RUBICON

Rubicon, point of no return

(noun) a line that when crossed permits of no return and typically results in irrevocable commitment

Rubicon

(noun) the boundary in ancient times between Italy and Gaul; Caesar’s crossing it with his army in 49 BC was an act of war

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

rubicon (plural rubicons)

A limit that when surpassed cannot be returned from, or an action that when taken cannot be reversed.

Synonym: point of no return

(card games) Especially in bezique and piquet: a score which, if not achieved by a losing player, increases the player's penalty.

Verb

rubicon (third-person singular simple present rubicons, present participle rubiconing, simple past and past participle rubiconed)

(transitive, card games) Especially in bezique and piquet: to defeat a player who has not achieved the rubicon.

Etymology

Proper noun

Rubicon

(historical) A small river in northeastern Italy which flowed into the Adriatic Sea marking the boundary between the Roman province of Gaul and the Roman heartland. Its crossing by Julius Caesar in 49 B.C.E. began a civil war.

Noun

Rubicon (plural Rubicons)

Alternative letter-case form of rubicon (“a limit that when exceeded, or an action that when taken, cannot be reversed; especially in bezique and piquet: a score which, if not achieved by a losing player, increases the player's penalty”)

Source: Wiktionary

Ru"bi*con, n. (Anc. geog.)

Definition: A small river which separated Italy from Cisalpine Gaul, the province alloted to Julius Cæsar.

Note: By leading an army across this river, contrary to the prohibition of the civil government at Rome, Cæsar precipitated the civil war which resulted in the death of Pompey and the overthrow of the senate; hence, the phrase to pass or cross the Rubicon signifies to take the decisive step by which one is committed to a hazardous enterprise from which there is no retreat.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition