ravenest
And I was trying to figure out how you 'heard something like' that claim. But granted ...you did write 'heard' and not 'read'.
I do think that the word Tarocchi may reference the marks made in the gold leaf such that it resembled the pitted skin of a certain kind of orange - the "tarocco orange," which name derives from a hammer technique (taroccata) to make marks in leather and metals.
Note however, 'tariere' a'boiste' means a 'wimble', which is
an 'auger', that is a hand tool for boring holes
Taraud: n.m - screw tap
Taraudage: n.m - tapping a hole for a screw; threaded hole
Tarauder (v) tap (a hole for a screw); (Literature) torment.
In Florio's Italian-English dictionary 'Fora' means not only outside,
abroad; but an auger [a borer, a piercer, a wimble].
So the relationship maybe to a game in which one 'pegs holes', ie, a point scoring game.
- Kwaw
But also here a connection with the firmament [and thus the constellations].
- Kwaw
sure, fair point... but I still feel the original premise of 'Tarot meaning hole-maker' is just a bit much of a stretch.
Some note that the French “tarot” also indicated a dice, having on every side many black holes, whose name could have passed to the game of cards.
The question is; does anyone else have an opinion on the origin of the word tarot, is its basis, beginning , foundation and (yes, excuse me but I will use the word) bedrock?
I do think that the word Tarocchi may reference the marks made in the gold leaf such that it resembled the pitted skin of a certain kind of orange - the "tarocco orange," which name derives from a hammer technique (taroccata) to make marks in leather and metals.