Gamboled
/ˈɡæm.bəld/noun
Past tense and past participle of gambol, meaning to leap or move about playfully.
Did you know?Gambol ultimately comes from the same Latin root as gambit and jamb, linking a playful leap, a chess maneuver, and a doorway side through the idea of a leg or projecting limb.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
καμπή (kampē)
“A bend, joint, or flexure; probably the older source behind the later leg term.”
Late Latin
Latin
gamba
“The leg, especially the lower leg; a word likely borrowed from Greek.”
Medieval French
Old French
gambe
“Leg; the source of the related French forms for leg movement.”
12th–13th Century
Old French
gambade
“A leap, kick, or playful bound, literally associated with movement of the legs.”
16th Century
English
gambol
“To leap or skip playfully; borrowed through French and Italian forms related to gamba.”
Modern English
English
gamboled
“Leaped or moved playfully; a regular past-tense spelling, especially common in American English.”