rubicon

/ˈɹuːbɪkɒn/

Etymology

From Latin Rubicō, Rubicōn (“the Rubicon”), possibly from rubeus (“red, reddish”), from rubeō (“to be red”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁rewdʰ- (“red”), an allusion to the colour of the river caused by mud deposits.

Why this word is great

RUBICON — [Noun] A limit that when surpassed cannot be returned from, or an action that when taken cannot be reversed. From Latin Rubicō, Rubicōn ("the Rubicon"), possibly from rubeus ("red, reddish"), from rubeō ("to be red"), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁rewdʰ- ("red"), an allusion to the colour of the river caused by mud deposits. Unlike "threshold" (which invites crossing) or "milestone" (which celebrates progress), a rubicon is a line drawn in the sand by fate itself. It is Caesar’s legions wading into the shallows, the resignation letter sent without carbon copy, the first lie told to someone who will never trust you again—each a surrender to the irreversible, the current already carrying away the possibility of return. Some choices are not choices at all, but surrenders to the inevitable.

name

A small river in northeastern Italy which flowed into the Adriatic Sea marking the boundary between the Roman province of Gaul and the Roman heartland. Its crossing by Julius Caesar in 49 B.C.E. began a civil war.
The same river in the present day, identified with a river previously named Fiumicino.
A locality in the Shire of Murrindindi, central eastern Victoria, Australia.

noun

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.”
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.”

verb

Especially in bezique and piquet: to defeat a player who has not achieved the rubicon.“A curious score was made in a game of piquet with one of the ladies. [...] In the fifth hand she made a piquet and capot, scoring 121 to 0, and in the sixth hand, being the minor, she made a repiquet, taking all but the last trick, counting 111 to 3, totalling 270, and rubiconing her opponent at 99, with a win of 469 points.”