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martingale |
2 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Martingale \Mar"tin*gale\, Martingal \Mar"tin*gal\, n. [F. martingale; cf It martingala a sort of hose, martingale, Sp martingala a greave, cuish, martingale, Sp alm['a]rtaga a kind of bridle.] 1. A strap fastened to a horse's girth, passing between his fore legs, and fastened to the bit, or now more commonly ending in two rings, through which the reins pass. It is intended to hold down the head of the horse, and prevent him from rearing. 2. (Naut.) A lower stay of rope or chain for the jib boom or flying jib boom, fastened to or reeved through the dolphin striker. Also the dolphin striker itself 3. (Gambling) The act of doubling, at each stake, that which has been lost on the preceding stake; also the sum so risked; -- metaphorically derived from the bifurcation of the martingale of a harness. [Cant] --Thackeray. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: martingale n 1: a harness strap that connects the nose piece to the girth; prevents the horse from throwing back its head 2: spar under the bowsprit of a sailboat [syn: {dolphin striker}]
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