOROUGH?

Pronunciation: [jˈɑːbʌɹə] (IPA)

"Yarborough" is spelled with three syllables, as follows: /yahr-buh-ruh/. The first syllable is pronounced with the "ah" vowel sound (as in "father"), while the second syllable features a schwa sound (as in "ago"). The final syllable has the "uh" sound (as in "cup"). This unusual word refers to a hand of cards in certain card games (typically bridge) where the hand contains no card valued higher than a nine. Despite its infrequency of use, "yarborough" is still recognized as a legitimate word in many English dictionaries.

YARBOROUGH Meaning and Definition

  1. A yarborough is a term often used in the realm of card games, particularly in the game of bridge. The term refers to a specific hand in which a player is dealt thirteen cards that do not contain any card with a value higher than a nine. Specifically, a yarborough hand lacks any cards with values of ten, eleven (face cards such as kings, queens, and jacks), or twelve (aces). Hence, this hand is often referred to as a "yarborough," as it is believed to have derived from the name of Lord Yarborough, a British nobleman who reportedly made a wager against the odds of being dealt such a hand.

    Notably, a yarborough hand is considered extremely rare and has often been associated with poor luck or unfavorable circumstances in bridge. The term is often used humorously or ironically, especially when referring to the scarcity of high-value cards in a hand. Players holding a yarborough hand are generally seen as being at a significant disadvantage during the game, as their ability to win tricks or play a strong hand is severely limited by the absence of high-ranking cards. Thus, the term "yarborough" has become a popular expression in card-playing communities, symbolizing the key absence of valuable assets or advantageous circumstances.

Common Misspellings for YARBOROUGH

  • tarborough
  • garborough
  • harborough
  • uarborough
  • 7arborough
  • 6arborough
  • yzrborough
  • ysrborough
  • ywrborough
  • yqrborough
  • yaeborough
  • yadborough
  • yafborough
  • yatborough
  • ya5borough
  • ya4borough
  • yarvorough
  • yarnorough
  • yarhorough
  • yargorough

Etymology of YARBOROUGH

The word "yarborough" refers to a hand in the card game of bridge or whist in which no card is higher than a nine. The etymology of "yarborough" dates back to the 19th century and has its origins in British aristocracy. It is believed to have been named after Charles Anderson Worsley Pelham, 2nd Baron Yarborough (1809–1862), who was an avid bridge player. Lord Yarborough is said to have bet that a hand with no card higher than a nine would never occur. However, the unlikely hand eventually appeared, and it became known as a "yarborough" as a nod to Lord Yarborough's famous wager.

Similar spelling word for YARBOROUGH

Plural form of YARBOROUGH is YARBOROUGHS

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