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Synonyms

gammon

1 American  
[gam-uhn] / ˈgæm ən /

noun

  1. the game of backgammon.

  2. a victory in which the winner throws off all their pieces before the opponent throws off any.


verb (used with object)

  1. to win a gammon over.

gammon 2 American  
[gam-uhn] / ˈgæm ən /

noun

  1. a smoked or cured ham.

  2. the lower end of a side of bacon.


gammon 3 American  
[gam-uhn] / ˈgæm ən /

noun

  1. deceitful nonsense; bosh.


verb (used without object)

  1. to talk gammon.

  2. to make pretense.

verb (used with object)

  1. to humbug.

gammon 1 British  
/ ˈɡæmən /

noun

  1. a double victory in backgammon in which one player throws off all his pieces before his opponent throws any

  2. archaic the game of backgammon

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (tr) to score a gammon over

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
gammon 2 British  
/ ˈɡæmən /

noun

  1. a cured or smoked ham

  2. the hindquarter of a side of bacon, cooked either whole or cut into large rashers

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

gammon 3 British  
/ ˈɡæmən /

noun

  1. deceitful nonsense; humbug

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to deceive (a person)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
gammon 4 British  
/ ˈɡæmən /

verb

  1. (tr) nautical to fix (a bowsprit) to the stemhead of a vessel

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of gammon1

First recorded in 1690–1700; perhaps special use of Middle English gamen game 1

Origin of gammon2

First recorded in 1480–90; from Old French gambon “ham” ( French jambon ), derivative of gambe; see jamb 1

Origin of gammon3

First recorded in 1710–20; perhaps special use of gammon 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

"Gammon is fantastic. I cooked the whole thing in the air fryer, quite a big piece of gammon for 10 people, and it was absolutely delicious," she said.

From BBC Dec. 23, 2024

Until recently, Laira Green Primary School in Plymouth served local Cornish beef for its roast dinners every Thursday, but has now switched to gammon as a cheaper alternative.

From BBC Jul. 3, 2022

Her ham in cola is a treasure of a dish that calls for boiling a gammon in two liters of Coca-Cola, with an onion chucked in for mellow savoriness.

From New York Times Dec. 8, 2021

Pork has chosen to call itself gammon exclusively.It has also marketed a new dish called Gammon Stewcontaining 90 grams of potato to 1 gram of gammon.

From The Guardian Jul. 12, 2011

I should’ve just gone while I had the chance, but the dogs had prehistoric fangs, deranged eyes, gammon tongues, and steel chains round their necks.

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell

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