gamester

English

Etymology

Derived from game +‎ -ster.

Pronunciation

• Audio (US):

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Noun

gamester (plural gamesters)

1. A person who plays games.
   • 1857, Thomas Hughes, Tom Brown's School Days

     And now, while they are climbing the pole in another part of the field, […] the old farmer […] announces to all whom it may concern that a half-sovereign in money will be forthcoming to the old gamester who breaks most heads; […]

2. (video games, nonstandard) One who plays video games.
   • 1990, Popular Mechanics, volume 167, number 3, page 37:

     Gamesters should know that Nintendo is considering a phone link that would allow players to compete via modem in nationwide competitions.

3. (gambling) A gambler.
   • 1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “The Author’s Oeconomy and Happy Life among the Houyhnhnms. […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume II, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, part IV (A Voyage to the Houyhnhnms), page 301:

     […] here were no Gibers, Cenſurers, Backbiters, Pick-pockets, Highwaymen, Houſebreakers, Attorneys, Bawds, Buffoons, Gameſters, Politicians, Wits, ſplenetick tedious Talkers, Controvertiſts, Raviſhers, Murderers, Robbers, Virtuoſo's; […]

4. (obsolete) A prostitute; one who is on the game.
   • c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iii], page 252, column 2, lines 187–188:

     She's impudent my Lord, / And was a common gameſter to the Campe.

Usage notes

Gamer is the term preferred by players of video games and tabletop role-playing games.

Synonyms

• (one who plays video games): gamer
• (prostitute): See Thesaurus:prostitute

Derived terms

• gamestress

Translations

person who plays games

• Bulgarian: играч (bg) m (igrač)
• Finnish: pelaaja (fi)
• Georgian: მოთამაშე (motamaše)
• Latin: āleō m, aleator (la)

one who plays video games — see gamer

gambler — see gambler

Anagrams

• gas meter, meagrest