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Added 9 October 2026

gammon

/ˈɡæmən/ noun

Latin root: gamba Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about gammon at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A cut of quick-cured pork leg.

verb

To cure bacon by salting.

verb

To joke, kid around, play.
To beat by a gammon (without the opponent bearing off a stone).

noun

A joke, trick; play, sport, merriment.
A victory in backgammon achieved when the opponent has not borne off a single stone.
Backgammon (the game itself).

Origin

From Middle English *gammon, gambon, from Old French gambon (compare modern French jambon (“ham”)), from gambe (“leg”), from Late Latin gamba, from Ancient Greek καμπή (kampḗ). Doublet of jambon and jamon.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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