She often wears a flowered gown;
Tommy loves her night and day,
And Richard when he may,
And Johnny when he can;
I think Sam will be the man!
--Halliwell's _Nursery Rhymes_, pp. 217-218.
A girl is placed in the middle of a ring and says the lines, the names
being altered to suit the players. She points to each one named, and at
the last line the one selected immediately runs away; if the girl
catches him he pays a forfeit, or the game is commenced again, the boy
being placed in the middle.
Trades
Sides are chosen. These stand apart from each other, inside the line of
their den. One side chooses amongst themselves a trade, and then walk
over to the other side, imitating the actions pertaining to different
parts of that trade, and giving the initial letter. If the trade is
guessed by the opposite side, that side chooses the next trade, and
performs the actions. If the trade is not guessed, the side is at
liberty to choose another, and continue until one is guessed.--Forest of
Dean, Gloucestershire (Miss Matthews).
The players that are to act the dumb tradesmen agree among themselves
what trades are to be imitated. When this point is settled they present
themselves before those that are to guess the trade, and proclaim three
poor tradesmen wanting a trade--dumb. They then begin the work of
imitation. The onlooker that first discovers the trade calls it out, and
he becomes the dumb tradesman during the next round.--Fraserburgh (Rev.
W. Gregor).
Some of the players form a line, while three others come up and say--
"Here are three men from Botany Bay,
Got any work to give us to-day."
The others ask, "What can you do?" To which they reply, "Anything." And
the others retort, "Set to work, then."
The three then do some imaginary work, while those in the line have to
guess what it is.--Ogbourne, Wilts (H. S. May).
"Two broken tradesmen newly come over,
The one from France and Scotland, the other from Dover."
"What's your trade?"
Two boys privately arrange that the pass-word shall be some implement of
a particular trade. The trade is announced after the above dialogue, and
carpenters, nailors, sailors, smiths, tinkers, or any other is answered;
and on guessing the instrument, "Plane him," "Hammer him," "Rasp him,"
or "Solder him," is called out; then the fun is that the unfortunate
wight who guesses the "tool" is beaten with the caps of his fellows till
he reaches a fixed goal, after which he goes out in turn.--Halliwell's
_Nursery Rhymes_, cccxvi. In his _Dictionary_ it is called "Trades, and
Dumb Motions."
Northall (_English Folk-Rhymes_) records this game as being played in
Warwickshire. The method is practically the same as the Forest of Dean,
except that the "tradesmen" are beaten if their trade is easily guessed
by the others. They may also be beaten if they show their teeth during
the operations.
Trap, Bat, and Ball
A game played with a trap, a ball, and a small bat. The trap is of wood
made like a slipper, with a hollow at the heel end for the ball, and a
kind of wooden spoon moving on a pivot, in the bowl of which the ball is
placed. Two sides play--one side bats, the other fields. One of the
batsmen strikes the end or handle of the spoon, the ball then rises into
the air, and the art of the game is for the batsman to strike it as far
as possible with the bat before it reaches the ground. The other side
who are "fielding," try either to catch the ball before it falls to the
ground, or to bowl it from where it falls to hit the trap. If they
succeed in catching the ball all the "ins" are out, and their side goes
in to strike the ball, and the previous batsmen to field; if the trap is
hit the batsman is out and another player of his side takes his place.
The batsman is also out if he allows the ball to touch the trap when in
the act of hitting it.--(A. B. Gomme.)
Halliwell (_Dictionary_) says, "Nurspell" in Lincolnshire is somewhat
similar to "Trap Ball." It is played with a kibble, a nur and a spell.
By striking the end of the spell with the kibble the nur rises into the
air, and the game is to strike it with the kibble before it reaches the
ground. He who drives it the greatest distance is the winner. Miss Burne
(_Shropshire Folk-lore_, p. 527) says, "Trib and Knurr," otherwise "Dog
Stick," are local names for "Knur and Spell," a superior form of "Trap
Ball." The "knurr" is a hard wooden ball, the "trib" is the trap or
receptacle, the "Dog Stick" the sort of club with which it is struck.
