The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Penchant \Pen`chant"\, n. [F., fr. pencher to bend, fr.
   (assumed) LL. pendicare, L. pendere. See Pendant.]
   Inclination; decided taste; bias; as, a penchant for art.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Penchant \Pen`chant"\, n. (Card Playing)
   A game like b['e]zique, or, in the game, any queen and jack
   of different suits held together.
   [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

penchant
    n 1: a strong liking; "my own preference is for good
         literature"; "the Irish have a penchant for blarney" [syn:
         preference, penchant, predilection, taste]