English Explanatory Dictionary

gambit

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An opening in chess in which material is sacrificed to gain an advantage.
  2. Any ploy or stratagem.
  3. A remark intended to open a conversation.
verb
  1. To sacrifice (a pawn or minor piece) to gain an advantage.

Pronunciation

/ˈɡæmbɪt/ En-us-gambit.ogg

Word forms

gambit gambits gambett gambiting gambited

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *kh₂em- Proto-Indo-European *kh₂emp- Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *kh₂empeh₂ Proto-Hellenic *kampā́ Ancient Greek καμπή (kampḗ)bor. Late Latin gamba Italian gamba Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Italic *-tosder.? Late Latin -ittus Italian -etto Italian gambettobor. English gambit Borrowed from Italian gambetto (“act of tripping; gambit”), from gamba (“leg”) + -etto (diminutive suffix). First attested in 1656.

Derived words

Botez gambit countergambit Evans Gambit Galileo gambit Kings's Gambit Queen's Gambit Queen's Gambit Declined Stafford gambit Tennison Gambit Ultimate Boeing 747 gambit Xanatos gambit
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