The game is played as described by Halliwell. She adds it was formerly
the favourite pastime of young men on Shrove Tuesday.
At Bury St. Edmonds, on Shrove Tuesday, Easter Monday, and Whitsuntide
festivals, twelve old women side off for a game at "Trap and Ball,"
which is kept up with the greatest spirit and vigour until
sunset.--_Suffolk County Folk-lore_, p. 56. See also Chambers's _Book of
Days_, i. p. 428, for a similar custom among women at Chester.
See "Nur and Spel," "Tribet," "Trippit and Coit."
Tray-Trip
Grose says this was an ancient game, like Scotch-hop, played on a
pavement marked out with chalk into different compartments. According to
Halliwell (_Dictionary_), it was a game at dice.
See "Hop-scotch," "Scotch Hop."
Tres-acre
A game in which generally six are engaged--one taking a station before
two about 12 yards behind him, three 12 yards behind these two. One is
the catch-pole. Never more than two can remain; the supernumerary one
must always shift and seek a new station. If the catch-pole can get in
before the person who changes his station, he has the right to take his
place, and the other becomes pursuer.--Jamieson.
This is not very descriptive, but the game is evidently the same as
"Round Tag" and "Twos and Threes," played with a small number.
Tribet
A common children's game played in Lancashire; which, perhaps, may be
the primitive form of "Trap." It is played with a "pum," a piece of
wood about a foot long and two inches in diameter, and a "tribet," a
small piece of hard wood.--Halliwell's _Dictionary_.
See "Trap, Bat, and Ball."
Trippit and Coit
A game formerly known under the appellation of "Trippets," Newcastle.
It is the same as "Trip-cat" in some southern counties. The trippet
is a small piece of wood obtusely pointed--something like a shoe--hollow
at one end, and having a tail a little elevated at the other, which
is struck with a buckstick. It is also called "Buckstick,
Spell-and-Ore."--Brockett's _North Country Words_. See also Dickinson's
_Cumberland Glossary_. Halliwell's _Dictionary_ says--The game is almost
peculiar to the North of England. There is a poem called "The Trip
Match" in _Mather's Songs_.
See "Nur and Spel," "Trap, Bat, and Ball."
Trip and Go
Trip and go, heave and hoe,
Up and down, to and fro;
From the town to the grove,
Two and two let us rove;
A-maying, a-playing,
Love hath no gainsaying;
So merrily trip and go,
So merrily trip and go.
--Halliwell's _Nursery Rhymes_, cccxlviii.
A game rhyme, but undescribed.
Trip-trout
A game in which a common ball is used instead of the cork and feathers
in "Shuttlecock."--(Kinross) Jamieson.
See "Shuttlefeather," "Teesty Tosty."
Troap
A game played by two persons, with bandies or sticks hooked at the end,
and a bit of wood called a nacket. At each end of the ground occupied a
line is drawn. He who strikes off the nacket from the one line, tries to
drive it as near the other as possible. The antagonist who stands
between him and the goal tries to throw back with his hand the nacket to
the line from which the other has struck it. If he does this he takes
the place of the other. If not, the distance is measured between the
striking point and the nacket with one of the sticks used in striking,
and for every length of the stick one is counted against the
caster.--(Angus) Jamieson. The editor of Jamieson adds that the name
must have been originally the same as the English Trap, although in this
game a ball is used instead of a nacket, and it is struck off as in
cricket.
Troco, Trucks
This was an old English game formerly known as "trucks." Strutt, p. 270,
299 (who gives an illustration of it), considers this game to be the
original of billiards. Professor Attwell says, _Notes and Queries_, 7th
series, xii. 137, "This game was played at Nassau House School, Barnes,
for twenty years. It is played on a lawn with balls, cues, and rings."
