rubicons

Noun

rubicon (plural rubicons)

1. A limit that when surpassed cannot be returned from, or an action that when taken cannot be reversed.
   • Fortunately for England ſhe is yet on the peaceable ſide of the Rubicon; but as the flames once kindled are not alway eaſily extinguiſhed, the hopes of peace are not ſo clear as before the late myſterious diſpute began.1787, [Thomas Paine], “Preface”, in Prospects on the Rubicon: Or, An Investigation into the Causes and Consequences of the Politics to be Agitated at the Meeting of Parliament, London: Printed for...

   Synonyms:

   point of no return

2. Especially in bezique and piquet: a score which, if not achieved by a losing player, increases the player's penalty.
   • The game is called a double, and you score 200 instead of 100 when your adversary does not get 100, which, in technical language, is called crossing the Rubicon.1873 August 1, “Answers to Correspondents. [Piquet.]”, in The Westminster Papers. A Monthly Journal of Chess, Whist, Games of Skill, and the Drama, volume VI, London: W. Kent & Co., […], and W. W....

See all 6 meanings of rubicon