Английский Этимологический словарь - play (v.)

- O.E. plega (W.Saxon) "recreation, exercise, any brisk activity," and plegian "to exercise, frolic, perform music," from W.Gmc. *plegan. Meaning "dramatic performance" is attested from early 14c. Player was pimps' word for themselves from 1974. Playground is from 1794. Playmate is from 1642 in the innocent sense, from 1954 in the sexual sense; playboy "bon vivant" is from 1829. Plaything is from 1675; playwright first recorded 1687. To play up "emphasize" is from 1909; play with oneself "masturbate" is from 1896; play for keeps is from 1861, originally of marbles or other children's games with tokens. To play the (something) card is attested from 1886. Play the field in the romantic sense is from 1936, from notion of gamblers betting on other horses than the favorite.