Word: gambol (verb)

Associations

The word "gambol" means to run or jump around playfully. It is often used to describe the joyful, lively movements of animals or children.

• The lambs gambolled in the meadow. (Lambs are running and jumping happily.)
• The children gambolled on the playground after school. (Children are playing energetically.)
• The puppy gambolled with its new toy. (The puppy is moving in a playful way.) A synonym is "frolic," but "gambol" often suggests light, springy movements, while "frolic" can be more general playful activity. Both express fun, but "gambol" focuses more on physical jumping or running.

Substitution

You can replace "gambol" with:

• frolic (play and move happily)
• skip (move lightly and quickly)
• romp (play roughly and energetically) Each changes the feeling slightly: "frolic" is general fun, "skip" is light steps, "romp" is rough play.

Deconstruction

"Gambol" comes from the Middle English word "gambolen," which means to leap or skip about. It is related to the Old French "gambader," which means to jump about. The root "gamba" in Italian means "leg," so the word is connected to moving legs in a lively way.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you or a pet gambolled happily?
• How would you describe the difference between gamboling and just walking or running?
• What animals do you imagine when you hear "gambol"? Why?