foursomeadj.n.
/ˈfɔːs(ə)m/, U.S. /ˈfɔrs(ə)m/, Scottish English /ˈfors(ə)m/ Originally Scottish.
A. adj.
1.
a. Four (together). Also absol.
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the world > relative properties > number > specific numbers > four > [adjective] > group of four
foursome15..
tetradic1788
quaternion1814
quad1881
15.. G. Douglas King Hart i. 198 The fouresum baid and huvit on the grene.
c1560 A. Scott Poems (S.T.S.) ii. 145 For, wer ȝe foursum in a flok, I compt ȝow not a leik.
b. Used for the nonce as adv.
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1875 W. Morris tr. Virgil Æneids vii. 509 Come from the cleaving of an oak with foursome driven wedge.
2. Performed by four persons together.
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society > leisure > sport > match or competition > [adjective] > types of
maiden1598
well-run1601
unequal1654
well contested1722
returned1758
friendly1780
close-run1813
foursome1814
lightweight1823
tight1828
side1829
one-sided1839
scratch1851
international1859
all-comers1860
scrub1867
pointless1876
scoreless1885
replayed1886
peg-down1887
all-star1889
stiff1890
varsity1891
postseason1893
knock-out1896
best-of-(a specified odd number)1897
seeded1901
junior varsity1902
Simon Pure1905
pegged-down1908
JV1923
zero-sum1944
tie-breaking1970
the world > relative properties > number > specific numbers > four > [adjective] > group of four > performed by
foursome1814
1814 W. Scott Waverley II. v. 80 Dancing full merrily in the doubles and full career of a Scotch foursome reel. View more context for this quotation
1884 J. Payne 1001 Nights IX. 388 The Murebbes or foursome song occurs once only in the Nights.
B. n.
1. Golf. A match in which four persons take part, two playing on each side.
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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > golf > [noun] > types of game or match
round1744
match-playing1857
half-round1865
foursome1867
matchplay1877
stroke-game1896
threesome1901
score-play1902
stroke-competition1904
score-game1905
greensome1911
fivesome1928
skin game1942
three-ball1952
1867 Cornhill Mag. Apr. 493 Perhaps you find three men who, with yourself, will make a good foursome.
2. A company, party, or dance of four persons.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > dancing > types of dance or dancing > dance for specific number of people > [noun]
pas de deux1762
pas de trois1762
pas seul1786
pas de quatre1846
pas de seul1870
twosome1911
ensemble1915
partner dance1915
foursome1926
the world > relative properties > number > specific numbers > four > [noun] > group of four > persons
quadrivirate1654
quatrumvirate1684
partie carrée1693
quadrumvirate1752
quartetto1771
quartet1814
quartumvirate1840
square party1851
quattuorvirate1856
foursome1926
1926 Amer. Speech 1 630/2 The expressions onesome, twosome, threesome, foursome, fivesome, are coming to be used in other fields than golf, as a ‘threesome at tennis’, a ‘foursome for bridge’, a ‘fivesome for dinner’.
1926 Glasgow Herald 7 June 8 The dancing of Scottish reels, foursomes, eightsomes, and sometimes even a sixteensome.
1971 Petticoat 17 July 15/1 Your friend wants you to make up a foursome with her boyfriend's unknown friend.
1971 G. Mitchell Lament for Leto i. 26 Do you play bridge?.. I want to make up a foursome.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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adj.n.15..