muggins

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A fool or idiot (especially as an ironic way of referring to oneself).
  2. The act of stealing another player's points because they either mispegged or counted up incorrectly.
  3. A game of dominoes in which the object is to make the sum of the two ends of the line some multiple of five.
  4. A card game based on building in suits or matching exposed cards, the object being to get rid of one's cards.

Pronunciation

/ˈmʌ.ɡɪnz/

Word forms

muggins mugginses

Etymology

Origin unknown. Sense 'fool' originally British slang of 1770s, probably an extension of earlier mug (“fool”). Game senses perhaps from surname Muggins.

Related words

mugginsed Buggins's turn cutthroat cutthroat cribbage
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