Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Cinch?

\Cinch\, n. [Sp. cincha, fr. L. cingere to gird.] 1. A strong saddle girth, as of canvas. [West. U. S.] 2. A tight grip. [Colloq.]
\Cinch\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Cinched}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Cinch"ing}.] 1. To put a cinch upon; to girth tightly. [Western U. S.] 2. To get a sure hold upon; to get into a tight place, as for forcing submission. [Slang, U. S.]
\Cinch\, v. i. To perform the action of cinching; to tighten the cinch; -- often with up. [Western U. S.]
\Cinch\, n. [Cf. cinch a girth, a tight grip, as v., to get a sure hold upon; perh. so named from the tactics used in the game; also cf. Sp. cinco five (the five spots of the color of the trump being important cards).] A variety of auction pitch in which a draw to improve the hand is added, and the five of trumps (called right pedro) and the five of the same color (called left pedro, and ranking between the five and the four of trumps) each count five on the score. Fifty-one points make a game. Called also {double pedro} and {high five}.
\Cinch\, v. t. In the game of cinch, to protect (a trick) by playing a higher trump than the five.