Deal
(Deal) n. [OE. del, deel, part, AS. d&aemacrl; akin to OS. del, D. & Dan. deel, G. theil, teil,
Icel. deild, Sw. del, Goth. dails. &radic65. Cf. 3d Dole.]
1. A part or portion; a share; hence, an indefinite quantity, degree, or extent, degree, or extent; as, a deal
of time and trouble; a deal of cold.
Three tenth deals [parts of an ephah] of flour.
Num. xv. 9.
As an object of science it [the Celtic genius] may count for a good deal . . . as a spiritual power.
M.
Arnold.
She was resolved to be a good deal more circumspect.
W. Black. It was formerly limited by some, every, never a, a thousand, etc.; as, some deal; but these are now
obsolete or vulgar. In general, we now qualify the word with great or good, and often use it adverbially,
by being understood; as, a great deal of time and pains; a great (or good) deal better or worse; that is,
better by a great deal, or by a great part or difference.
2. The process of dealing cards to the players; also, the portion disturbed.
The deal, the shuffle, and the cut.
Swift. 3. Distribution; apportionment. [Colloq.]
4. An arrangement to attain a desired result by a combination of interested parties; — applied to stock
speculations and political bargains. [Slang]
5. [Prob. from D. deel a plank, threshing floor. See Thill.] The division of a piece of timber made by
sawing; a board or plank; particularly, a board or plank of fir or pine above seven inches in width, and
exceeding six feet in length. If narrower than this, it is called a batten; if shorter, a deal end.
Whole deal is a general term for planking one and one half inches thick.
6. Wood of the pine or fir; as, a floor of deal.
Deal tree, a fir tree. Dr. Prior.
Deal
(Deal), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dealt (delt); p. pr. & vb. n. Dealing.] [OE. delen, AS. d&aemacrlan,
fr. d&aemacrl share; akin to OS. delian, D. deelen, G. theilen, teilen, Icel. deila, Sw. dela, Dan.
dele, Goth. dailjan. See Deal, n.]
