Английский Этимологический словарь - game (n.)

- O.E. gamen "joy, fun, amusement," of unknown origin, perhaps from P.Gmc. *ga- collective prefix + *mann "person," for a sense of "people together." Meaning of "wild animals caught for sport" is c.1300. Adjective sense of "brave, spirited" is 1725, from the noun, especially in game-cock "bird for fighting." Game show first attested 1961.