Trick (?), n. [D. trek a pull, or
drawing, a trick, trekken to draw; akin to LG. trekken, MHG.
trecken, trechen, Dan. trække, and OFries.
trekka. Cf. Track, Trachery, Trig,
a., Trigger.] 1. An artifice
or stratagem; a cunning contrivance; a sly procedure, usually with a
dishonest intent; as, a trick in trade.
He comes to me for counsel, and I show him a
trick.
South.
I know a trick worth two of that.
Shak.
2. A sly, dexterous, or ingenious procedure fitted
to puzzle or amuse; as, a bear's tricks; a juggler's
tricks.
3. Mischievous or annoying behavior; a prank; as,
the tricks of boys. Prior.
4. A particular habit or manner; a peculiarity; a
trait; as, a trick of drumming with the fingers; a trick of
frowning.
The trick of that voice I do well
remember.
Shak.
He hath a trick of Cœur de Lion's
face.
Shak.
5. A knot, braid, or plait of hair. [Obs.]
B. Jonson.
6. (Card Playing) The whole number of cards
played in one round, and consisting of as many cards as there are
players.
On one nice trick depends the general
fate.
Pope.
7. (Naut.) A turn; specifically, the spell
of a sailor at the helm, -- usually two hours.
8. A toy; a trifle; a plaything. [Obs.]
Shak.
Syn. -- Stratagem; wile; fraud; cheat; juggle; finesse; sleight;
deception; imposture; delusion; imposition.
Trick (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Tricked (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Tricking.] 1. To deceive by cunning or
artifice; to impose on; to defraud; to cheat; as, to trick another
in the sale of a horse.
2. To dress; to decorate; to set off; to adorn
fantastically; -- often followed by up, off, or
out. " Trick her off in air." Pope.
People lavish it profusely in tricking up their
children in fine clothes, and yet starve their minds.
Locke.
They are simple, but majestic, records of the feelings of
the poet; as little tricked out for the public eye as his diary
would have been.
Macaulay.
3. To draw in outline, as with a pen; to delineate
or distinguish without color, as arms, etc., in heraldry.
They forget that they are in the statutes: . . . there they
are tricked, they and their pedigrees.
B.
Jonson.