gambit

Meaning

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.
4. To sacrifice (a pawn or minor piece) to gain an advantage.

Etymology / origin

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.

Related words

Descendant words

• gambiitti(Finnish) (cog)
• gambitto(Italian) (cog)
• gambit(Polish) (bor)

Sources

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