Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Chicane

Chicane , noun

[French, prob. earlier meaning a dispute, orig. in the game of mall (French mail), from LGr. {not transcribed} the game of mall, fr Pers chaugān club or bat; or possibly ultimated from Latin ciccus a trible.]

1.
The use of artful subterfuge, designed to draw away attention from the merits of a case or question; -- specifically applied to legal proceedings; trickery; chicanery; caviling; sophistry. — Prior
To shuffle from them by chicane. — Burke
To cut short this chicane, I propound it fairly to your own conscience. — Berkeley
2.
(Card playing) In bridge, the holding of a hand without trumps, or the hand itself. It counts as simple honors.

Chicane , intransitive verb

[Compare French chicaner. See Chicane, n.]

To use shifts, cavils, or artifices. — Burke