Definition of joker

The word "joker" originally appeared in a game called "Eklapan," which was a popular trick-taking card game among American soldiers during the Mexican-American War in the mid-19th century. The joker, as we know it today, was inserted into the deck as a replacement for the axe card, which was considered difficult to play by some. The name "joker" came from the fact that the card was used to act as a wild card, which in turn gave it the power to "trick" or "hoax" the other players. This wild card effect continued to evolve in other card games, such as poker, where the joker served as a kind of "jester" in the deck. In the late 1800s, the joker began to be associated with comedy and entertainment, which was inspired by the circus tradition of "jokers" and "clowns." Soon after, the term "joker" became a popular slang word for someone who acted as a trickster or a practical joker in real life. In contemporary pop culture, the term "joker" is perhaps best known as the name of the famous villain portrayed by the late Heath Ledger in Christopher Nolan's 2008 film "The Dark Knight." The movie's portrayal of the Joker became an instant sensation, reviving interest in the animated TV series "Batman: The Animated Series" and setting the stage for the character's recent reincarnation in the comic-book version of "Batman." Today, the word "joker" continues to be associated with humor, entertainment, and unpredictability, all of which are intricately connected to the original meaning of the word in its card-game origins.