ˈmär]t ə nˌgāl, ˈmȧ], ]d.ə̇n-, ]tə̇n- sometimes ]d.iŋˌg- or ]d.ēŋˌg- or ]ti- or ]tē- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle French, perhaps modification of Arabic mirta ah rein
1. : a device for steadying a horse's head or checking its upward movement that is essentially a strap fastened to the girth, passing between the forelegs, and fastened to the bit or the back of the noseband or more commonly ending in two rings through which the reins pass
2. or martingale guy or martingale stay
a. : a lower stay of rope or chain for the jibboom or flying jibboom used to sustain the strain of the forestays and fastened to or rove through the dolphin striker — see ship illustration
b. : dolphin striker
3. : any of several systems of betting in which a player increases his stake usually by doubling each time he loses a bet
[s]martinga.jpg[/s] [
martingale 1
]