n. [ Origin unknown; perhaps fr. Dan. bakke tray + E. game; or very likely the first part is from E. back, adv., and the game is so called because the men are often set back. ] A game of chance and skill, played by two persons on a “board” marked off into twenty-four spaces called “points”. Each player has fifteen pieces, or “men”, the movements of which from point to point are determined by throwing dice. Formerly called tables. [ 1913 Webster ]

backgammon board, a board for playing backgammon, often made in the form of two rectangular trays hinged together, each tray containing two “tables”. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. In the game of backgammon, to beat by ending the game before the loser is clear of his first “table”. When played for betting purposes, the winner in such a case scores three times the wagered amount. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_;; &unr_; = &unr_; twice + ga`mma the letter Γ. So called because it resembled two gammas placed one above the other. ] (Gr. Gram.) A letter (&unr_;, &unr_;) of the Greek alphabet, which early fell into disuse. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ This form identifies it with the Latin F, though in sound it is said to have been nearer V. It was pronounced, probably, much like the English W.

{ } a. Having the digamma or its representative letter or sound; as, the Latin word vis is a digammated form of the Greek 'i`s. Andrews. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The third letter (Γ, γ = Eng. G) of the Greek alphabet. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A cross formed of four capital gammas, formerly used as a mysterious ornament on ecclesiastical vestments, etc. See Fylfot. [ 1913 Webster ]

. n. (Physics) A very penetrating electromagnetic ray not appreciably deflected by a magnetic or electric field, emitted by radioactive substances. Gamma rays are photons of electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength shorter than that of X-rays, (i. e. shorter than 0.1 nanometer) and are correspondingly more penetrating than X-rays. In addition to being given off in certain types of radioactive decay, they may be found in cosmic radiation, though they are largely absorbed by the earth's atmosphere. Gamma-ray detectors orbited above the atmosphere have found bursts of gamma radiation, in some cases associated with visually observed supernova explosions, but in most cases from unidentified sources. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

n. [ Possibly contr. fr. godmother; but prob. fr. grammer for grandmother. Cf. Gaffer. ] An old wife; an old woman; -- correlative of gaffer, an old man. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. gambon, F. jambon, fr. OF. gambe leg, F. jambe. See Gambol, n., and cf. Ham. ] The buttock or thigh of a hog, salted and smoked or dried; the lower end of a flitch. Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Gammoned p. pr. & vb. n. Gammoning. ] To make bacon of; to salt and dry in smoke. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See 2d Game. ] 1. Backgammon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A victory in the game of backgammon in which one player gammons another, i. e., the winner bears off all of his pieces before his opponent bears off any pieces; as, he won the match with three gammons in a row. [ PJC ]

3. An imposition or hoax; humbug. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To beat in the game of backgammon, before an antagonist has been able to get his “men” or counters home and withdraw any of them from the board; as, to gammon a person. In certain variants of the game one who gammons an opponent scores twice the normal value of the game. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

2. To impose on; to hoax; to cajole. [ Colloq. ] Hood. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Etymol. unknown. ] (Naut.) To fasten (a bowsprit) to the stem of a vessel by lashings of rope or chain, or by a band of iron. Totten. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From 5th Gammon. ] (Naut.) The lashing or iron band by which the bowsprit of a vessel is secured to the stem to opposite the lifting action of the forestays. [ 1913 Webster ]

Gammoning fashion, in the style of gammoning lashing, that is, having the turns of rope crossed. --
Gammoning hole (Naut.), a hole cut through the knee of the head of a vessel for the purpose of gammoning the bowsprit. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From 4th Gammon. ] The act of imposing upon or hoaxing a person. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]