What is "all fours"

Seven-up \Sev"en-up`\, n. The game of cards called also all fours, and old sledge.

Sledge \Sledge\ (sl[e^]j), n. [Perhaps from sleds, pl. of sled, confused with sledge a hammer. See Sled, n.]

1. A strong vehicle with low runners or low wheels; or one without wheels or runners, made of plank slightly turned up at one end, used for transporting loads upon the snow, ice, or bare ground; a sled.

2. A hurdle on which, formerly, traitors were drawn to the place of execution. [Eng.]
   --Sir W. Scott.

3. A sleigh. [Eng.]

4. A game at cards; -- called also old sledge, and all fours.

Old \Old\, a. [Compar. Older; superl. Oldest.] [OE. old, ald, AS. ald, eald; akin to D. oud, OS. ald, OFries. ald, old, G. alt, Goth. alpeis, and also to Goth. alan to grow up, Icel. ala to bear, produce, bring up, L. alere to nourish. Cf. Adult, Alderman, Aliment, Auld, Elder.]

1. Not young; advanced far in years or life; having lived till toward the end of the ordinary term of living; as, an old man; an old age; an old horse; an old tree.

   Let not old age disgrace my high desire.
   --Sir P. Sidney.

   The melancholy news that we grow old.
   --Young.

2. Not new or fresh; not recently made or produced; having existed for a long time; as, old wine; an old friendship. ``An old acquaintance.''
   --Camden.

3. Formerly existing; ancient; not modern; preceding; original; as, an old law; an old custom; an old promise. ``The old schools of Greece.''
   --Milton. ``The character of the old Ligurians.''
   --Addison.

4. Continued in life; advanced in the course of existence; having (a certain) length of existence; -- designating the age of a person or thing; as, an infant a few hours old; a cathedral centuries old.

   And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old art thou?
   --Cen. xlvii. 8.

   Note: In this use old regularly follows the noun that designates the age; as, she was eight years old.

5. Long practiced; hence, skilled; experienced; cunning; as, an old offender; old in vice.

   Vane, young in years, but in sage counsel old.
   --Milton.

6. Long cultivated; as, an old farm; old land, as opposed to new land, that is, to land lately cleared.

7. Worn out; weakened or exhausted by use; past usefulness; as, old shoes; old clothes.

8. More than enough; abundant. [Obs.]

   If a man were porter of hell gate, he should have old turning the key.
   --Shak.

9. Aged; antiquated; hence, wanting in the mental vigor or other qualities belonging to youth; -- used disparagingly as a term of reproach.

10. Old-fashioned; wonted; customary; as of old; as, the good old times; hence, colloquially, gay; jolly.

11. Used colloquially as a term of cordiality and familiarity. ``Go thy ways, old lad.'' --Shak. Old age, advanced years; the latter period of life. Old bachelor. See Bachelor,

    1. Old Catholics. See under Catholic.

       Old English. See under English. n.,

    2. Old Nick, Old Scratch, the devil. Old lady (Zo["o]l.), a large European noctuid moth ( Mormo maura). Old maid.

       1. A woman, somewhat advanced in years, who has never been married; a spinster.

       2. (Bot.) A West Indian name for the pink-flowered periwinkle ( Vinca rosea).

       3. A simple game of cards, played by matching them. The person with whom the odd card is left is the old maid. Old man's beard. (Bot.)

          1. The traveler's joy ( Clematis Vitalba). So named from the abundant long feathery awns of its fruit.

          2. The Tillandsia usneoides. See Tillandsia. Old man's head (Bot.), a columnar cactus ( Pilocereus senilis), native of Mexico, covered towards the top with long white hairs. Old red sandstone (Geol.), a series of red sandstone rocks situated below the rocks of the Carboniferous age and comprising various strata of siliceous sandstones and conglomerates. See Sandstone, and the Chart of Geology. Old school, a school or party belonging to a former time, or preserving the character, manner, or opinions of a former time; as, a gentleman of the old school; -- used also adjectively; as, Old-School Presbyterians. Old sledge, an old and well-known game of cards, called also all fours, and high, low, Jack, and the game. Old squaw (Zo["o]l.), a duck ( Clangula hyemalis) inhabiting the northern parts of both hemispheres. The adult male is varied with black and white and is remarkable for the length of its tail. Called also longtailed duck, south southerly, callow, hareld, and old wife. Old style. (Chron.) See the Note under Style. Old Testament. See Old Testament under Testament, and see tanak. Old wife. [In the senses b and c written also oldwife.]

             1. A prating old woman; a gossip.

                Refuse profane and old wives' fables.
                --1 Tim. iv. 7.

             2. (Zo["o]l.) The local name of various fishes, as the European black sea bream ( Cantharus lineatus), the American alewife, etc.

          3. (Zo["o]l.) A duck; the old squaw.

             Old World, the Eastern Hemisphere.

             Syn: Aged; ancient; pristine; primitive; antique; antiquated; old-fashioned; obsolete. See Ancient.

High \High\, n.

1. An elevated place; a superior region; a height; the sky; heaven.

2. People of rank or high station; as, high and low.

3. (Card Playing) The highest card dealt or drawn.

   High, low, jack, and the game, a game at cards; -- also called all fours, old sledge, and seven up.

   In high and low, utterly; completely; in every respect. [Obs.]
   --Chaucer.

   On high, aloft; above.

   The dayspring from on high hath visited us.
   --Luke i. 78.

   The Most High, the Supreme Being; God.

n. 1 The four legs of a quadruped. 2 The four limbs of a primate. 3 A card game similar to whist.

n. card games in which points are won for taking the high or low or jack or game [syn: high-low-jack]

All Fours, also known as High-Low-Jack or Seven Up, is an English tavern trick-taking card game that was popular as a gambling game until the end of the 19th century. It is the eponymous and earliest recorded game in a family that flourished most in 19th century North America, notable other members being Auction Pitch, Pedro and Cinch, which competed against Poker and Euchre. Nowadays the original game is especially popular in Trinidad and Tobago, but a simpler variant has also survived in parts of England. Martinique is also accredited with the creation of all fours by coming up with the popular 'Two in Tobago ' rule.

Each player is dealt six cards. In trick play, players are allowed to trump instead of following suit. The title refers to the possibility of winning four game points by being dealt both the highest and the lowest trump in play, capturing the Jack of trumps and winning the greatest number of card-points.

All Fours is the fourth studio album by American black metal band Bosse-de-Nage. Released on April 14, 2015 by Profound Lore Records, the album was produced by Jack Shirley, who is known for his work for Deafheaven and Loma Prieta.

The album features a black metal and post-hardcore style infused with " mathy post-rock, shoegaze and screamo" elements, which drew comparisons to the works of Slint and Shirley in the post-hardcore genre. The vocalist Bryan Manning's sex-themed lyrics were also compared to the works of Pig Destroyer, Italo Calvino and Jorge Luis Borges.