crown and anchor

English

Noun

crown and anchor (uncountable)

1. A game of chance popular with soldiers in the late 19th and early 20th century, in which players bet on combinations of three dice. It is equivalent to chuck-a-luck.
   • 1882 (November 1), “Public Business”, The Herald, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, page 2:

     Edward Harrison, who was arrested by Detective Potter for playing the crown and anchor game, was sentenced to four days’ imprisonment.

   • 1900 (June 26), “Trooper Milverton Ford’s Escape”, The Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney, NSW, Australia, page 3:

     The houseman’s, “Come on my lucky lads, who says another card?” and the Crown and Anchor boardman’s “Back them up, my beauties, where you like and where you fancy.”

See also

• birdcage
• chuck-a-luck
• toodlum buck
• sweat-cloth