1883. Edw. E. Morris, in Longman's Mag., June, p. 176. A youth, who left England, and then carried on the same game in Australia.
1889. Standard, 1 May, p. 5, c. 1. The 'game of law and order' is not up, in Paris.
1890. Punch, 30 Aug., p. 97. Mug's game! They'll soon find as the Marsters ain't going to be worried and welched.
1891. J. Newman, Scamping Tricks, p. 46. She knew how to work the game of fascination right.
1892. R. L. Stevenson and L. Osbourne, The Wrecker, p. 340, 'It was the thing in your times, that's right enough; but you're old now, and the game's up.
Adj. (old).—1. Plucky; enduring; full of spirit and bottom (q.v.). [Cock-pit and pugilists'. The word may be said to have passed into the language with the rise to renown of Harry Pearce, surnamed the Game Chicken.]
1747. Capt. Godfrey, Science of Defence, p. 64. Smallwood (a boxer) is thorough game, with judgment equal to any, and superior to most.
1819. Moore, Tom Crib's Memorial, p. 57. Pitying raised from earth the game old man.
1821. P. Egan, Tom and Jerry (ed. 1891), p. 38. Tom, however, was too game to acknowledge any sort of alarm at this slight visitation.
1823. E. Kent, Mod. Flash Dict. Game, s.v. Sturdy, hardy, hardened.
1827. Reynolds, Peter Corcoran, The Fancy. 'The Field of Tothill.' The highest in the fancy—all the game ones, Who are not very much beneath her weight.
1855. A. Trollope, The Warden, ch. viii. He was a most courageous lad, game to the backbone.
1891. Licensed Vict. Gaz., 19 June, p. 395. The round had lasted sixteen minutes, and no one present had ever seen gamer or more determined fighting.
2. (common).—Ready; willing; prepared. [Also from cock-fighting. See sense 1].
1836. Dickens, Pickwick, p. 99, (ed. 1857). 'All alive to-day, I suppose?' 'Regular game, sir.'
1856. Reade, Never Too Late ch. xxi. I'm game to try.
1865. Bentley, p. 182, 'The Excursion Train.' Again to London back we came The day the excursion ticket said, And really both of us felt game To travel round the world instead.
1880. Punch's Almanack. Got three quid; have cried a go with Fan, Game to spend my money like a man.
1891. Farjeon, The Mystery of M. Felix, p. 103. 'I'm game,' said Sophy, to whom any task of this kind was especially inviting.
1891. Hume Nisbet, Bail Up! p. 51. 'Yes, I am gamey, you bet!' exclaimed the Chinaman, softly.
1891. J. Newman Scamping Tricks, p. 121. It is nearly midnight. I am game for another hour, are you?
3. (old).—Lame; crooked; disabled: as in Game Leg.
1787. Grose, Prov. Glossary. Game-leg, a lame leg.
1825. Scott, St. Ronan's Well, ch. i. Catching hold of the devil's game leg with his episcopal crook.
1851. G. Borrow, Lavengro, ch. lxvii., p. 204 (1888). Mr. Platitude, having what is vulgarly called a game leg, came shambling into the room.
1875. Jas. Payn, Walter's Word, ch. i, Well, you see, old fellow, with a game-arm (his left arm is in a sling), and a game-leg (he has limped across the platform with the aid of his friend, and also of a crutch), one feels a little helpless.
4. (thieves').—Knowing; wide-awake; and (of women) Flash (q.v.), or inclined to venery. E.g., Game-cove = an associate of thieves; Game-woman = a prostitute: i.e., a woman who is game (sense 2); Game-pullet (Grose) = a girl that will show sport, a female game-cock; game-ship (old) = a ship whose commander and officers could be corrupted by bribes to allow the cargo to be stolen (Clark Russell).
