cribbage: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low frequency / SpecialisedInformal to neutral; technical within card game contexts.
Quick answer
What does “cribbage” mean?
A card game, typically for two or three players, played with a special board and pegs for scoring.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A card game, typically for two or three players, played with a special board and pegs for scoring.
May refer to the specific scoring board used in the game or to the culture and tradition surrounding the game.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or rules. The game is equally known in both varieties.
Connotations
Connotes a traditional, somewhat old-fashioned pub or family game.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in UK/Irish English, but remains a niche term in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “cribbage” in a Sentence
play + CRIBBAGE (intransitive)teach + someone + CRIBBAGE (ditransitive)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cribbage” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He cribbaged his way to victory with a perfect 29 hand.
- They spent the evening cribbaging at the local.
American English
- We cribbaged for hours on the porch.
- He cribbaged me last night; I couldn't get a good hand.
adjective
British English
- He's a keen cribbage player.
- The pub has a cribbage league.
American English
- She bought a handmade cribbage board.
- It was a classic cribbage match.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical or game theory studies.
Everyday
Used when discussing hobbies, games, or social activities.
Technical
Used precisely for the game, its rules, and equipment.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cribbage”
- Incorrect: 'Let's play with the cribbage.' Correct: 'Let's play cribbage.'
- Incorrect: 'a cribbage' (as a countable item). Correct: 'a cribbage board' or 'a game of cribbage.'
- Misspelling: 'cribage', 'cribbidge'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Cribbage is most commonly played by two players, but three- and four-player variations also exist.
It is a mixture of both. Luck determines the cards you are dealt, but skill is involved in discarding to your own crib, playing cards in sequence, and strategic pegging.
It is a scoring term. A player scores 'one for his nob' if they hold the Jack of the same suit as the starter card (the cut card).
The highest scoring hand is 29 points: three 5s and a Jack, with the starter card being the other 5 of the same suit as the Jack (for a 'nobs').
A card game, typically for two or three players, played with a special board and pegs for scoring.
Cribbage is usually informal to neutral; technical within card game contexts. in register.
Cribbage: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkrɪbɪdʒ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkrɪbɪdʒ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “His heels (a scoring term in cribbage)”
- “Fifteen two, fifteen four... (counting cadence)”
- “One for his nob (a scoring term)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a baby's CRIB: you keep cards and pegs in a box, like a crib holds toys. CRIB + (c)ABBAGE (a hearty, old-fashioned vegetable) = CRIBBAGE, a hearty, old-fashioned game.
Conceptual Metaphor
SCORING IS MOVING (pegs move along the board), COMBINATION IS VALUE (cards create numerical worth).
Practice
Quiz
What is a defining piece of equipment for the game of cribbage?