martingale

Meanings

Noun

• A piece of harness used on a horse to keep it from raising its head above a desired point.
• A spar, or piece of rigging that strengthens the bowsprit.
• A stochastic process for which the conditional expectation of future values given the sequence of all prior values is equal to the current value.
• A gambling strategy in which one doubles the stake after each loss.
• A strap attached to the sword handle, preventing a sword being dropped if disarmed.

Verb

• To employ the martingale strategy in gambling.

Related

Similar words

• tie-down

Origin

• Middle French martingale, from Occitan martegalo, feminine form of martegal, an inhabitant of Martigues, which is from Latin maritima. Alternatively from Spanish almártaga.