Hazard Was Originally a Dice Game
A hazard is a danger. The word named a medieval dice game, and the rules of that game evolved into craps.
A hazard is a source of danger. It began as a game: *hazard* was a medieval dice game of Arabic origin, and its association with risk gave English the modern sense. The game itself travelled to America and evolved into craps, so the word for danger and one of the world's most popular gambling games share an ancestor.
- A source of danger. *A fire hazard.*
- A risk. *At hazard.*
- To venture. *Hazard a guess.*
- An obstacle in golf. *A water hazard.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | hazard | A trip hazard. |
| Plural | hazards | Workplace hazards. |
| Verb | hazard | Hazard a guess. |
| Adjective | hazardous | Hazardous waste. |
| Related | craps | A game of craps. |
How it is used in a sentence
- A hazard is a source of harm.Risk is the chance it occurs.
- I would hazard a guess.Venture.
- Put your hazards on.Warning lights on a car.
Hazard and risk
- Hazard — something with the potential to cause harm
- Risk — the likelihood that it does
- Exposure — how much contact there is with the hazard
- Control — measures reducing risk
- Example — a cliff is a hazard; standing near the edge creates the risk
From Old French *hasard*, a dice game, probably from Arabic *az-zahr*, the die. The sense of danger developed by the sixteenth century.
Hazard or risk?
A hazard is a potential source of harm. Risk is the probability that harm actually occurs.
Is craps descended from hazard?
Yes. The medieval game reached America through French players and developed into the modern game of craps.