adj
gammy
GA-mee
Gammy (adj) means Injured or not working properly, especially describing a leg. Example: “He walks with a limp because of his gammy knee.”
adj
1
Injured or not working properly, especially describing a leg.
"I'm not exactly spectacular at the moment with a gammy knee that sometimes lets me down and hair that looks as if it's been cut with a knife and fork."
— Abigail Gordon, A Summer Wedding at Willowmere (2009)
"He walks with a limp because of his gammy knee."
"I have got a gammy leg, and can't walk far."
""With that gammy leg I wouldn't risk a bet against the chance of another accident on those stairs.""
— Norman Lindsay, Dust or Polish? (1950)
2
Fake or counterfeit.
"The market stall was selling gammy watches for a fraction of the real price."
How to use gammy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBritish informal word for something (usually a leg) that's injured or not working right, or for something fake.
When to use it
Informal, mainly British and Australian usage.
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Word forms
- Plural
- gammies
- Comparative
- gammier
- Superlative
- gammiest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He walks with a limp because of his _____ knee.
Etymology
Origin uncertain — possibly linked to dialectal English "game" (meaning lame) or to Welsh cam ("crooked").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for gammy
See all rhymes for gammy →Frequently asked questions
What does “gammy” mean?
The word “gammy” means injured or not working properly, especially describing a leg. In plain terms, british informal word for something (usually a leg) that's injured or not working right, or for something fake.
How do you pronounce “gammy”?
“Gammy” is pronounced GA-mee (/ˈɡæmi/ in IPA).
How do you use “gammy” in a sentence?
Here is “gammy” used in a sentence: “He walks with a limp because of his gammy knee.”
What part of speech is “gammy”?
“Gammy” is an adjective.
Where does the word “gammy” come from?
The word “gammy” comes from Welsh. Origin uncertain — possibly linked to dialectal English "game" (meaning lame) or to Welsh cam ("crooked").
How many meanings does “gammy” have?
“Gammy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: injured or not working properly, especially describing a leg.
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