gammon etymology

Etymology

The word "gammon" has several etymological roots:

• French: "gambon," meaning "ham" or "flitch of bacon"
• Old French: "gamboun," a type of protective garment worn under armor
• Low Latin: "gambonem," a padded garment
• Middle English: "gamoun," a ham or smoked leg of pork
• Old Norse: "gambanr," a ham or smoked leg of meat

Meaning

• 1. (noun) A smoked or salted leg of pork, especially one that has been cured with salt and spices.
• 2. (noun) A bluff or deception, especially in poker or gambling.

Origin

The word "gammon" originally referred to a padded garment worn under armor, which was made from the hams of pigs. Over time, the term became associated with the food item itself.

In the 17th century, the term "gammon" began to be used figuratively to refer to a bluff or deception. This usage is thought to have originated from the practice of using a wooden "gambon" or "dummy" to represent a real sword in fencing practice. If a fencer was able to strike the dummy, it was considered a "gammon."

Today, the word "gammon" is still used to describe both a smoked leg of pork and a bluff or deception.

gammon relate terms

• gambol

  Etymology The word gambol comes from the Middle English word gambolen which is deriv

• jamb

  Etymology and Meaning of Jamb The word jamb comes from the French word jambe mean

• gambol

  Etymology The word gambol comes from the Middle English word gambolen which is deriv

• gambol

  Etymology The word gambol comes from the Middle English word gambolen which is deriv

• gammon

  Etymology The word gammon has several etymological roots French gambon meaning

• gams

  Etymology Gams is derived from the Middle High German word gambe which means leg

• gammon

  Etymology The word gammon has several etymological roots French gambon meaning

• pearl

  Etymology The word pearl originates from the Old French word perle which in turn co

• flitch

  Etymology Origin Middle English Meaning A side of pork or bacon weighing between 60

• bacon

  Etymology The word bacon comes from the Middle English bacun which in turn derives

• carbohydrate

• perspicacity

  Etymology Perspicacity originates from the Latin word perspicacitās which is deriv

• scale

  Etymology of Scale Proto Indo European skel meaning to cut divide Proto Germani

• time

  Etymology Old English tîma time period hour West Germanic tîmon Proto Germanic

• week

  Etymology Old English wice Proto Germanic wikon Proto Indo European wig Meaning

• coach

  Etymology The word coach derives from the Hungarian word kocsi which referred to a