DCHP-1 Online

played out

• 1 of a mine or goldfield, worked out ; exhausted of minerals.

  • 1864  (1962)  . . . " Freend, be advised, and turn aboot,/For Cariboo is noo `play'd out "
  • 1880  When the Cassiar mines were opened, and Omenica was "played out," he turned back to Fort St. James.
  • 1958  Omineca [mines] played out. Fortunately Cassiar was discovered in 1874, but it too had seen its best days by 1876.

• 2 of animals or men, worn out; over-fatigued.

  See also: play out  

  • 1888  (1890)  His pony was about "played out."
  • 1956  Another night camp seemed unbearable, but what could we do with a couple of played-out horses?