Gambit, gam′bit, n. a mode of opening a game of chess by sacrificing a pawn early in the game for the purpose of making a powerful attack. [It. gambetto, a tripping up—gamba, leg.]
Gamble, gam′bl, v.i. to play for money in games of chance or skill: to engage in wild financial speculations.—v.t. to squander away.—n. a gambling transaction.—ns. Gam′bler, one who gambles, esp. who makes it his business; Gam′bling-house, a house kept for the accommodation of people who play at games of hazard for money. [For gamm-le or gam-le, a freq. which has ousted M. E. gamenen—A.S. gamenian, to play at games—gamen, a game.]
Gamboge, gam-bōj′, or gam-bōōj′, n. a yellow gum-resin used as a pigment and in medicine.—adjs. Gambog′ian, Gambog′ic. [From Cambodia, in Asia, whence brought about 1600.]
Gambol, gam′bol, v.i. to leap, skip: to frisk in sport:—pr.p. gam′bolling; pa.p. gam′bolled.—n. a skipping: playfulness. [Formerly gambold—O. Fr. gambade—It. gambata, a kick—Low L. gamba, leg.]
Gambrel, gam′brel, n. the hock of a horse: a crooked stick used by butchers for suspending a carcass while dressing it.—Gambrel roof, a curved or hipped roof. [O. Fr. gamberel; cf. Fr. gambier, a hooked stick; prob. Celt. cam, crooked.]
Gambroon, gam-brōōn′, n. a twilled cloth of worsted and cotton, or linen. [Prob. Gambroon in Persia.]
Game, gām, n. sport of any kind: an exercise or contest for recreation or amusement, esp. athletic contests: the stake in a game: the manner of playing a game: the requisite number of points to be gained to win a game: jest, sport, trick, artifice: any object of pursuit or desire: (Shak.) gallantry: the spoil of the chase: wild animals protected by law and hunted by sportsmen, the flesh of such—hares, pheasants, partridges, grouse, blackcock.—adj. of or belonging to such animals as are hunted as game: plucky, courageous: (slang) having the spirit to do something.—v.i. to gamble.—ns. Game′-bag, a bag for holding a sportsman's game, also the whole amount of game taken at one time; Game′cock, a cock trained to fight; Game′keeper, one who has the care of game.—n.pl. Game′-laws, laws relating to the protection of certain animals called game.—adv. Gamely.—ns. Game′ness; Game′-preserv′er, one who preserves game on his property for his own sport or profit.—adj. Game′some, playful.—ns. Game′someness, sportiveness: merriment; Game′ster, one viciously addicted to gambling: a gambler; Game′-ten′ant, one who rents the privilege of shooting or fishing over a particular estate or district; Gam′ing, gambling; Gam′ing-house, a gambling-house, a hell; Gam′ing-tā′ble, a table used for gambling.—adj. Gam′y, having the flavour of dead game kept till tainted: (coll.) spirited, plucky.—Big game, the larger animals hunted; Die game, to keep up courage to the last; Make a game of, to play with real energy or skill; Make game of, to make sport of, to ridicule; Red game, the Scotch ptarmigan; Round game, a game, as at cards, in which the number of players is not fixed; The game is not worth the candle (see Candle); The game is up, the game is started: the scheme has failed. [A.S. gamen, play; Ice. gaman, Dan. gammen.]
Game, gām, adj. (slang) crooked, lame. [Most prob. not the Celt. cam, crooked.]
Gamic, gam′ik, adj. having a sexual character, of an ovum—opp. to Agamic.—ns. Gamete (gam-ēt′), a sexual protoplasmic body; Gamogen′esis, sexual reproduction.—adjs. Gamopet′alous (bot.), having the petals united at the base; Gamophyl′lous, having cohering perianth leaves; Gamosep′alous, having the sepals united. [Gr. gamos, marriage.]
Gamin, gam′in, n. a street Arab, a precocious and mischievous imp of the pavement. [Fr.]