/ ˈgæmbɪt; NAmE / noun
1.
a thing that sb does, or sth that sb says at the beginning of a situation or conversation, that is intended to give them some advantage :
an opening gambit (= the first thing you say)
2.
a move or moves made at the beginning of a game of chess in order to gain an advantage later
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 17th cent.: originally gambett , from Italian gambetto , literally tripping up, from gamba leg.