gamm

n. A cross formed of four capital gammas, formerly used as a mysterious ornament on ecclesiastical vestments, etc. See Fylfot. [ 1913 Webster ]

. n. (Physics) A very penetrating electromagnetic ray not appreciably deflected by a magnetic or electric field, emitted by radioactive substances. Gamma rays are photons of electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength shorter than that of X-rays, (i. e. shorter than 0.1 nanometer) and are correspondingly more penetrating than X-rays. In addition to being given off in certain types of radioactive decay, they may be found in cosmic radiation, though they are largely absorbed by the earth's atmosphere. Gamma-ray detectors orbited above the atmosphere have found bursts of gamma radiation, in some cases associated with visually observed supernova explosions, but in most cases from unidentified sources. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

n. [ Possibly contr. fr. godmother; but prob. fr. grammer for grandmother. Cf. Gaffer. ] An old wife; an old woman; -- correlative of gaffer, an old man. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. gambon, F. jambon, fr. OF. gambe leg, F. jambe. See Gambol, n., and cf. Ham. ] The buttock or thigh of a hog, salted and smoked or dried; the lower end of a flitch. Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Gammoned p. pr. & vb. n. Gammoning. ] To make bacon of; to salt and dry in smoke. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See 2d Game. ] 1. Backgammon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A victory in the game of backgammon in which one player gammons another, i. e., the winner bears off all of his pieces before his opponent bears off any pieces; as, he won the match with three gammons in a row. [ PJC ]

3. An imposition or hoax; humbug. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To beat in the game of backgammon, before an antagonist has been able to get his “men” or counters home and withdraw any of them from the board; as, to gammon a person. In certain variants of the game one who gammons an opponent scores twice the normal value of the game. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

2. To impose on; to hoax; to cajole. [ Colloq. ] Hood. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Etymol. unknown. ] (Naut.) To fasten (a bowsprit) to the stem of a vessel by lashings of rope or chain, or by a band of iron. Totten. [ 1913 Webster ]