Whist. [ad. Sp. tenaza, lit. ‘pincers, tongs,’ used in card-playing as here. Cf. also F. demeurer tenace (Dict. de Trevoux, 17[?].) ‘to have the tenace.’] A name given to the combination of two cards of any suit, consisting of the next higher and the next lower in value than the highest card held by the other side, esp. when this combination is held by the fourth player: see quot. 1746. Used esp. in phr. to have the tenace, formerly tenaces.
1655. J. Cotgrave, Wits Interpr. (1662), 356. If you have Tenaces in your hand, that is two cards which, if you have the Leading, you are sure to lose one of them; if the Player lead to you, you are sure to win thein both.
1710. Swift, Lett. (1767), III. 17. Then in that game of spades, you blundered when you had ten-ace.
1746. Hoyle, Whist (ed. 6), 70. Having the Tenace in any Suit supposes the having the first and third best Cards, and being the last Player, and consequently you catch the Adversary when that Suit is play’d.
1870. Modern Hoyle, 12. Tenaces…. 1st major tenace—ace, queen. 2nd major tenace—king, knave. 3rd major tenace—queen, ten…. 1st minor tenace—four, two. 2nd minor tenace—five, three. 3rd minor tenace—six, four. Ibid., 19. Tenaces are always most valuable, because most certain, to the fourth player.
