trump (n.1)

"playing-card of a suit ranking above others in a particular game," 1520s, an alteration or corruption of triumph (n.). Also trumps.

In French la triomphe as the name of a card game is very frequent from late 15c. (Villon, Rabelais), it also is attested in Medieval Latin as triumphus. Trumps and games based on them appear to be ancient, and national variants are played across Europe.

The early uses of the word seem to apply to any sort of game with trumps; in 16c. England it was used of a game that grew into whist; in France triomphe was refined into ecarté, a fast-paced game popular in Paris after the restoration.

Figuratively, as "person of surpassing excellence," by 1819. Other figurative phrases from card-playing, current in 19c., include call for trumps as a signal to a partner in whist; to be put to one's trumps, "reduced to the last expedient."

Trump-card "a trump, one of the suit of cards which outranks the others in a game" is attested by 1822 (figurative); as "card turned up after dealing which determines which suit is trumps," it is so called by 1876. Partridge lists trump of the dump as World War I New Zealand military slang for "person in authority in a particular place."

[trumpet], c. 1300, trompe, "trumpet-like horn," from Old French trompe "long, tube-like musical wind instrument" (12c.), cognate with Provençal tromba, Italian tromba. All are considered to be probably from a Germanic source of imitative origin (compare Old High German trumpa, Old Norse trumba "trumpet").

Also extended to "one who plays a trump, a herald" (late 13c. as a surname). In figurative use by 1520s as "one who or that which summons or proclaims" (trump of fame, etc.).

"surpass, beat," 1580s, also in card-playing, "put a trump-card upon, take with a trump," from trump (n.1) "playing card of a suit ranking above others." Related: Trumped; trumping.

"fabricate, devise," 1690s, from earlier trump "deceive, cheat, impose upon" (late 14c.), from Old French tromper "to deceive," a word of uncertain origin.

This is sometimes said to be from se tromper de "to mock," from Old French tromper "to blow a trumpet." Brachet explains this as "to play the horn, alluding to quacks and mountebanks, who attracted the public by blowing a horn, and then cheated them into buying ...." The Hindley Old French dictionary has baillier la trompe "blow the trumpet" as "act the fool," and Donkin connects it rather to trombe "waterspout," on the notion of turning (someone) around. Connection with triumph also has been proposed (compare trump (n.1)). Related: Trumped; trumping.

Trumped up "fabricated out of nothing or deceitfully; forged; false; worthless" is recorded by 1728. Earlier to trump up was "call, rouse, or proclaim by trumpets" (c. 1400).

early 14c., "sound a trumpet or horn; play (music, a call) on a trumpet," from Old French tromper, Anglo-French trumper, from trompe (see trump (n.2)). Figuratively, "to boast," from late 14c. Also "break wind audibly" (early 15c.). Related: Trumped; Trumping.