Meanings
plural chelems
- Synonym of slam.
- 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 2972 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 WhistThe 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 - 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 Report2 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 ExpressIt 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
- Englishslam
- Frenchchelem
- Englishchelem
Borrowed from French chelem, from English slam.
More words from French, English
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
chelem. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/chelem
“chelem.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/chelem. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “chelem,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/chelem.
Source: chelem on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.