1891. Licensed Vict. Gaz., 19 June, p. 395. The round had lasted sixteen minutes, and no one present had ever seen gamer or more determined fighting.
2. (common).—Ready; willing; prepared. [Also from cock-fighting. See sense 1].
1836. Dickens, Pickwick, p. 99, (ed. 1857). ‘All alive to-day, I suppose?’ ‘Regular game, sir.’
1856. Reade, Never Too Late, ch. xxi. I’m game to try.
1865. Bentley, p. 182, ‘The Excursion Train.’ Again to London back we came The day the excursion ticket said, And really both of us felt game To travel round the world instead.
1880. Punch’s Almanack. Got three quid; have cried a go with Fan, Game to spend my money like a man.
1891. Farjeon, The Mystery of M. Felix, p. 103. ‘I’m game,’ said Sophy, to whom any task of this kind was especially inviting.
1891. Hume Nisbet, Bail Up! p. 51. ‘Yes, I am gamey, you bet!’ exclaimed the Chinaman, softly.
1891. J. Newman, Scamping Tricks, p. 121. It is nearly midnight. I am game for another hour, are you?
3. (old).—Lame; crooked; disabled: as in Game Leg.