▪ I. gammy, a. dial. and slang.
(ˈgæmɪ)
[dial. equivalent of gamy.]
1. Tramps' slang. Bad, not good.
| 1839 in ‘Ducange Anglicus’ Vulg. Tongue, Gammy, bad. Gammy stuff, spurious soap or medicine. 1846 R. L. Snowden Magistr. Assist. 344 Bad coin, Gammy lowr. 1851 Mayhew Lond. Labour I. 364 A mark being placed on the door post of such as are bone or gammy in order to inform the rest of the school where to call and what houses to avoid. |
2. Theatr. (See quot.)
| 1889 Barrère & Leland Slang, Gammy..old, ugly, passée. |
3. Lame; disabled through injury or pain. Cf. game a.2 Also as n. a lame person.
| 1879 G. F. Jackson Shropsh. Word-bk. s.v., ‘A gammy fut.’ 1893 in Farmer Slang. 1913 Punch 23 Apr. 331 Gammy thumb! The rest o' the squad ain't got gammy thumbs, has they? 1947 D. M. Davin Gorse blooms Pale 80 That gammy foot of mine. |
▪ II. gammy, n. slang.
(ˈgæmɪ)
[? f. prec.]
Cant, the canting language.
| 1893 Farmer Slang s.v., citing (in error) Grose Dict. Vulg. Tongue (1785), Do you stoll the gammy? Do you understand cant? |