gammon
1 Americannoun
-
the game of backgammon.
-
a victory in which the winner throws off all their pieces before the opponent throws off any.
verb (used with object)
noun
-
a smoked or cured ham.
-
the lower end of a side of bacon.
noun
verb (used without object)
-
to talk gammon.
-
to make pretense.
verb (used with object)
noun
-
a double victory in backgammon in which one player throws off all his pieces before his opponent throws any
-
archaic the game of backgammon
verb
noun
-
a cured or smoked ham
-
the hindquarter of a side of bacon, cooked either whole or cut into large rashers
noun
verb
verb
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.
"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
It said that alternative roasting joints had proven especially popular, with beef rib and gammon joints featuring as a centrepiece on more tables.
From BBC ● Jan. 2, 2024
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
My mom was the kind of mom who’d make sticky buns from scratch on Christmas morning, and she’d have canned vegetables for the day months before, so we’d have fresh green beans with our gammon.
From The Guardian ● Dec. 23, 2018
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
![]()
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.