The Sanas (etymology) of Faro

[Laurence Horn]

At 7:20 PM -0500 12/5/04, Grant Barrett wrote:
>>no evidence of Pharaoh face cards in 17th, 18th, or 19th centuries has
>>ever been documented.(2)
>
>I'd add: nor has "fiar araon" as the origin of "Faro." You've discussed
>the presence of Irish and gambling in New Orleans and France in some
>detail, but then, the French were in both places, too. At least we have
>written citations of "Pharoah" as the name of a card game in the 18th
>century. Let's see "fiar araon" in print anywhere as a name for the
>card game prior to 1735-39, then we're on to something.
>
>Or maybe we could compromise and also pin this one on Wolof.

very nice observation, one that inspires me to suggest that we begin
to refer to the relevant practice as that of the amateur etymologist
who cries Wolof.

Larry