To play the game, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To do a thing properly; to do what is right and proper.
1889. Geoffrey Drage, Cyril, ch. vii. I really think he is … not playing the game.
The first game ever played, subs. phr. (venery).—Copulation. For synonyms, see Greens and Ride.
Gamecock, adj. (old).—Hectoring; angry; valiant out of place.
1838. Lever, Handy Andy. Smoke and fire is my desire, So blaze away my gamecock squire.
Gameness, subs. (colloquial).—Pluck; endurance; the mixture of spirit and bottom.
1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, ch. xxiv. There was no doubt about his gameness.
1884. Referee, 23 March, p. 1, c. 4. Carter fought with great gameness, but he never had a look in.
Gamester, subs. (old).—1. A prostitute. For synonyms, see Barrack-hack and Tart.
1598. Shakspeare, All’s Well, v. 3. She’s impudent, my lord, and was a common gamester to the camp.