Literary notes about gleek (AI summary)
The term “gleek” is notably employed in literature with a dual significance that reflects both a traditional card game and an act of humorous ridicule. In many works it names a popular card game often played by three persons, where peculiar terms like “Tib,” “Tom,” and “Tiddy” denote specific cards and moves [1, 2]. Simultaneously, “gleek” also appears as a verb meaning to jest or to make sport of someone, a usage that resonates with other terms such as “gibe” and “taunt” [3, 4, 5]. Its versatility is further underscored in the writings of Ben Jonson and Shakespeare, where it serves both as a proper noun and as a descriptor of mocking behavior, thus enriching the text with a playful yet pointed connotation [6, 7, 8].
- [309] At Gleek, the Ace was called Tib ; the Knave, Tom ; and the Four, Tiddy .
— from Facts and Speculations on the Origin and History of Playing Cards by William Andrew Chatto - Gleek is described in "Memoirs of Gamesters," 1714, as "a game on the cards wherein the ace is called Tib , the knave Tom , the 4 of trumps Tiddy .
— from Curiosities of Literature, Vol. 2 by Isaac Disraeli - To give the gleek [Pg 261] was "to pass a jest upon, to make a person ridiculous."
— from Shakespeare's Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare - [1114] To gleek is used in Shakespeare for "to make sport, to jest," &c.
— from Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, Volume 1 (of 3)
Consisting of Old Heroic Ballads, Songs and Other Pieces of Our Earlier Poets Together With Some Few of Later Date - hiss, hoot, boo, gibe, flout, jeer, scoff, gleek|, taunt, sneer, quip, fling, wipe, slap in the face.
— from Roget's Thesaurus by Peter Mark Roget - GLEEK, card game played by three; party of three, trio; side glance.
— from Epicoene; Or, The Silent Woman by Ben Jonson - GLEEK, card game played by three; party of three, trio; side glance. GLICK (GLEEK), jest, gibe.
— from Every Man in His Humor by Ben Jonson - Mr. Gleek , Editor of the "Banner and Evening Gazette" and member of the Olympus .
— from Plays of Near & Far by Lord Dunsany