Etymology From Middle English *gammon, gambon, from Old French gambon (compare modern French jambon (“ham”)), from gambe (“leg”), from Late Latin gamba, from Ancient Greek καμπή (kampḗ). Doublet of jambon and jamon.
1
A cut of quick-cured pork leg.
[T]he cooks were laying a refection before him of sack and anchovies and garlic sausage and gammons of bacon and - this was the important item - a great pudding dish out of which rose the noble dome of a crisp brown pie-crust.1936, Norman Lindsay, The Flyaway Highway, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 40:
I bake a piece of gammon that will be served both hot and, later, as cold cuts.2022 October 17, Nigel Slater, “Smoked haddock, baked gammon: Nigel Slater’s winter recipes that make the most of your oven”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
Etymology From Middle English *gammon, gambon, from Old French gambon (compare modern French jambon (“ham”)), from gambe (“leg”), from Late Latin gamba, from Ancient Greek καμπή (kampḗ). Doublet of jambon and jamon.
1
To cure bacon by salting.
gammon
adj
Etymology Perhaps a special use of the word from etymology 2.
1
Papua New Guinea Fake, pretend; bullshit.
Australian Aboriginal; chiefly Queensland; Northern Territory; Australian Aboriginal; chiefly Queensland; Northern Territory
I was just being gammon.
She ripped the fake coins off […] and tried a black lacy veil, which covered Kerry's forehead, mouth and chin, rendering her mysterious. ‘I look like a Muslim,’ Kerry said doubtfully. […] It was better than the gammon coins though, so she left it.2018, Melissa Lucashenko, Too Much Lip, University of Queensland Press, published 2023, page 112:
gammon
verb
Etymology From Middle English gamenen, gamene, from Old English gamnian, gæmnian, gamenian (“to joke, play”), from Proto-West Germanic *gamanōn, from Proto-Germanic *gamanōną (“to play, have fun, joke”). Cognate with Middle High German gamenen (“to mock, make fun of”), Icelandic gamna (“to have fun”). More at game.
Etymology From Middle English gamenen, gamene, from Old English gamnian, gæmnian, gamenian (“to joke, play”), from Proto-West Germanic *gamanōn, from Proto-Germanic *gamanōną (“to play, have fun, joke”). Cognate with Middle High German gamenen (“to mock, make fun of”), Icelandic gamna (“to have fun”). More at game.
Backgammon, Games A victory in backgammon achieved when the opponent has not borne off a single stone.
Toward the end of the game Roger had not borne off a single stone belonging to Roseanna, and she scored a gammon. She could not hide the triumph in her eyes. “Perhaps you will play a better game if we play for something closer to your heart,” she suggested.2009 July 29, Virginia Henley, The Raven and the Rose, Island Books, →ISBN, page 210:
We started about 7:00 drinking beers and playing gammon. Then after getting a little “loose” we went to a girls dorm.2008 03, Zanzibar McFate, I Battled a Giant Otter: My Gut Bustin', Mutha Lovin' Life of Manly Adventure, iUniverse, →ISBN, page 131:
Etymology Perhaps related to the first etymology, with reference to tying up a ham.
1
Nautical, Transport A rope fastening a bowsprit to the stem of a ship (usually called a gammoning).
gammon
verb
Etymology Perhaps related to the first etymology, with reference to tying up a ham.
1
To lash with ropes (on a ship).
“No, by thunder !” he cried, “it's us must break the treaty when the time comes; and till then I'll gammon that doctor, if I have to ile his boots with brandy.”1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC, part VI (Captain Silver), page 251:
gammon
noun
Etymology Perhaps a special use of the word from etymology 2.
Some people maintains^([sic]) that an Englishman's house is his castle. That's gammon.1836 March – 1837 October, Charles Dickens, chapter XXIV, in The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1837, →OCLC, page 251:
“Gammon, Pen—go on,” Foker said.1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 46, in The History of Pendennis. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1849–1850, →OCLC:
1 more example
He swore that all other religions were gammon, / And wore out his knees in the worship of Mammon.1911, Ambrose Bierce, “Mammon”, in The Devil’s Dictionary, New York, N.Y.; Washington, D.C.: The Neale Publishing Company, →OCLC:
gammon
verb
Etymology Perhaps a special use of the word from etymology 2.
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.1959, Georgette Heyer, chapter 1, in The Unknown Ajax:
This blackfulla's driving a car. Copper stops 'im, says, “Did you know you were speeding?” Blackfulla says, “No.” His Missus goes, “Oh yeah you did, eh.” Cop says, “Did you know your tail lights aren't working? Guy says, "No". His missus says, "You did an' all, Dont you gammon to them coppers." Guy goes to his Missus, "Shut up!" Copper asks the Missus, "Does he always talk to you like that?" She goes, "Only when he's drunk!"2016, Cathy McLennan, Saltwater, →ISBN:
gammon
noun
Etymology Gained popularity in 2017 (in the phrase "Great Wall of Gammon", likening the referents' rosy complexions to gammon (“ham, bacon”)), although the metaphor was in use earlier: the BBC points to a 2016 use of “gammon face”.
1
UK, Derogatory, Neologism A middle-aged or older right-wing, reactionary white man, or such men collectively.
Yeah, let the bitch drown / Got the gammons all feeling sick now / Great Britannia's lost all hope, she's broke2022, “Take That”, performed by Bob Vylan:
I was expecting the Guardian to portray me as an old gammon and pair me up with some radical with coloured hair. Then she walked through the door with blue hair, which was rather amusing!2025 August 10, Sam Wollaston, quoting Martin, “Dining across the divide: ‘I expected to be portrayed as an old gammon and paired up with some radical with coloured hair’”, in The Guardian, →ISSN: