I was game . . . .I felt that I could have fought
even to the death. --W. Irving.
2. Of or pertaining to such animals as are hunted for game,
or to the act or practice of hunting.
{Game bag}, a sportsman's bag for carrying small game
captured; also, the whole quantity of game taken.
{Game bird}, any bird commonly shot for food, esp. grouse,
partridges, quails, pheasants, wild turkeys, and the shore
or wading birds, such as plovers, snipe, woodcock, curlew,
and sandpipers. The term is sometimes arbitrarily
restricted to birds hunted by sportsmen, with dogs and
guns.
{Game egg}, an egg producing a gamecock.
{Game laws}, laws regulating the seasons and manner of taking
game for food or for sport.
{Game preserver}, a land owner who regulates the killing of
game on his estate with a view to its increase. [Eng.]
{To be game}.
(a) To show a brave, unyielding spirit.
(b) To be victor in a game. [Colloq.]
{To die game}, to maintain a bold, unyielding spirit to the
last; to die fighting.
We have had pastimes here, and pleasant game.
--Shak.
2. A contest, physical or mental, according to certain rules,
for amusement, recreation, or for winning a stake; as, a
game of chance; games of skill; field games, etc.
But war's a game, which, were their subject wise,
Kings would not play at. --Cowper.
Note: Among the ancients, especially the Greeks and Romans,
there were regularly recurring public exhibitions of
strength, agility, and skill under the patronage of the
government, usually accompanied with religious
ceremonies. Such were the Olympic, the Pythian, the
Nemean, and the Isthmian games.
3. The use or practice of such a game; a single match at
play; a single contest; as, a game at cards.
Talk the game o'er between the deal. --Lloyd.
4. That which is gained, as the stake in a game; also, the
number of points necessary to be scored in order to win a
game; as, in short whist five points are game.
5. (Card Playing) In some games, a point credited on the
score to the player whose cards counts up the highest.
6. A scheme or art employed in the pursuit of an object or
purpose; method of procedure; projected line of
operations; plan; project.
Your murderous game is nearly up. --Blackw. Mag.
It was obviously Lord Macaulay's game to blacken the
greatest literary champion of the cause he had set
himself to attack. --Saintsbury.
7. Animals pursued and taken by sportsmen; wild meats
designed for, or served at, table.
Those species of animals . . . distinguished from
the rest by the well-known appellation of game.
--Blackstone.
{Confidence game}. See under {Confidence}.
{To make game of}, to make sport of; to mock. --Milton.
God loved he best with all his whole hearte At alle
times, though him gamed or smarte. --Chaucer.
2. To play at any sport or diversion.
3. To play for a stake or prize; to use cards, dice,
billiards, or other instruments, according to certain
rules, with a view to win money or other thing waged upon
the issue of the contest; to gamble.