Troule-in-Madame
In the Benefit of the Auncient Bathes of Buckstones, compiled by John
Jones at the King's Mede, nigh Darby, 1572, 4to. p. 12, we read: "The
ladyes, gentle woomen, wyves, and maydes, maye in one of the galleries
walke; and if the weather bee not aggreeable too theire expectacion,
they may haue in the ende of a benche eleuen holes made, intoo the which
to trowle pummetes, or bowles of leade, bigge, little, or meane, or also
of copper, tynne, woode, eyther vyolent or softe, after their owne
discretion; the pastyme _troule-in-madame_ is termed." Probably similar
to "Nine Holes."
Trounce-Hole
A game at ball resembling trap, but having a hole in the ground for the
trap, a flat piece of bone for a trigger, and a cudgel for a
bat.--Norfolk, Holloway's _Dictionary of Provincialisms_.
See "Trunket."
Troy Town
A game in which a plan of a labyrinth is drawn on a slate and presented
as a puzzle by boys to their schoolfellows for them to find a way into
the central citadel. It appears to owe its origin to the mediæval mazes
or labyrinths called "Troy Towns," or "Troy Walls," many of which
existed in different parts of England and Wales. It appears that games
connected with the midsummer festivals were held in these labyrinths.
This may, perhaps, account for the origin of this puzzle being
considered a game. For accounts of labyrinths or mazes called "Troy
Towns," see _Notes and Queries_, 1st series, xi. 132, 193; 2nd series,
v. 211-213; 8th series, iv. 96, 97; in which many references are given;
_Tran. Cymmrodorion Soc._, 1822, i. 67-69; Roberts' _Cambrian
Antiquities_ (in which is a plan), 212, 213; and _Folk-lore Journal_, v.
45.
Truncher
A game requiring dexterity. A young man lies flat, resting only on his
toes at a certain mark at one extremity and on a trencher in each hand
at the other. He then tries to reach out the trenchers as far as
possible, and if not held at the right angle and edgewise, down they go
and he is defeated.--Dickinson's _Cumberland Glossary_.
Trunket
A game at ball played with short sticks, and having a hole in the ground
in lieu of stumps or wickets as in "Cricket"; and with these exceptions,
and the ball being "cop'd," instead of bowled or trickled on the ground,
it is played in the same way; the person striking the ball must be
caught out, or the ball must be deposited in the hole before the stick
or cudgel can be placed there.--Halliwell's _Dictionary_.
See "Cudgel," "Trounce Hole."
Truss
A boy's game like "Leap-Frog."--Halliwell's _Dictionary_.
Tuilyie-wap
A childish amusement in Teviotdale, in which a number of boys take hold
of each other's hands and wrap themselves round the one who is at the
head; clasping themselves as firmly together as possible, and every one
pushing till the mass falls over.--Jamieson.
See "Bulliheisle," "Eller Tree," "Snail-Creep," "Wind the Bush Faggot."
Turn, Cheeses, Turn
Green cheeses, yellow laces,
Up and down the market places;
First a penny and then a groat,
Turn, cheeses, turn.
--Leicester (Miss Ellis).
Green cheeses, yellow laces,
Up and down the market places,
Turn, cheeses, turn!
--Halliwell's _Nursery Rhymes_, cccx.
This is acted by two or more girls who walk or dance up and down,
turning, when they say "Turn, cheeses, turn."--Halliwell.
I remember playing this game, but my remembrance is very imperfect. As
far as I remember, there were two lines or rows of children. They danced
forwards and backwards, crossing to the opposite side, and turning
round. At the words, "Turn, cheeses, turn," the cheeses all turned round
rapidly and then sank on the ground. The players tried to inflate their
dresses as much as possible, and then stooped down to the ground, so
that the dress remained inflated; only the head and shoulders surrounded
by a ball-like skirt then appeared, intended to represent a cheese. All
joined hands and danced round at the end. The lines sang were the same
as the Leicester except the third, which was--"Some a penny, some a
groat, turn, cheeses, turn." It was necessary for skirts to be very
"full" to make good cheeses--as wide at the waist as at the bottom of
the skirt.--(A. B. Gomme.)
