gammon

noun (1)

gam·mon | \ˈga-mən

Definition of gammon

(Entry 1 of 5)

1 chiefly British : ham sense 2

2 chiefly British

a : a side of bacon

b : the lower end of a side of bacon

gammon

noun (2)

Definition of gammon (Entry 2 of 5)

1 archaic : backgammon

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

gammon

verb (1)

gammoned; gammoning; gammons

Definition of gammon (Entry 3 of 5)

transitive verb

: to beat by scoring a gammon

gammon

verb (2)

gammoned; gammoning; gammons

Definition of gammon (Entry 4 of 5)

intransitive verb

1 : to talk gammon

2 : pretend, feign

transitive verb

: deceive, fool

gammon

noun (3)

Definition of gammon (Entry 5 of 5)

: talk intended to deceive

First Known Use of gammon

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1699, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

1668, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1781, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (3)

1781, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for gammon

Noun (1)

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

Noun (2)

probably shortened from backgammon

Verb (1)

derivative of gammon entry 2

Verb (2)

derivative of gammon entry 5

Noun (3)

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

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