Wonging hot tables

[Benjamin Barrett]

I don't believe it was actually used as a verb in the broadcast though the Wikipedia page says it is a verb. There are something like four Googits for "wonging/wonged a/the table" but I don't see anything with "in." (My preference would be "on" if I were to use a preposition.)

Benjamin Barrett
Seattle, WA

Learn Ainu! https://sites.google.com/site/aynuitak1/videos

On Jul 8, 2013, at 2:49 PM, "Mullins, Bill CIV (US)" <william.d.mullins18.civ at MAIL.MIL> wrote:

> Was the term "Wonging", or was it to "Wong in" (to a hot table)?
> 
>> In today's episode of _This American Life,_ "Blackjack," the term =
>> "Wonging" is discussed. = (http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-
>> archives/episode/466/blackjack?act=3D=
>> 1#play)
>> 
>> As in the broadcast, Wikipedia =
>> (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_Wong) mentions this as derived
> =
>> from Stanford Wong, a pseudonym for John Ferguson.
>> 
>> The term means to start gambling when the table is hot (i.e., odds are
>> = in your favor, based on card counting).
>> 
>> Neither the OED nor Wiktionary/Wikipedia have an entry for this
> meaning
>> = of "Wonging," and both come close but seem to strike out when it
>> comes = to "hot." Here are three definitions from the OED that are
> very
>> warm:
>> 
>> 11b. In predicative use. Of a participant in a children's seeking or =
>> guessing game: extremely close to finding the object sought or to =
>> guessing correctly. Also in extended use.=20 12e. Betting. Of a
>> competitor in a race, esp. a horse race: heavily = backed; strongly
>> favoured to win. Also in extended use. Chiefly in hot = favourite =20
>> 12f. Gambling slang (orig. U.S.). Of a gambler: on a run of good luck.
>> = Of dice, cards, etc.: unusually lucky or successful.
>> 
>> The last part, "of dice, cards, etc.: unusually successful" comes
>> close, = but I think this refers to a table that is currently paying
>> out, whereas = with Wonging, it means the table is primed by virtue of
>> the odds to = start paying out.
>> 
>> Benjamin Barrett
>> Seattle, WA
>> 
>> Learn Ainu! https://sites.google.com/site/aynuitak1/home=

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