Английский Этимологический словарь - card (n.)

- early 15c., from M.Fr. carte, from L. charta "leaf of paper, tablet," from Gk. khartes "layer of papyrus," probably from Egyptian. Sense of "playing cards" is oldest in Fr. and Eng., the sense extended to similar bits of paper 1596. Verb meaning "require (someone) to show ID" is 1970s. Cardboard is from 1848; Card-carrying first attested 1948, during U.S. Cold War anti-Communist paranoia. Card table is from 1713.