Holland (_Cheshire Glossary_) says, a frequent amusement of girls is
making cheeses. They turn round and round till their dresses fly out at
the bottom; then suddenly squatting down, the air confined under the
dress causes the skirt to bulge out like a balloon. When skilfully done
the appearance is that of a girl's head and shoulders peeping out of an
immense cushion. Evans' _Leicestershire Glossary_ mentions this game. He
says, "The performers sing a song of which the refrain is 'Turn,
cheeses, turn,' but I do not remember to have heard the example cited by
Mr. Halliwell-Phillips."--_Percy Soc._, iv. p. 122.
I always understood that the green cheeses were sage cheeses--cheeses
containing sage. Halliwell says, "Green cheeses, I am informed, are made
with sage and potato tops. Two girls are said to be 'cheese and
cheese.'"
Turn Spit Jack
A game at country balls, &c., in which young men compete by singing for
their partners in the next dance.--Patterson's _Antrim and Down
Glossary_.
Turn the Ship
This is commonly a girls' game. Two join hands and trip along, with
hands crossed, turning from one side to the other, and crossing their
arms over their heads without letting go their hold of each other,
singing at the same time--
Tip, tip, toe, London, lo!
Turn, Mary Ann, and away you go.
Or--
Tip, tip, toe, leerie, lo!
Turn the ship and away you go;
A penny to you, and a penny to me,
And a penny to turn the basket.
--Fochabers (Rev. W. Gregor).
Turn the Trencher, or, My Lady's Toilet
An indoor game played at Christmas time by children and adults. All the
players in the room must be seated. They are then asked by the leader of
the game to choose some article of a lady's toilet, which article they
will personally represent, such as diamond ring, bracelet, comb, brush,
jug, basin, powder, hair-dye, dress, mantle, &c.--any article, in fact,
belonging to the toilet.
The leader then goes to the centre of the room with a small trencher,
round card tray, plate, or saucer in her hand. She spins this (the
trencher) round as quickly as possible, saying, "My lady's going out and
needs her 'dress,'" or any other article she chooses to name. The player
who has taken the name of "dress" must get up from her seat and catch
the trencher before it falls. If successful this player then spins the
trencher, calling out the name of another article of the toilet. If the
player fails to catch it, a forfeit is demanded by the leader.
Occasionally the spinner will say, "My lady's going to a ball (or
elsewhere), and needs the whole of her toilet." When this is said, every
player has to get up and take another place before the trencher falls;
the last one to get a place has to take the trencher, and if it is down,
to pay a forfeit. At the end of the game the forfeits are "cried" in the
usual way.--(A. B. Gomme.)
This (called "Truckle the Trencher") used to be a standard game for
winter evenings. A circle was formed, and each one was seated on the
floor, every player taking the name of a flower. This game was entered
into with the greatest vivacity by staid and portly individuals as well
as by their juniors.--Dorsetshire (_Folk-lore Journal_, vii. 238).
A trencher, saucer, or plate is used. The players sit in a circle, and
one twirls the trencher, at the same time calling out the name of one of
the players. He or she jumps up and tries to catch the whirling trencher
before it falls. If it falls or is knocked over, a forfeit is lodged,
and the player who lodged the forfeit now becomes the twirler. If the
trencher is caught, it is handed back and twirled again, and another
name called out. The game continues till all or, at least, most of the
players have lodged forfeits. It is called "Turn the Plettie."--Macduff
(Rev. W. Gregor).
This game is played in the same way in Ireland. It is called "Twirl the
Trencher," and the players take names of towns or beasts.--(Miss Keane.)
Brogden (_Provincial Words, Lincolnshire_) and Halliwell (_Dictionary_)
mention it as "Turn Trencher," a game played at Christmas time. Moor
(_Suffolk Words and Phrases_) calls it "Move all."
Turvey
Turvey, turvey, clothed in black,
With silver buttons upon your back;
One by one, and two by two,
Turn about, and that will do.
--Haverfordwest (_Notes and Queries_, 3rd series, v. 394).
The children marched two and two, in a measured step to a given
distance, then turned and marched back again.
See "Alligoshee."
