> hazard /ˈhæzɚd/, sb. (a.)
Forms: 4–6 hasard, 5–6 -arde, 6 hazarde, (hassard(e, hazered, Sc. hasart), 6–7 hazzard, 5– hazard.
Etymology: a. OFr. hasard, -art (12th c. in Hatz.-Darm.): cf. Pr., Sp., Pg. azar, Ital. la zara, azzardo (from Fr.), med.L. azardum, azarum (Du Cange).
The origin of the French word is uncertain, but its source was prob. Arabic. According to William of Tyre, the game took its name from a castle called Hasart or Asart in Palestine, during the siege of which it was invented: see Littré s.v. The true Arab name of this castle appears to have been ‘Ain Zarba (Prof. Mar…