pull, verb transitive

Origin:
EnglishShow more Special sense of general English.
a. To draw (the winning number) as the banker in a game of fah-fee. b. In the verbal phrase to pull fah-fee, to conduct a fah-fee game.
1952 ‘Skappie’ in Drum Sept. 6He started writing out a new number saying, ‘Today I want to pull No. 11’.
1956 L. Longmore in S. Afr. Jrnl of Science Vol.52 No.12, 278The ‘jumps’, itching or twitching of the player’s body indicate different numbers and they are regarded as very important indications as to what the Chinaman pulls...Most Chinamen who pull Fah-fee have in their clubs two or three runners who also run liquor for them.
1980 R. Govender Lahnee’s Pleasure 25He comes here every afternoon to pull fah-fee.
To draw (the winning number) as the banker in a game of fah-fee.
In the verbal phrase to pull fah-fee, to conduct a fah-fee game.
Derivatives:
Hence pull  noun, a draw; pulling  participial adjective.
1956 L. Longmore in S. Afr. Jrnl of Science Vol.52 No.12, 275The Chinese bankers..leave their cars parked some distance from the ‘pulling house’ in order to avoid arrest.
1977 D. Muller Whitey 56The fah-fee runner moved about the tavern, paying the winners of the morning ‘pull’ and taking the evening bets for the ancient numbers game of dreams and symbolism.
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19521980

Derivatives

pull, n.
pulling

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pula, interjectionint. & nounn.pundah, nounn.
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