GAME

This article appears in Volume V11, Page 440 of the Encyclopedia Britannica.

Encyclopedia Britannica - Main :: GAG-GEO

GAME , a word which in its primary and widest significance means any amusement or

sport

SPORT (a contracted or shortened form of "disport," to amuse, divert oneself, O. Fr. se dis porter or deporter, to leave off work, hence to play, Lat. dis-, away, and portare, to carry; the origin of the meaning lies in the notion of turning away from ser

, often combined in the early examples with "

glee

GLEE

," " play," " joy " or " solace." It is a common Teutonic word, in O. Eng. gamen, in O.H.G. gaman, but only appears in modern usage outside

English

ENGLISH

in Dan. gammon and Swed. gammon. The ulterior derivation is obscure, but philologists have identified it with the Goth. gaman, companion or companionship; if this be so, it is compounded of the prefix ga-, with, and the root seen in " man." Apart from its primary and general meaning the word has two specific applications, first to a contest played as a recreation or as an exhibition of skill, in accordance with rules and regulations; and, secondly, to those wild animals which are the objects of the chase, and their flesh as used for food, distinguished as such from

meat

MEAT

, fish and poultry, and from the flesh of deer, to which the name " venison " is given. For " game," from the legal aspect, and the

laws

LAWS

relating to its pursuit and capture see GAME

LAWS

LAWS

. The athletic contests of the ancient Greeks (ayiaves) and the public shows (ludi) of the arena and

amphitheatre

AMPHITHEATRE (Gr. 441, around, and O&arpov, a place for spectators)

of the ancient Romans are treated below (GAMES, CLASSICAL); the various forms of modern games, indoor and outdoor, whether of skill, strength or chance, are dealt with under their specific titles. A

special

SPECIAL

use ("gaming" or "gambling") restricts the

term

TERM

to the playing of games for money, or to betting and wagering on the results of events, as in horse-racing, &c. (see GAMING AND WAGERING). " Gamble," " gambler " and " gambling " appear very

late

LATE

English

ENGLISH

. The earliest quotations in the New English Dictionary for the three words are dated 1775, 1747 and 1784 respectively. They were first regarded as cant or

slang

SLANG

words, and implied a reproach, either as referring to cheats or sharpers, or to those who played recklessly for extravagant stakes. The form of the words is obscure, but is supposed to represent a local variation gammle of the M.E. gamenian. From this word must, of course, be distinguished " gambol," to

sport

SPORT (a contracted or shortened form of "disport," to amuse, divert oneself, O. Fr. se dis porter or deporter, to leave off work, hence to play, Lat. dis-, away, and portare, to carry; the origin of the meaning lies in the notion of turning away from ser

, frisk, which, as the older forms (gambald, gambaud) show, is from the Fr. gambade, leap, jump, of a horse, It. gambado, gamba, leg (Mod. Fr. jambe).

End of Article: GAME

If you wish, you can link directly to this article.

<a href="http://jcsm.org/StudyCenter/Encyclopedia/GAG_GEO/GAME.html">
GAME
</a>

(Previous)
GAMBRINUS

(Next)
GAME LAWS

JCSM was founded in 1997 and exists to help the community and bring people into a life-changing and productive relationship with Jesus Christ. JCSM offers over 200,000 free web pages, including its weekly inspirational emails that were sent continuously for over a decade.

Jesus Christ Saves Ministries
P.O. Box 9297
San Diego, CA 92169
1-888-887-0417 or Email