n. [ OE. game, gamen, AS. gamen, gomen, play, sport; akin to OS., OHG., & Icel. gaman, Dan. gammen mirth, merriment, OSw. gamman joy. Cf. Gammon a game, Backgammon, Gamble v. i. ] 1. Sport of any kind; jest, frolic. [ 1913 Webster ]

We have had pastimes here, and pleasant game. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A contest, physical or mental, according to certain rules, for amusement, recreation, or for winning a stake; as, a game of chance; games of skill; field games, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

But war's a game, which, were their subject wise,
Kings would not play at. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Among the ancients, especially the Greeks and Romans, there were regularly recurring public exhibitions of strength, agility, and skill under the patronage of the government, usually accompanied with religious ceremonies. Such were the Olympic, the Pythian, the Nemean, and the Isthmian games. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The use or practice of such a game; a single match at play; a single contest; as, a game at cards. [ 1913 Webster ]

Talk the game o'er between the deal. Lloyd. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. That which is gained, as the stake in a game; also, the number of points necessary to be scored in order to win a game; as, in short whist five points are game. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Card Playing) In some games, a point credited on the score to the player whose cards counts up the highest. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. A scheme or art employed in the pursuit of an object or purpose; method of procedure; projected line of operations; plan; project. [ 1913 Webster ]

Your murderous game is nearly up. Blackw. Mag. [ 1913 Webster ]

It was obviously Lord Macaulay's game to blacken the greatest literary champion of the cause he had set himself to attack. Saintsbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Animals pursued and taken by sportsmen; wild meats designed for, or served at, table. [ 1913 Webster ]

Those species of animals . . . distinguished from the rest by the well-known appellation of game. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

Confidence game. See under Confidence. --
To make game of, to make sport of; to mock. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Having a resolute, unyielding spirit, like the gamecock; ready to fight to the last; plucky. [ 1913 Webster ]

I was game . . . .I felt that I could have fought even to the death. W. Irving. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Of or pertaining to such animals as are hunted for game, or to the act or practice of hunting. [ 1913 Webster ]

Game bag, a sportsman's bag for carrying small game captured; also, the whole quantity of game taken. --
Game bird, any bird commonly shot for food, esp. grouse, partridges, quails, pheasants, wild turkeys, and the shore or wading birds, such as plovers, snipe, woodcock, curlew, and sandpipers. The term is sometimes arbitrarily restricted to birds hunted by sportsmen, with dogs and guns. --
Game egg, an egg producing a gamecock. --
Game laws, laws regulating the seasons and manner of taking game for food or for sport. --
Game preserver, a land owner who regulates the killing of game on his estate with a view to its increase. [ Eng. ] --
To be game. (a) To show a brave, unyielding spirit. (b) To be victor in a game. [ Colloq. ] --
To die game, to maintain a bold, unyielding spirit to the last; to die fighting. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Gamed p. pr. & vb. n. Gaming. ] [ OE. gamen, game&unr_;en, to rejoice, AS. gamenian to play. See Game, n. ] 1. To rejoice; to be pleased; -- often used, in Old English, impersonally with dative. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

God loved he best with all his whole hearte
At alle times, though him gamed or smarte. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To play at any sport or diversion. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To play for a stake or prize; to use cards, dice, billiards, or other instruments, according to certain rules, with a view to win money or some other thing waged upon the issue of the contest; to gamble. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. W. cam crooked, and E. gambol, n. ] Crooked; lame; as, a game leg. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a canvas or leather bag for carrying game (especially birds) killed by a hunter. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. (Zool.) The male game fowl. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Zool.) A handsome breed of the common fowl, remarkable for the great courage and pugnacity of the males. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Full of game or games. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who has the care of game, especially in a park or preserve. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Destitute of game. [ 1913 Webster ]