gambol Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun gay or light-hearted recreational activity for diversion or amusement
    caper; play; frolic; romp.
    • it was all done in play
    • their frolic in the surf threatened to become ugly
  2. verb play boisterously
    disport; rollick; cavort; romp; run around; skylark; sport; frisk; lark; lark about; frolic.
    • The children frolicked in the garden
    • the gamboling lambs in the meadows
    • The toddlers romped in the playroom

WordNet

Gam"bol noun
Etymology
OE. gambolde, gambaulde, F. gambade, gambol, fr. It. gambata kick, fr. L. gamba leg, akin to F. jambe, OF. also, gambe, fr. L. gamba, hoof or perh. joint: cf. Gr. a binding, winding, W., Ir. & Gael. cam crooked; perh. akin to E. chamber: cf.F. gambiller to kick about. Cf. Jamb, n., Gammon ham, Gambadoes.
Definitions
  1. A skipping or leaping about in frolic; a hop; a sportive prank. Dryden.
Gam"bol intransitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Gamboled or Gambolled; present participle & verbal noun Gamboling or Gambolling
Definitions
  1. To dance and skip about in sport; to frisk; to skip; to play in frolic, like boys or lambs.

Webster 1913