subs. (American thieves’).—A prepared pack of cards. Cf., CONCAVES AND CONVEXES and STOCK BROADS. More politely a good hand obtained on first dealing and without drawing fresh cards.
1880. S. L. CLEMENS (‘Mark Twain’), Sketches, ‘History Repeats Itself.’ I never have gambled from that day to this—never once—without a ‘COLD DECK’ in my pocket. I cannot even tell who is going to lose in games that are being played unless I deal myself.
