martingale

noun

mar·​tin·​gale ˈmär-tᵊn-ˌgāl 

-tiŋ-

1

: a device for steadying a horse's head or checking its upward movement that typically consists of a strap fastened to the girth, passing between the forelegs, and bifurcating to end in two rings through which the reins pass

2

a

: a lower stay of rope or chain for the jibboom used to sustain the strain of the forestays and fastened to or rove through the dolphin striker

b

: dolphin striker

3

: any of several systems of betting in which a player increases the stake usually by doubling each time a bet is lost

Illustration of martingale

• martingale 1

Examples of martingale in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Real Artificial Intelligence, Not an Algorithm If you have been burned before by martingale, grid and other algorithmic systems, Ridge offers a different approach. — Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 1 Oct. 2025

Unlike the martingale betting strategy, the Kelly criterion works in practice and proves its worth as a mainstay of quantitative finance. — Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 10 Aug. 2023

As Nave-Powers explains, there are a few types of dog training collars, including shock collars, prongs, choke chains, slip collars, martingales, electronic collars, and pagers, like the Petrainer Dog Training Collar. — Theresa Holland, Peoplemag, 17 July 2023

For the test, dogs may wear buckle, slip, or martingale collars with leashes made of fabric webbing or leather, and owners supply a comb or brush. — Iris Katz, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, 20 Mar. 2021

In a matter of seconds, the martingale could deliver dizzying jackpots or, equally as often, ruination. — Frederick Kaufman, The New Yorker, 19 Mar. 2021

Also referred to as a limited- or no-slip collars, a martingale is designed to constrict when a dog pulls on its leash, but never so tightly as to cause harm when properly fitted. — Cindy Cantrell, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Mar. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Middle French

First Known Use

1584, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for martingale

• abigail
• cottontail
• countervail
• fingernail
• mesoscale
• microscale
• monorail
• nanoscale
• ponytail
• swallowtail
• wensleydale
• yellowtail