SINCE 1828

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1

gammon

noun gam·mon \ ˈga-mən \

Definition of gammon

1 chiefly British : ham 2

2 chiefly British

a : a side of bacon

b : the lower end of a side of bacon

Origin and Etymology of gammon

assimilated form of earlier gambon, borrowed from Anglo-French gamboun, jaumbeun, from gambe, jambe "hock of a horse, leg" + -on, diminutive or particularizing suffix, going back to Latin -ō, -ōn-, suffix of persons with a prominent feature — more at jamb

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First Known Use: 15th century

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2

gammon

noun

Definition of gammon

1 archaic : backgammon

2 : the winning of a backgammon game before the loser removes any men from the board

Origin and Etymology of gammon

probably shortened from backgammon

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First Known Use: 1699

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3

gammon

verb

Definition of gammon

transitive verb

: to beat by scoring a gammon

Origin and Etymology of gammon

derivative of ²gammon

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First Known Use: 1668

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4

gammon

verb

Definition of gammon

intransitive verb

1 : to talk gammon

2 : pretend, feign

transitive verb

: deceive, fool

Origin and Etymology of gammon

derivative of ⁵gammon

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First Known Use: 1781

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5

gammon

noun

Definition of gammon

: talk intended to deceive

Origin and Etymology of gammon

argot word, earlier in sense "criminal accomplice who distracts a victim during a robbery," of uncertain origin

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First Known Use: 1781

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