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gammon1

[gam-uh n]Backgammon.
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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.
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verb (used with object)
  1. to win a gammon over.
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Origin of gammon1

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

gammon2

[gam-uh n]
noun
  1. a smoked or cured ham.
  2. the lower end of a side of bacon.
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Origin of gammon2

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

gammon3

[gam-uh n]British Informal.
noun
  1. deceitful nonsense; bosh.
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verb (used without object)
  1. to talk gammon.
  2. to make pretense.
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verb (used with object)
  1. to humbug.
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Origin of gammon3

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

Examples from the Web for gammon

Historical Examples

  • 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

gammon1

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

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

gammon2

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
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verb
  1. (tr) to score a gammon over
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Word Origin

C18: probably special use of Middle English gamen game 1

gammon3

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

Word Origin

C18: perhaps special use of gammon ²

gammon4

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

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.)).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper