I. ˈgāj noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, of Germanic origin; akin to Gothic wadi pledge — more at wed
1. : a personal pledge that one will appear to support by combat his assertions or claims ; especially : a glove, cap, or other personal belonging cast on the ground to be taken up by an opponent as a pledge of combat
2. : something deposited or given to or taken by another as a security for the performance of some act by the person depositing it or giving it up and forfeited by nonperformance : security ; also : the transaction by which the security is given or taken — compare mortgage , pledge
•
- throw down the gage
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle French gager, from Old French gagier, from gage, n.
1. archaic : to give or deposit as a gage : give as security for some act : offer as a forfeit : pledge
2. archaic : stake , risk
III.
variant of gauge
IV. ˈgāj noun
( -s )
Etymology: by shortening
: greengage