martingale

The strap of a horse’s harness that connects the girth to the noseband and is designed to prevent the horse from throwing back its head.

Any of several parts of standing rigging strengthening the bowsprit and jib boom against the force of the head stays.

A method of gambling in which one doubles the stakes after each loss.

A loose half belt or strap placed on the back of a garment, such as a coat or jacket.

In fencing, a bit of twine, fastened to the hilt of a foil, which is caught round one finger of the sword hand to prevent the foil from falling to the ground in case of disarmament.

In a horse’s harness, a strap passing between the fore legs, fastened at one end to the girth under the belly, and at the other to the bit or the musrol, or forked and ending in two rings through which the reins are passed, intended to hold down the head of the horse. See cut under harness.

Nautical, a short perpendicular spar under the bowsprit-end, used for guying down the headstays. Also called dolphin-striker. See cut under dolphin-striker.

A mode of play in such games as rouge et noir which consists in staking double the amount of money lost.

A strap fastened to a horse’s girth, passing between his fore legs, and fastened to the bit, or now more commonly ending in two rings, through which the reins pass. It is intended to hold down the head of the horse, and prevent him from rearing.

A lower stay of rope or chain for the jib boom or flying jib boom, fastened to, or reeved through, the dolphin striker. Also, the dolphin striker itself.