backgammon

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A board game for two players in which each has 15 stones which move between 24 triangular points according to the roll of a pair of dice; the object is to move all of one's pieces around, and bear them off the board.
  2. A victory in the game when the loser has not borne off a stone, and still has one or more stones in the winner's inner home row or on the bar.
verb
  1. To win at a backgammon game with the opponent having one or more pieces in the winner’s inner home row or on the bar.

Pronunciation

ʹbăkgămən /ˈbæk.ɡæm.ən/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-backgammon.wav

Word forms

backgammon backgammons backgammoning backgammoned

Etymology

Probably from back + Middle English gamen, from Old English gamen (“amusement, game”).

Related words

gammon tick-tack tric-trac trick-track
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