gambol

verb gam·bol \ ˈgam-bəl \

Updated on: 14 Mar 2018

Definition of gambol

gamboled or gambolled; gamboling or gambolling play \ˈgam-bə-liŋ also -bliŋ\

intransitive verb

: to skip about in play : frisk, frolic

See gambol defined for English-language learners

See gambol defined for kids

gambol was our Word of the Day on 01/11/2017. Hear the podcast!

Examples of gambol in a Sentence

lambs gamboling in the meadow
dog owners chat while their pooches gambol on the park's great lawn

Recent Examples of gambol from the Web

Thanks to a reintroduction program, this horse is now found on the steppes of Central Asia, and up to 300 horses gambol around in Mongolia.

— ralph steadman, Discover Magazine, "Where the Wild Things Aren't," 1 Mar. 2018
Once the legislature got a look and all the devils that are gamboling through the details of the deal, somebody threw the emergency braking system and the whole legislature screeched to a halt.

— charles p. pierce, Esquire, "Human Bowling Jacket Paul LePage Equates Confederate Statues with 9/11 Monuments," 17 Aug. 2017
Or a surreal snow globe, with dinosaurs and flamingos gamboling next to the Tour Eiffel?

— lynn yaeger, Vogue, "Merci’s Summer Pop-Up Is Your Source for Quirky Paris Keepsakes," 13 July 2017
Each episode — burbling freshets, dancing peasants, water sprites gamboling in moonlit waters, a torrent tumbling over the St. John's Rapids – was firmly drawn and smoothly tied together.

— john von rhein, chicagotribune.com, "Jakub Hrusa scores strong CSO debut with vital account of Czech symphonic cycle," 19 May 2017
Tudor Nights: Derby Bight Sip, snack and savor artifacts and stories of a time when wealthy bettors gamboled and hooves pounded the streets of Washington.

— Washington Post, "Community and cultural events in the District, May 4-11, 2017," 3 May 2017
But for those in attendance for the launch event that watched as their pets gamboled over greenery seemed undeterred by the idea of a fee.

— elizabeth roberts, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Dog park moves toward paid memberships," 28 Apr. 2017
Now the view from the Leaman home and gardens includes fluffy lambs gamboling about in the open pastures high above Penn Cove.

— valerie easton, The Seattle Times, "Meandering gardens and a flock of sheep are part of the charm at this Whidbey Island farm," 12 Apr. 2017
When the big elephant Queenie lumbered onto a stage in Chicago recently, followed by a gamboling baby called Peanut, the audience cooed and clapped for the life-size puppets as much as the six humans operating them. ...

— john jurgensen, WSJ, "Faux Elephants Flourish at Circus 1903," 10 Apr. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gambol.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of gambol

in part verbal derivative of ²gambol, in part borrowing (assimilated to the noun) from Middle French gambader, verbal derivative of gambade

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1508

See Words from the same year

gambol Synonyms

Synonyms

caper, cavort, disport, frisk, frolic, lark, rollick, romp, sport;

Near Antonyms

mope, pout, stew, sulk;

dance, prance;

carouse, revel, roister;

carry on, fool around, horse around;

clown, cut up;

joyride, roughhouse, skylark;

kite;

Phrases

cut capers, kick up one's heels;

gambol

noun

Definition of gambol

: a skipping or leaping about in play

Examples of gambol in a Sentence

she and her old college roommate headed off for one final European gambol before returning to the States to start their separate careers

Recent Examples of gambol from the Web

Underneath, a river otter gambols on a rocky beach.

— lynn jacobson, The Seattle Times, "Paddle a kayak from Fort Worden for a waterside tour of Port Townsend," 23 Aug. 2017

Origin and Etymology of gambol

earlier "leap of a horse, leap, caper," probably apocopated variant of gambold, gambald, re-formation (by association with French-derived words, as ²ribald, ending in the suffix -aud, -auld) of gambade, borrowed from Middle French, probably borrowed from Occitan cambado, gambado, from camba "leg" (going back to Late Latin camba, gamba) + -ado -ade — more at jamb

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1510

See Words from the same year