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definitions

gammon

1
[gam-uh n]Backgammon.
See more synonyms for gammon on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. the game of backgammon.
  2. a victory in which the winner throws off all his or her pieces before the opponent throws off any.
verb (used with object)
  1. to win a gammon over.

Origin of gammon

1
1720–30; perhaps special use of Middle English gamen game1

gammon

2
[gam-uh n]
noun
  1. a smoked or cured ham.
  2. the lower end of a side of bacon.

Origin of gammon

2
1480–90; < Old French gambon ham (French jambon), derivative of gambe; see jamb1

gammon

3
[gam-uh n]British Informal.
noun
  1. deceitful nonsense; bosh.
verb (used without object)
  1. to talk gammon.
  2. to make pretense.
verb (used with object)
  1. to humbug.

Origin of gammon

3
First recorded in 1710–20; perhaps special use of gammon1
Related formsgam·mon·er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for gammon

pancetta, pork, groin, femur, rasher, sowbelly, gammon, ham, flank, hock, loins, fool, dupe, fleece, rook, deceive, frame, gull, hoodwink, con

Examples from the Web for gammon

Historical Examples of gammon

  • During the sticky flow of her words, he knew she was trying to gammon him.

    The Paliser case

    Edgar Saltus

  • "That's all very pretty, but it 's all gammon in my opinion," responded Henry.

    The Old Folks' Party

    Edward Bellamy

  • It's no use, dame Peake; they won't be gammon'd, take notice.

    The English Spy

    Bernard Blackmantle

  • With a rowley, powley, gammon and spinach;Heigho, says Anthony Rowley.

  • I did not like that, still my nerves were firm, for I knew it was all gammon.

British Dictionary definitions for gammon

gammon

1
noun
  1. a cured or smoked ham
  2. the hindquarter of a side of bacon, cooked either whole or cut into large rashers

Word Origin for gammon

C15: from Old Northern French gambon, from gambe leg; see gambrel

gammon

2
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
verb
  1. (tr) to score a gammon over

Word Origin for gammon

C18: probably special use of Middle English gamen game 1

gammon

3
noun
  1. deceitful nonsense; humbug
verb
  1. to deceive (a person)
Derived Formsgammoner, noun

Word Origin for gammon

C18: perhaps special use of gammon ²

gammon

4
verb
  1. (tr) nautical to fix (a bowsprit) to the stemhead of a vessel

Word Origin for gammon

C18: perhaps related to gammon 1, with reference to the tying up of a ham
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
Word Origin and History for gammon
n.

early 15c., "ham or haunch of a swine," from Old North French gambon "ham" (French jambon), from gambe "leg," from Late Latin gamba "leg of an animal" (see gambol (n.)).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper