Deal \Deal\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dealt (d[e^]lt); p. pr. & vb. n. Dealing.]

[OE. delen, AS. d[=ae]lan, fr. d[=ae]l share; akin to OS. d[=e]lian, D. deelen, G. theilen, teilen, Icel. deila, Sw. dela, Dan. dele, Goth. dailjan. See Deal, n.]

1. To divide; to separate in portions; hence, to give in portions; to distribute; to bestow successively; -- sometimes with out.

Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry? --Is. lviii. 7.

And Rome deals out her blessings and her gold. --Tickell.

The nightly mallet deals resounding blows. --Gay.

Hissing through the skies, the feathery deaths were dealt. --Dryden.

2. Specifically: To distribute, as cards, to the players at the commencement of a game; as, to deal the cards; to deal one a jack.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)