Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. criminal or associated with the underworld; thus game woman, a prostitute; game publican, a publican who affects not to notice the breaking of the law.

1818		W. Perry London Guide 199: I know two game publicans in [Cripplegate], whose houses are well know haunts for night robbers.
1823		‘Jon Bee’ Dict. of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, etc. 85: ‘Game coachman,’ (hackney); ‘game watermen,’ those who would assist at carrying off stolen property, or help themselves, solus. ‘Game women,’ prostitutes of the highflyer sort. Game publicans, ? those who deal in stolen goods, or wink at the misdeeds of their customers.
1900		A.H. Lewis ‘Crime That Failed’ in Sandburrs 81: Dey was game, true pals from bell to bell, an’ stayed d’ distance.
1912		Ade Knocking the Neighbors 50: For years I have hankered and honed to be Dead Game.
1928		M.C. Sharpe Chicago May (1929) 144: She had lifted a whole bolt of silk, and dropped it into a long inside pocket of her coat. [...] blessed if she wasn’t going to sit down beside a harness bull, with her game side next to him.
1938		J. Curtis They Drive by Night 221: That’s the bloke for me. He’s dead game.
1977		D. Powis Signs of Crime 185: Game [...] Occasionally used to indicate a willingness to engage in either violently dishonest or deceitfully corrupt practices, e.g., ‘Is he game then?’ might mean either ‘Has he enough courage?’ or, on the other hand, ‘Can he be bribed?’.

2. (also gamey) of women, promiscuous.

1936		J. Curtis Gilt Kid 114: When I first knew you you were a real sporty kid, as game as they made them.
1952		B. MacMahon Children of the Rainbow 9: I’d rather have her in my arms than a gamey woman! [Ibid.] 112: That gamey eye of yours would upset a nation.
2011		J.J. Connolly Viva La Madness 12: The gamiest hookers, who rinsed out the punters till they were parying to the lord.

3. of an animal, cantankerous.

1819

Bob Gregson ‘Ya-Hip, My Hearties!’ in Moore Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress 81: Never fear, the breed, though British, / Is now no longer game or skittish.

4. of men, cunning, villainous.

1821		‘An Amateur’ Real Life in London I 83: There was a most excellent mill at Moulsey Hurst on Thursday last, between the Gas-light man, who appears to be a game chicken, and a prime hammerer—he can give and take with any man—and Oliver.
1822		Tom and Jerry; A Musical Extravaganza I viii: You are game to the backbone, Jerry.
1845		J. Lindridge Sixteen-String Jack 237: None but the gamest cock alive would have ventured sich an out-and-out proposal.
1890		‘Morris the Mohel’ ‘Houndsditch Day by Day’ in Sporting Times 15 Feb. 2/1: He ain’t game enough to blunge yet.
1900		A.H. Lewis ‘Crime That Failed’ in Sandburrs 81: Dey was dead games at that.
1924		G. Henderson Keys to Crookdom 405: Game. Plucky.
1927		H.C. Witwer Classics in Sl. 5: I figured he must be the gamest guy in the world.

5. (US campus) attractive, seductive.

1997–2000

College Sl. Research Project (Cal. State Poly. Uni., Pomona) 🌐 Game (adj.) Attractive; worthy of personal attention in the dating sense.