gambit

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“
Permitting the gambit is a provision of the Environmental Management Act that empowers the government to enact something akin to martial law when faced with an environmental hazard.

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Definitions (38)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (4)

  1. noun An opening in chess in which a minor piece, or pieces, usually a pawn, is offered in exchange for a favorable position.
  2. noun A maneuver, stratagem, or ploy, especially one used at an initial stage.
  3. noun A remark intended to open a conversation.
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Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (30)

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Examples (49)

  • He also has a great name.The word gambit can be used generally to refer to trickery or stratagem (another fantastic word), and is clearly fitting to describe a superhero who carries playing cards wherever he goes.
  • Even if this gambit were to fail—and it will not—still, I have secured my endgame. —  Jacqueline Carey - Kushiel 02 - Kushiel's Chosen
  • Nintendo bet big on that gambit, although they were confident enough to back up their bluff by packing in —  1UP RSS feed
  • But of course, at Dunder Mifflin, the end result of such a gambit is that Oscar falls through the ceiling.
  • While they're doing that stupid little gambit, the Skrulls also attack as Skrulls. —  Every Day Is Like Wednesday
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This word has been looked up 201 times.

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Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Ultimately from Spanish gambito, from Italian gambetto, act of tripping someone up in wrestling, from gamba, leg, from Old Italian; see gambol.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. from French gambit, a gambit, from Italian gambetto, a tripping up of one's legs (cf. Old French jambet, a tripping of the legs, a feint, a sudden attack, faire le jambet, or jamber, trip the legs, make a feint, deceive), from gamba, leg: see gamb, jamb.
 

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/ˈgæmbɪt/
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