Definition of playing card

The origin of the term "playing card" can be traced back to the 14th century in Europe. The first known cards appeared in Italy, where they were initially made of handmade paper or vellum and decorated with intricate designs. The word "carta" in Italian, meaning "paper," was used to refer to these cards. The French adopted the word "carte à jouer" (playing card) from the Italians, which was eventually shortened to simply "carte" in French. In English, the term "playing card" first appeared in the late 15th century, likely deriving from the French "carte" through Middle English. The word "playing" in this context, refers to the action of participating in a game with these cards. Over time, playing cards have evolved in terms of materials and designs, with mass-produced cards made of durable materials like plastic becoming common in the modern era. However, the fundamental concept of a deck of cards for playing games like poker, blackjack, and solitaire has remained largely unchanged since their inception.