Part 2780

<p><b>1.</b> <def>A part or portion; a share; hence, an indefinite quantity, degree, or extent, degree, or extent; <as>as, a <ex>deal</ex> of time and trouble; a <ex>deal</ex> of cold.</as></def>

<blockquote>Three tenth <b>deals</b> [parts of an ephah] of flour. <i>Num. xv. 9.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>As an object of science it [the Celtic genius] may count for a good <b>deal</b> . . . as a spiritual power. <i>M. Arnold.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>She was resolved to be a good <b>deal</b> more circumspect. <i>W. Black.</i></blockquote>

<note>&hand; It was formerly limited by <i>some</i>, <i>every</i>, <i>never a</i>, <i>a thousand</i>, etc.; as, <i>some deal</i>; but these are now obsolete or vulgar. In general, we now qualify the word with <i>great</i> or <i>good</i>, and often use it adverbially, <i>by</i> being understood; as, a <i>great deal</i> of time and pains; a <i>great</i> (or <i>good</i>) <i>deal</i> better or worse; that is, better <i>by</i> a great deal, or by a great part or difference.</note>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>The process of dealing cards to the players; also, the portion disturbed.</def>

<blockquote>The <b>deal</b>, the shuffle, and the cut. <i>Swift.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Distribution; apportionment.</def> <mark>[Colloq.]</mark>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>An arrangement to attain a desired result by a combination of interested parties; -- applied to stock speculations and political bargains.</def> <mark>[Slang]</mark>

<p><b>5.</b> <ety>[Prob. from D. <ets>deel</ets> a plank, threshing floor. See <er>Thill</er>.]</ety> <def>The division of a piece of timber made by sawing; a board or plank; particularly, a board or plank of fir or pine above seven inches in width, and exceeding six feet in length. If narrower than this, it is called a <i>batten</i>; if shorter, a <i>deal end</i>.</def>

<note>&hand; <i>Whole deal</i> is a general term for planking one and one half inches thick.</note>

<p><b>6.</b> <def>Wood of the pine or fir; <as>as, a floor of <ex>deal</ex></as>.</def>

<cs><col>Deal tree</col>, <cd>a fir tree.</cd></cs>

<i>Dr. Prior.</i>

<h1>Deal</h1> <Xpage=372>

<hw>Deal</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Dealt</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Dealing</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[OE. <ets>delen</ets>, AS. <ets>d<?/lan</ets>, fr. <ets>d<?/l</ets> share; akin to OS. <ets>d<?/lian</ets>, D. <ets>deelen</ets>, G. <ets>theilen</ets>, <ets>teilen</ets>, Icel. <ets>deila</ets>, Sw. <ets>dela</ets>, Dan. <ets>dele</ets>, Goth. <ets>dailjan</ets>. See <er>Deal</er>, <tt>n.</tt>]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>To divide; to separate in portions; hence, to give in portions; to distribute; to bestow successively; -- sometimes with <i>out</i>.</def>

<blockquote>Is not to <b>deal</b> thy bread to the hungry? <i>Is. lviii. 7.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>And Rome <b>deals</b> out her blessings and her gold. <i>Tickell.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>The nightly mallet <b>deals</b> resounding blows. <i>Gay.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Hissing through the skies, the feathery deaths were <b>dealt</b>. <i>Dryden.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Specifically: To distribute, as cards, to the players at the commencement of a game; <as>as, to <ex>deal</ex> the cards; to <ex>deal</ex> one a jack.</as></def>

<h1>Deal</h1> <Xpage=372>

<hw>Deal</hw>, <tt>v. i.</tt>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>To make distribution; to share out in portions, as cards to the players.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To do a distributing or retailing business, as distinguished from that of a manufacturer or producer; to traffic; to trade; to do business; <as>as, he <ex>deals</ex> in flour</as>.</def>

<blockquote>They buy and sell, they <b>deal</b> and traffic. <i>South.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>This is to drive to wholesale trade, when all other petty merchants <b>deal</b> but for parcels. <i>Dr. H. More.</i></blockquote>