The Origin of Backgammon
Fredericmoll
Jive Dadson
>
> The origin of backgammon now in english:
> http://perso.wanadoo.fr/bckg/english.htm
I read something interesting the other day. I had naturally assumed (as
Merriam Webster does) that "gammon" is probably related to the word
"game". But I read in a book (_Five Finger Discount_) that there's a
place in New Jersey that's colloquially called "Gammontown" or something
like that. The name derives for a non-English word that means "left
behind". (New Jersey was the first stop for immigrants after they were
mustered at Ellis Island. The poorest, tiredest huddled masses never
made it any farther.) I forget what language the word comes from.
Irish, I presume. It makes perfect sense. When you gammon the
opponent, it's because his checkers have been badly left behind.
Compare that to the lurch in cribbage, and the phrase "left in the
lurch."
The etymology guy at Merriam Webster is probably getting tired of
hearing from me. :)
Jive
Douglas Zare
Jive Dadson wrote:
> Fredericmoll wrote:
> >
> > The origin of backgammon now in english:
> > http://perso.wanadoo.fr/bckg/english.htm
>
> I read something interesting the other day. I had naturally assumed (as
> Merriam Webster does) that "gammon" is probably related to the word
> "game". But I read in a book (_Five Finger Discount_) that there's a
> place in New Jersey that's colloquially called "Gammontown" or something
> like that. The name derives for a non-English word that means "left
> behind".[...]
Interesting. Does gamin (urchin) have the same origin? I figured that we
took that from French.
Douglas Zare
Jive Dadson
I don't know. Sounds plausible.
J.