_Round Robin_ (Vol. iii., p. 353.).--The "little predie round-robin,"
mentioned by Dr. Heylin, was no doubt a small pancake. (See Halliwell's
_Archaic and Provincial Dictionary_, under "Round Robin.")
Of the derivation of the petition also called a round robin, I find the
following account in the _Imperial Dictionary_:--
"ROUND ROBIN, n. [Fr. _rond_ and _ruban_.] A written petition,
memorial, or remonstrance signed by names in a ring or circle. The
phrase is originally derived from a custom of the French officers,
who, in signing a remonstrance to their superiors, wrote their
names in a circular form so that it might be impossible to
ascertain who had headed the list. It is now used to signify an
act by which a certain number of individuals bind themselves to
pursue a certain line of conduct."
The round robin sent to Dr. Johnson on the subject of his epitaph on
Goldsmith is well known. In speaking of it Boswell states that the
sailors make use of it "when they enter into a conspiracy, so as not to
let it be known who puts his name first or last to the paper."