▪ I. martingale, n.
(ˈmɑːtɪŋgeɪl)
Also 6–7 martingall, 7–9 martingal.
[a. F. martingale (Cotgr. 1611 in sense 1), of obscure etymology.
First found in Rabelais in chausses a la martingale hose that fastened at the back (hence Sp., It. martingala a sort of hose, in Sp. also cuishes). This is commonly supposed to mean literally ‘hose after the fashion of Martigues’ (in Provence), and the ‘martingale’ for a horse is assumed to have been so named from its similarity to hose of this kind. It is, however, doubtful whether Rabelais's a la martingale is anything but a jocular application of the term of the manege, though the mod. Prov. dicts. give martegalo as one of the Pr. forms of the word.]
1. A strap or arrangement of straps fastened at one end to the noseband, bit, or reins and at the other to the girth to prevent a horse from rearing or throwing back his head.
| 1589 ? Lyly Pappe w. Hatchet Wks. 1902 III. 410 Thou shalt be broken as Prosper broke his horses, with a muzroule, portmouth, and a martingall. a 1616 Beaum. & Fl. Scornf. Lady ii. i, Lord what a hunting head shee carries, sure she has been ridden with a Martingale. 1661 Howell Twelve Treat. 237 Some people are to be rid with strong bitts and curbs, and martingalls. 1727 Bradley Fam. Dict. s.v. Colt, Then put on a Martingal. 1826 Disraeli Viv. Grey iii. iv, If you found a martingale for the mother, Vivian, it had been well if you had found a curb for the daughter. 1903 Blackw. Mag. July 83/1 Where is the saddle, the martingale? |
2. Naut. A rope for guying down the jib-boom to the dolphin-striker; also called martingale-guy, martingale-stay. flying martingale, a similar supporting rope for the flying jib-boom. martingale backrope, a guy-rope for the dolphin-striker.
| 1794 Rigging & Seamanship I. 233 Martingal-stay, to support the jib-boom. 1815 Falconer's Dict. Marine (ed. Burney), Martingale in a ship is a name given to the rope extending downwards from the jib-boom end to a kind of bumkin. 1840 R. H. Dana Bef. Mast xxxv. 132 Tackle [was] got upon the martingale backrope. 1882 Nares Seamanship (ed. 6) 13 The flying jib-boom is supported downwards by a flying martingale. |
b. A dolphin-striker (see dolphin 9).
| 1794 Rigging & Seamanship I. 170 Martingal, an ash bar, fixed downwards from the fore-side of the bowsprit-cap, and by which the martingal-stay supports the jib-boom. 1853 Kane Grinnell Exp. iii. (1856) 27 We ran into an iceberg.., and carried away our jib-boom and martingale. 1899 F. T. Bullen Log Sea-waif 17 Seated far out ahead of the ship by the martingale. |
3. A system in gambling which consists in doubling the stake when losing in the hope of eventually recouping oneself.
| 1815 Paris Chit-chat (1816) III. 52, I found him and his Mentor..calculating the infallible chances of a martingale. 1854 Thackeray Newcomes I. 266 You have not played as yet? Do not do so; above all avoid a martingale if you do. 1878 Daily News 9 Mar., She was to pay him {pstlg}20 per annum at the end of 1875, {pstlg}40 at the end of 1876, {pstlg}80 in 1877, and so on, in a sort of martingale. 1894 Maskelyne Sharps & Flats xiv. 325 Sometimes, of course, the martingale will answer its purpose splendidly for a while. |
▪ II. martingale, v.
(ˈmɑːtɪŋgeɪl)
[f. martingale n. Cf. F. martingaler in sense 1.]
1. intr. (See quot.)
| 1823 ‘Jon Bee’ Dict. Turf, Martingale, at play, to double stakes constantly, until luck taking one turn only, repays the adventurer all. |
2. trans. Naut. To secure with a guy-rope.
| 1882 Nares Seamanship (ed. 6) 211 If the wind is likely to freshen, martingale the..studding-sail boom. |