English

Proper noun

Gammon

1. (Ireland) the Shelta or Cant language of the Irish Travelling Community.

Usage notes

• The term Gammon is most widely used by its native speakers in Ireland, but is known to the linguistic community as Shelta. Cant, or the Cant, is used by non-native speakers.

English

Noun

gammon ‎(plural gammons)

1. The lower or hind part of a side of bacon.

Translations

Verb

gammon ‎(third-person singular simple present gammons, present participle gammoning, simple past and past participle gammoned)

1. To cure bacon by salting.

Etymology 2

Probably a special use of Middle English gamen ‎(“game”).

Noun

gammon ‎(plural gammons)

1. (backgammon) A victory in backgammon achieved when the opponent has not taken a single stone; (also, rarely, backgammon, the game itself).

Related terms

• backgammon

Verb

gammon ‎(third-person singular simple present gammons, present participle gammoning, simple past and past participle gammoned)

1. (backgammon) To beat by a gammon (without the opponent taking a stone).

Translations

Etymology 3

Perhaps related to the first etymology, with reference to tying up a ham.

Noun

gammon ‎(plural gammons)

1. (nautical) A rope fastening a bowsprit to the stem of a ship (usually called a gammoning).

Verb

gammon ‎(third-person singular simple present gammons, present participle gammoning, simple past and past participle gammoned)

1. To lash with ropes (on a ship).

Translations

Etymology 4

Perhaps a special use of the word from etymology 2.

Noun

gammon ‎(plural gammons)

1. (dated) Chatter, ridiculous nonsense.
   • 1836, Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers 40

     ‘Come, none o’ this gammon,’ growled Smouch, giving him another, and a harder one.

   • 1911: Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary

     He swore that all other religions were gammon,
     And wore out his knees in the worship of Mammon.

Verb

gammon ‎(third-person singular simple present gammons, present participle gammoning, simple past and past participle gammoned)

1. (colloquial, dated) To deceive, to lie plausibly.
   • 1959, Georgette Heyer, chapter 1, in The Unknown Ajax:

     And no use for anyone to tell Charles that this was because the Family was in mourning for Mr Granville Darracott […]: Charles might only have been second footman at Darracott Place for a couple of months when that disaster occurred, but no one could gammon him into thinking that my lord cared a spangle for his heir.