backgammon
|back-gam-mon|
/ˌbækˈɡæmən/
board game of moving pieces with dice
Etymology
'backgammon' originates from Middle English, specifically the word 'bacgammon' (a combination of 'back' + 'gammon'), where 'back' meant 'back' and 'gammon' derived from Old English 'gamen' meaning 'game'.
'backgammon' changed from Middle English 'bacgammon' (with elements from Old English 'gamen') and eventually became the modern English word 'backgammon'.
Initially, it meant 'a game (of tables) played by moving pieces', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a two-player board game played with dice and checkers'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a two-player board game in which each player moves 15 pieces according to the roll of two dice, aiming to remove (bear off) all their pieces from the board first.
They played backgammon late into the night.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/26 06:14