Word of the Day - Manille

manille

Pronunciation: /məˈnɪl/
noun
(in the card games ombre and quadrille) the second-best trump or honour.

Origin
Late
17th century: from French (perhaps influenced by main ‘hand’), from
malille (also used as a term in card games), from Spanish malilla,
diminutive of mala feminine of malo ‘bad’. Although ‘bad’ because of its
low value, the card acquires power when its suit is trumps.

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Marco
manipulated his hand. (Isn't that sentence redundant?) The cards were modern, but playing Ombre, he was happy to hold the two of spades, the manille, ensuring he would win one more trick than either of his opponents.