Imperial \Im*pe"ri*al\, n. A game at cards differing from piquet in some minor details, and in having a trump; also, any one of several combinations of cards which score in this game.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Imperial \Im*pe"ri*al\, a. [OE. emperial, OF. emperial, F. imp['e]rial, fr. L. imperialis, fr. imperium command, sovereignty, empire. See Empire.]

1. Of or pertaining to an empire, or to an emperor; as, an imperial government; imperial authority or edict.

The last That wore the imperial diadem of Rome. --Shak.

2. Belonging to, or suitable to, supreme authority, or one who wields it; royal; sovereign; supreme. ``The imperial democracy of Athens.'' --Mitford.

Who, as Ulysses says, opinion crowns With an imperial voice. --Shak.

To tame the proud, the fetter'd slave to free, These are imperial arts, and worthy thee. --Dryden.

He sounds his imperial clarion along the whole line of battle. --E. Everett.

3. Of superior or unusual size or excellence; as, imperial paper; imperial tea, etc.

Imperial bushel, gallon, etc. See Bushel, Gallon, etc.

Imperial chamber, the, the sovereign court of the old German empire.

Imperial city, under the first German empire, a city having no head but the emperor.

Imperial diet, an assembly of all the states of the German empire.

Imperial drill. (Manuf.) See under 8th Drill.

Imperial eagle. (Zo["o]l.) See Eagle.

Imperial green. See Paris green, under Green.

Imperial guard, the royal guard instituted by Napoleon I.

Imperial weights and measures, the standards legalized by the British Parliament.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Imperial \Im*pe"ri*al\, n. [F. imp['e]riale: cf. Sp. imperial.]

1. The tuft of hair on a man's lower lip and chin; -- so called from the style of beard of Napoleon III.

2. An outside seat on a diligence. --T. Hughes.

3. A luggage case on the top of a coach. --Simmonds.

4. Anything of unusual size or excellence, as a large decanter, a kind of large photograph, a large sheet of drowing, printing, or writing paper, etc.

5. A gold coin of Russia worth ten rubles, or about eight dollars. --McElrath.

6. A kind of fine cloth brought into England from Greece. or other Eastern countries, in the Middle Ages.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)