able whackets
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Blows on the hand from a knotted or twisted handkerchief, especially given as a punishment to the loser of certain card games.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
The chief amusement or game in use in the midshipmen's berth, was ‘able whackets’, a pastime in which cards, blasphemy, and hard knocks were agreeably mingled.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “able whackets” mean?
Blows on the hand from a knotted or twisted handkerchief, especially given as a punishment to the loser of certain card games.
Is “able whackets” formal or informal?
able whackets is generally slang.