Gammoning

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. The securing of a ship's bowsprit to its stem with heavy rope lashings ; the act of tricking or humbugging someone with false talk
2. Binding a projecting bowsprit firmly against the bow of a vessel ; deceiving a person through pretence, nonsense or a hoax
3. Fastening a ship's bowsprit down onto the stem timbers with cordage ; the practice of misleading or fooling another person with lies

Etymology: "Gammoning" is the present participle of "gammon," a verb meaning to deceive or hoax someone. The verb itself is a derivative of the noun "gammon," which in British English slang has long meant nonsense, humbug, or a deceptive yarn. Its earlier roots are obscure, and the noun's own sense of nonsense is the link that carries the word forward. The -ing ending is a simple suffix that turns the verb into its participle form, so "gammoning" describes the act of deceiving someone in progress. The word has stayed largely within British informal speech, where it sounds like playful teasing rather than serious fraud.

Synonyms: deceiving, hoaxing, bluffing, kidding