Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Finesse

Finesse (? o?) , noun

[French, from fin fine. See Fine, a.]

1.
Subtilty of contrivance to gain a point; artifice; stratagem.
This is the artificialest piece of finesse to persuade men into slavery. — Milton
2.
(Whist Playing) The act of finessing. See Finesse, v. i., 2.

Finesse , intransitive verb

1.
To use artifice or stratagem. — Goldsmith
2.
(Whist Playing) To attempt, when second or third player, to make a lower card answer the purpose of a higher, when an intermediate card is out, risking the chance of its being held by the opponent yet to play.