man with the ax

English

the man with the ax

Alternative forms

• man with the axe

Etymology

So called because, while the other three king cards are commonly depicted with swords, the king of diamonds is depicted with an ax.

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

Proper noun

man with the ax

1. (card games, slang) The king of diamonds in a deck of playing cards.
   • 1989 February 13, “The Measure of a Man” (2:41), in Star Trek: The Next Generation, season 2, episode 9, spoken by Dr. Katherine Pulaski (Diana Muldaur):

     The game is seven card high/low with a buy on the last card. And just to make it more interesting, the man with the ax takes all.

Synonyms

• king of diamonds

Translations

nickname for the king of diamonds — see also king of diamonds

• Finnish: kirvesmies (fi)

See also

• one-eyed jack
• suicide king
• wild card