gioco Italian · revision 37741

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 1292, Bono Giamboni|origins=ine-pro *yek-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈd͡ʒɔ.ko/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''gioco''' ''m'' (plural giochi)^(Wiktionary)

+ The traditional Tuscan form with the diphthong is [[giuoco]], now literary.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Devoto–Oli 2026) Old and dialect forms include [[roa-oit|ioco]], [[roa-oit|giuco]], [[roa-oit|giogo]] and [[roa-oit|zoco]], and an old feminine plural ''giocora''.^(GDLI)^(Wiktionary)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la|iocus|t=jest, joke]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) In Latin the word meant above all a joke in words, but it later replaced [[la|lūdus|t=game, play]], the game in action.^(DELI 1999) The GDLI calls it a semi-learned word.^(GDLI) The same word is pan-Romance: [[fr|jeu]], [[oc|joc]], [[ca|joc]], [[es|juego]], [[pt|jogo]], [[sc|giogu]] and [[ro|joc]], which also means “dance”.^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935)

+

+ De Vaan reconstructs [[itc-pro|*jokos]] from a PIE word [[ine-pro|*yek-|t=to speak]], meaning “word, utterance”, related to [[xum|iuku|t=words, prayers]], [[cy|iaith|t=language]] and [[goh|jehan|t=to utter]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Nocentini sees its earliest meaning as “ritual formula”, which became “verbal joke” in Latin.^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is in Bono Giamboni, before 1292, in the sense of any game played for amusement or exercise: ''giuoca alla palla, ovvero ad altro giuoco di fanciullo'' (“he plays ball, or some other children's game”).^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI|6, 795) Brunetto Latini, before 1294, already uses it for a passion for gambling and figuratively for a joke or a trick.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the 13th century the word was also used for a contest or competition, and Dante (1313–1319) for a game played to rules;^(DELI 1999) Giovanni Villani, before 1348, uses the plural for public games and the singular for a stake.^(DELI 1999) The mechanical sense, “play” between two fitted parts, appears in Francesco Alunno before 1556, and “hand of cards” in 1887.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ Some uses come from French: the proverb ''il gioco non vale la candela'' translates ''le jeu ne vaut pas la chandelle'', and ''gioco di parole'' copies ''jeu de mots''.^(DELI 1999) The derivative ''giocattolo'' “toy” (1846), which Rigutini wrongly took for a Gallicism, goes back to Venetian ''zugatolo''.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010) Today ''gioco'' also means a toy, a sport, and in the plural a sports meeting such as ''i Giochi olimpici''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Before 1292 – Bono Giamboni uses ''gioco'' for a game played for amusement.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1294 – Brunetto Latini uses it for gambling and for a joke.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1313–1319 – Dante uses it for a game played to rules.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1348 – Giovanni Villani uses the plural for public games.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1556 – Francesco Alunno records the mechanical sense “play”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1846 – ''Giocattolo'' “toy” is recorded.^(Nocentini 2010)

+ * 1887 – Petrocchi records the sense “hand of cards”.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|game]], any activity done for amusement, recreation or exercise: ''i giochi dei bambini in cortile''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # A competition played to rules, often for money; [[m|en|gambling]]: ''Ha perso tutto al gioco.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # In card games, the cards a player holds and the position they give; figuratively, a hidden plan: ''scoprire il proprio gioco''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # A sport, and the way it is played: ''un gioco veloce e corretto''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(plural)'' A sports meeting with several events: ''i Giochi olimpici''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # A [[m|en|toy]].^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # A play of light or colour, an interplay: ''giochi di luce''.^(GRADIT 2003)

+ # A joke, a jest.^(GRADIT 2003)^(DELI 1999)

+ # ''(mechanics)'' [[m|en|play]], the small free space between two fitted parts.^(DELI 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[giocare]]

+ * [[giocata]]

+ * [[giocatore]]

+ * [[giocattolo]]

+ * [[giocattolaio]]

+ * [[giochetto]]

+ * [[giochino]]

+ * [[giocherellare]]

+ * [[giocherellone]]

+ * [[giocoforza]]

+ * [[giocoso]]

+ * [[giocosità]]

+ * [[videogioco]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[giocolare]]

+ * [[giocoliere]]

+ * [[giuoco]]

+ * [[la|iocus]]

+ * [[fr|jeu]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Fixed phrases include ''gioco da ragazzi'' (child's play), ''gioco di parole'' (a pun), ''fare il doppio gioco'' (to double-cross), ''farsi gioco di'' (to make fun of) and the proverbs ''ogni bel gioco dura poco'' and ''il gioco non vale la candela''.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}