JOKER • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Joker

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/dʒˈoʊkər/ Listen

noun

Joker n.

One who makes jokes or jests.

(Card Playing) See Best bower, under 2d Bower.

(Card Playing) An extra card usually included in a deck of playing cards, having the same design as the others on the back, but on the face having a picture of a jester. It is not included in the deck used in most games, but in certain games may be included and then takes on a special value, such as the highest-valued card, or a wild card.

A clause placed in a document, such as a contract or a piece of legislation, not itself appearing significant, but in a subtle way substantially changing the effect of the document.

Hence: Any fact or condition which is unknown or not apparent, which reverses an apparently advantageous position; a kicker.

A person; a fellow; a chap; usually used in a mildly disparaging sense; as, who's the joker who left the ice cream on the table?.

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Etymology of 'Joker'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Joker" Quotes from Famous Books

... remarked Clarence. "The little joker wouldn't part with it at first—afraid of getting into more hot ...

— In Brief Authority • F. Anstey

... handsome roomy mansion on the same site. The visitor at Kirk Ella, after paying his devoirs to the youthful Chatelain and Chatelaine, can admire at leisure Mr. Levey's numerous and expensive stud: "Lollypop", "Bismark," "Joker," "Jovial," "Tichborne," "Burgundy," "Catch-him-alivo," a crowd of fleet steeds, racing and trotting stock, surrounded by a yelping and frisky pack of "Peppers," "Mustards," "Carlos," "Guys," "Josephines," "Fidlers;" Mastiffs, French Poodles, Fox Terriers, Bulldogs,—Kirk Ella is ...

— Picturesque Quebec • James MacPherson Le Moine

... Camis, her new coachman, was of a yeoman house of 400 years' standing. It will be observed that Mrs. Ricketts was a good deal annoyed even before 2nd April, 1771, the day when she dates the beginning of the worst disturbances. She believed that the agency was human—a robber or a practical joker—and but slowly and reluctantly became convinced that the "exploded" notion of an abnormal force might be correct. We learn that while Captain Jervis was not informed of the sounds he never heard them, and whereas Mrs. Ricketts heard violent noises after he went to bed on the night of his ...

— The Book of Dreams and Ghosts • Andrew Lang

... precautions, the terrible practical joker of Lancia felt he was quite secure. With the exception of the three or four friends who helped him to persuade Don Santos, nobody knew about his plot. But the Sunday afternoon preceding the event, he and Manuel Antonio went round and told people about the joke, and said that they had better ...

— The Grandee • Armando Palacio Valds

... thought that came to Orme was that this could be no hoax. A joker would have made the curious cryptogram more conspicuous. But what did it mean? Was it a secret formula? Did it give the location of a buried treasure? And why in the name of common sense had it been written on ...

— The Girl and The Bill - An American Story of Mystery, Romance and Adventure • Bannister Merwin

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