chelem

C3H4E1L1E1M3

noun

The act or contract for winning all, or almost all, of the possible tricks.

Scrabble 13

Meanings

nounchelem (plural chelems)

plural chelems

  1. Synonym of slam.
    1. card gamesThe act or contract for winning all, or almost all, of the possible tricks.

      The grand chelem is a contraot to take all the tricks, the petit chelem one to take all the tricks but two, in both cases after taking the talon and discarding.

      1980, Michael A. E. Dummett, Sylvia Mann, The game of Tarot: from Ferrara to Salt Lake City, page 297
      2 more examples

      If the grand chelem is made, the winner receives seventeen points from each adversary and the game continues; if twelve tricks are made, the winner receives the value of sixteen points.

      1882, Laws and Regulations of Short Whist

      The authors would claim only that the 131 tables which summarise the results of their analyses give added precision to the bridge player's judgements when, for example, he considers how to play " le squouize " or whether to bid a " grand chelem ".

      1956, The Mathematical Gazette, page 66
    2. hobbiesWinning all (or all but one) of the available, major or specified events in a given year or sports season.

      The number of "grand chelems"—pole, fastest lap, lead every lap and win the race—achieved in 2015 (Lewis Hamilton at the Italian Grand Prix).

      2015 December 10, “The 2015 Formula 1 Season in Numbers”, in Bleacher Report
      2 more examples

      For the first time in his career the Red Bull star achieved Formula One's grand chelem of pole, win, fastest lap and leading for every single lap, to further underline his dominant campaign.

      2011 October 30, “Vettel closes on Schumacher record”, in Express

      It is the fifth grand chelem of Hamilton’s career – securing pole, win, fastest lap and leading every lap – matching Alberto Ascari and Michael Schumacher. Only Clark has more, with eight.

      2017 July 16, Giles Richards, “Lewis Hamilton delivers F1 driving masterclass to win British Grand Prix”, in The Guardian

Origin

  1. Englishslam
  2. Frenchchelem
  3. Englishchelem

Borrowed from French chelem, from English slam.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

chelem. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/chelem

MLA

“chelem.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/chelem. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “chelem,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/chelem.

Source: chelem on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.