Love

subs. (common).—No score: LOVE-ALL = no points on either side. Fr. cherche; baiser le cul de la vieille = to make no score.

  1780.  Gentlemen’s Magazine, L. 322. We are not told how, or by what means six LOVE comes to mean six to nothing.

  1791.  Gentleman’s Magazine, lxi. 16. At the game of whist, when one of the parties reckons six, for instance, or any other number, and the other none, why is it usual to say six LOVE?

  1820.  LAMB, The Essays of Elia, ‘New Year’s Eve.’ I play over again for LOVE, as the gamesters phrase it, games, for which I once paid so dear.

  1868.  Chambers’ Encyclopædia, s.v. Whist. We will suppose ourselves to be A, the score to be LOVE-ALL, and D to have turned up the four of hearts.

  1883.  The Field, 27 Oct. … won the i-me by two sets to LOVE.

  1885.  Times, 1 April, p. 6, col. 5. Both had an innings [at racquets], but did not score, and consequently the game was called 13 to LOVE.

  CUPBOARD-LOVE, phr. (colloquial).—Interested love.

  c. 1688.  Poor Robin.