gammock means fun, sport, play, frolic. Lexicurio rates it Sui generis — a strength score of 87 out of 100.
Why “gammock” is a great word
GAMMOCK — [Noun, Verb] A piece of fun, sport, or a prank; to frolic, romp, or play pranks. Its etymology is uncertain. Perhaps from Middle English *gammok, from a hypothetical Old English *gamnoc, *gamenoc ("little game, bit of fun"), equivalent to 'game' (sport, amusement) + '-ock' (diminutive suffix). Alternatively, perhaps from a hypothetical Old English *gamnecian, *gamenecian ("to frolic"), from 'gamen' (sport, amusement) + '-(e)cian' (frequentative suffix). The earliest evidence for the noun is from 1819 and for the verb from 1832. Unlike "gambol," which specifies leaping motion, or "jest," which denotes verbal wit, "gammock" is the broader, earthier term for unstructured mirth. It is the scuffling game in the hayloft, the carefully balanced bucket above a door, and the shared, breathless laughter that follows—a sturdy, local word for joy too physical to ever become refined.
Etymology
Uncertain. Perhaps from Middle English *gammok, from Old English *gamnoc, *gamenoc (“little game, bit of fun”), equivalent to game + -ock (diminutive suffix). Alternatively, perhaps from Old English *gamnecian, *gamenecian (“to frolic”), from Old English gamen (“sport, amusement”) + -(e)cian (frequentative suffix).
noun
- Fun, sport, play, frolic.
- A joke, trick, prank.
verb
- To romp, frolic, play pranks, lark about; to go partying from place to place.