gambit: [17] Like gambol [16], gambit originated in an Italian noun meaning literally ‘tripping up’. The Italian for ‘leg’ is gamba (a relative of English gammon ‘bacon’). From it were derived gambetto and gambata, both of which signified ‘trip-up’. The former was borrowed into Spanish as gambito, where its underlying notion of ‘underhanded procedure’ was first applied specifically to a chess manoeuvre in the mid- 16th century.
It passed into English mainly via French gambit. More frivolous, light-hearted aspects of ‘tripping’ are preserved in gambata, which English originally took over via French as gambade and gradually transformed into gambol. => gambol, gammon
gambit (n.)
"chess opening in which a pawn or piece is risked for advantage later," 1650s, gambett, from Italian gambetto, literally "a tripping up" (as a trick in wrestling), from gamba "leg," from Late Latin gamba (see gambol (n.)). Applied to chess openings in Spanish in 1561 by Ruy Lopez, who traced it to the Italian word, but the form in Spanish generally was gambito, which led to French gambit, which has influenced the English spelling of the word. Broader sense of "opening move meant to gain advantage" in English is recorded from 1855.
例文
1. Campaign strategists are calling the plan a clever political gambit .
竞选策划人士认为该计划是一着巧妙的政治棋。
2. He sees the proposal as more of a diplomatic gambit than a serious defense proposal.
在他看来，与其说这是一项精心筹划的国防动议，倒不如说是外交上的一着妙棋。
3. His favourite opening gambit is: "You are so beautiful, will you be my next wife?"
他最喜欢的开场白是：“你可真是个美人儿啊，能做我的下一任妻子吗？”
4. The Florida - friend gambit had not fooled Sweeting for an instant.
所谓佛罗里达的朋友那一套,一点也诓不了斯威廷.
5. As this gambit brought no success, she returned to the salt.