I. ˈrübəˌkän sometimes -bə̇kən or -bēkən noun
( -s )
Etymology: Latin Rubicon-, Rubico, small river in north central Italy which in the time of the ancient Roman republic formed part of the boundary between Cisalpine Gaul and Italy, and over which Julius Caesar crossed into Italy with his army in 49 B.C. against the orders of the government to begin the civil war in which he overthrew Pompey
1. usually capitalized : a bounding or limiting line ; especially : one that when crossed commits a person to an irrevocable change or decision
the little lads think they have crossed the Rubicon when they first get trousers — Cahir Healy
2. : the winning of a card game before the loser has reached a certain prescribed score or with a score that is at least twice as great as the loser's score and usually with the effect that the winner's score is doubled
rubicon bezique
— compare lurch
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to defeat (as in piquet or bezique) with a score so low that it is added to the winner's