parlay
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par·lay
(pär′lā′, -lē)tr.v. par·layed, par·lay·ing, par·lays
1. To bet (an original wager and its winnings) on a subsequent event.
2. To use to great advantage or transform into something better: parlayed some small investments into a large fortune.
n.
A bet comprising the sum of a prior wager plus its winnings or a series of bets made in such a manner.
[Alteration of paroli, staking of double the sum staked before in faro, from French, from obsolete Italian, probably from Italian parare, to place a bet, from Latin parāre, to prepare; see pare.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
parlay
(ˈpɑːlɪ)vb (tr)
1. (Gambling, except Cards) to stake (winnings from one bet) on a subsequent wager. Brit equivalent: double up
2. to exploit (one's talent) to achieve worldly success
n
(Gambling, except Cards) a bet in which winnings from one wager are staked on another, or a series of such bets
[C19: variant of paroli, via French from Neapolitan Italian parolo, from paro a pair, from Latin pār equal, par]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
par•lay
(ˈpɑr leɪ, -li)v.t.
1. to bet or gamble (an original amount and its winnings) on a subsequent contest.
2. to use (assets) to achieve a relatively great gain: to parlay a modest inheritance into a fortune.
n. 3. a bet of an original sum and the subsequent winnings.
[1820–30, Amer.; alter. of earlier paroli < French < Neapolitan Italian, pl. of parolo, perhaps derivative of paro equal < Latin pār; see pair]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
parlay
Past participle: parlayed
Gerund: parlaying
| Imperative |
|---|
| parlay |
| parlay |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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| Noun | 1. | parlay - a series of wagers in which the winnings from one wager are used as a stake for the subsequent wagers |
| Verb | 1. | parlay - stake winnings from one bet on a subsequent wager |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.