gambit

[ gam-bit ]
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noun
  1. Chess. an opening in which a player seeks to obtain some advantage by sacrificing a pawn or piece.

  2. any maneuver by which one seeks to gain an advantage.

  1. a remark made to open or redirect a conversation.

Origin of gambit

1
1650–60; <French <Spanish gambito or Italian gambetto (akin to Old French gambet, jambet), equivalent to gamb(a) leg + -etta-et

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British Dictionary definitions for gambit

gambit

/ (ˈɡæmbɪt) /


noun
  1. chess an opening move in which a chessman, usually a pawn, is sacrificed to secure an advantageous position

  2. an opening comment, manoeuvre, etc, intended to secure an advantage or promote a point of view

Origin of gambit

1
C17: from French, from Italian gambetto a tripping up, from gamba leg

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