The Lost Origins of Playing-Card Symbols. Cards have been used for gambling, divination, and even commerce. But where did their “pips” come from? An Object Lesson. By Adrienne Bernhard.

However, because playing cards already have a long history, the Clover suit is colloquially called Cubs, and the Leaf suit is known as Spades (as in Pikes, an evolution from the Italian Baton).