gamble

gamble
gamble (v.) 1726 (implied in gambling), from a dialectal survival of M.E. gammlen, variant of gamenen "to play, jest, be merry," from O.E. gamenian "to play, joke, pun," from gamen (see GAME (Cf. game)). Or possibly gamble is from a derivative of gamel "to play games" (1590s), itself likely a frequentative from game. Originally regarded as a slang word. The intrusive -b- may be from confusion with gambol. Related: Gambled; gambling. The noun meaning "risky venture" is from 1823.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Gamble — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Clarence Gamble (1881–1952), US amerikanischer Tennisspieler Douglas Gamble, britischer Konteradmiral im Ersten Weltkrieg Edward Gamble (* 1935), britisch kanadischer Bogenschütze Fred Gamble (* 1932), US… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • gamble — gam·ble / gam bəl/ vb gam·bled, gam·bling vi: to risk something of value for the chance of winning a prize vt: to risk (something) for the chance of winning a prize gam·bler / blər/ n Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster …   Law dictionary

  • Gamble — Gamble, v. t. To lose or squander by gaming; usually with away. Bankrupts or sots who have gambled or slept away their estates. Ames. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • gamble — [n] chance, speculation action, bet, fling, leap*, long shot*, lottery, outside chance*, raffle, risk, shot in the dark*, spec*, stab*, throw of the dice*, toss up*, uncertainty, venture, wager; concepts 28,363 Ant. design, guard, insurance, plan …   New thesaurus

  • gamble — [gam′bəl] vi. gambled, gambling [prob. back form. < obs. gamler, a gambler < gamel, to play (altered < ME gamen, to play < game, GAME1) + ER: akin to Ger dial. gammeln, to sport, make merry] 1. to play games of chance for money or… …   English World dictionary

  • Gamble — Gam ble, n. An act of gambling; a transaction or proceeding involving gambling; hence, anything involving similar risk or uncertainty. [Colloq.] [Webster 1913 Suppl.] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Gamble — Gam ble, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Gambled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Gambling}.] [Dim. of game. See 2d {Game}.] To play or game for money or other stake. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • gamble — ► VERB 1) play games of chance for money; bet. 2) bet (a sum of money). 3) take risky action in the hope of a desired result. ► NOUN 1) an act of gambling. 2) a risky undertaking. DERIVATIVES …   English terms dictionary

  • gamble — ▪ I. gamble gam‧ble 1 [ˈgæmbl] verb [intransitive, transitive] 1. FINANCE to risk money on the stockmarket or a new business activity in the hope of making a profit: gamble on • The company is gambling on a new clothing line expanding its… …   Financial and business terms

  • gamble — gam|ble1 [ˈgæmbəl] v [I and T] [Date: 1700 1800; Origin: game] 1.) to risk money or possessions on the result of something such as a card game or a race, when you do not know for certain what the result will be →↑bet ▪ Their religion forbids them …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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