I have been researching the first use of the term “casual game” and thought I had struck unexpected gold when this August 17, 1885 article from the New York Times came up in the search results: “Provisions for an Ocean Steamer”. I was awaiting the description of the game-playing habits of the passengers, enjoying, probably, a casual session of some card game en vogue at the time.
But the casual game in question is the other meaning of game, as in “hunted, non-domesticated animal”. Not sure what makes it casual though? Small amounts?
(The first use of “casual game” relating to game as in “rule-based pastime” is either 1919 or 1936, depending on how you interpret the 1919 article.)
What a great find.
I suspect the use of casual here means something that happens by chance or accident (“A casual meeting”) … presumably meaning that the type of game depends on what happens to be available at port at the time?
Ian, I think you are right. Here is some etymology that supports your case.
c.1374, “subject to or produced by chance,” from O.Fr. casuel, from L.L. casualis “by chance,” from L. casus “chance, event” (see case (1)). Of persons, in the sense of “not to be depended on, unmethodical,” it is attested from 1883. Casualty in the modern military sense is 1844, from the word’s older sense of “accident” (1423).