[Fish], sporting with quick glance, Show to the sun
their waved coats dropt with gold. --Milton.
2. To practice the diversions of the field or the turf; to be
given to betting, as upon races.
3. To trifle. ``He sports with his own life.'' --Tillotson.
4. (Bot. & Zo["o]l.) To assume suddenly a new and different
character from the rest of the plant or from the type of
the species; -- said of a bud, shoot, plant, or animal.
See {Sport}, n., 6. --Darwin.
Syn: To play; frolic; game; wanton.
{Sporting book}, a book containing a record of bets, gambling
operations, and the like. --C. Kingsley.
{Sporting house}, a house frequented by sportsmen, gamblers,
and the like.
{Sporting man}, one who practices field sports; also, a horse
racer, a pugilist, a gambler, or the like.
{Sporting plant} (Bot.), a plant in which a single bud or
offset suddenly assumes a new, and sometimes very
different, character from that of the rest of the plant.
--Darwin.