Tutt-ball
"Tut-ball,"[12] as played at a young ladies' school at Shiffnal fifty
years ago. The players stood together in their "den," behind a line
marked on the ground, all except one, who was "out," and who stood at a
distance and threw the ball to them. One of the players in the den then
hit back the ball with the palm of the hand, and immediately ran to one
of three brickbats, called "tuts," which were set up at equal distances
on the ground, in such positions that a player running past them all
would describe a complete circle by the time she returned to the den.
The player who was "out" tried to catch the ball, and to hit the runner
with it while passing from one "tut" to another. If she succeeded in
doing so, she took her place in the den, and the other went "out" in her
stead. This game is very nearly identical with "rounders."--_Shropshire
Folk-lore_, p. 524.
A game at ball, now only played by boys, but half a century ago by
adults on Ash Wednesday, believing that unless they did so they would
fall sick in harvest time. This is a very ancient game, and was
elsewhere called "Stool-ball," indulged in by the clergy as well as
laity to avert misfortune.--Ross and Stead's _Holderness Glossary_. The
game is not described.
Addy (_Sheffield Glossary_) says this game is the same as "Pize-ball."
Halliwell (_Dictionary_) says it is a sort of "Stob-ball Play."
See "Cat and Dog," "Rounders," "Stool Ball."
[12] _Tut_, a prominence, from A. S. _tótian_, whence also E. _tout_,
q.v.--W. W. S.
Twelve Days of Christmas
[Music]
--Rimbault's _Nursery Rhymes_.
I. The first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear-tree.
The second day of Xmas, my true love sent to me
Two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear-tree.
The third day of Xmas, my true love sent to me
Three French hens and two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear-tree.
The fourth day of Xmas, my true love sent to me
Four colly birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear-tree.
The fifth day of Xmas, my true love sent to me
Five gold rings, four colly birds, three French hens,
Two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear-tree.
The sixth day of Xmas, my true love sent to me
Six geese a-laying, five gold rings,
Four colly birds, three French hens,
Two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear-tree.
The seventh day of Xmas, my true love sent to me
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying, five gold rings,
Four colly birds, three French hens,
Two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear-tree.
The eighth day of Xmas, my true love sent to me
Eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying, five gold rings,
Four colly birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear-tree.
The ninth day of Xmas, my true love sent to me
Nine drummers drumming, eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying,
Five gold rings, four colly birds, three French hens,
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear-tree.
The tenth day of Xmas, my true love sent to me
Ten pipers piping, nine drummers drumming,
Eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying, five gold rings,
Four colly birds, three French hens,
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear-tree.
The eleventh day of Xmas, my true love sent to me
Eleven ladies dancing, ten pipers piping,
Nine drummers drumming, eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying,
Five gold rings, four colly birds,
Three French hens, two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear-tree.
The twelfth day of Xmas, my true love sent to me
Twelve lords a-leaping, eleven ladies dancing,
Ten pipers piping, nine drummers drumming,
Eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying, five gold rings,
Four colly birds, three French hens,
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear-tree.
--Halliwell's _Nursery Rhymes_, cccxlvi.
II. The king sent his lady on the first Yule day,
A papingo-aye [a peacock];
Wha learns my carol and carries it away?
The king sent his lady on the second Yule day,
Three partridges, a papingo-aye;
Wha learns my carol and carries it away?
The king sent his lady on the third Yule day,
Three plovers, three partridges, a papingo-aye;
Wha learns my carol and carries it away?
The king sent his lady on the fourth Yule day,
A goose that was grey,
Three plovers, three partridges, a papingo-aye;
Wha learns my carol and carries it away?
The king sent his lady on the fifth Yule day,
Three starlings, a goose that was grey,
Three plovers, three partridges, and a papingo-aye;
Wha learns my carol and carries it away?
The king sent his lady on the sixth Yule day,
Three goldspinks, three starlings, a goose that was grey,
Three plovers, three partridges, and a papingo-aye;
Wha learns my carol and carries it away?
The king sent his lady on the seventh Yule day,
A bull that was brown, three goldspinks, three starlings,
A goose that was grey,
Three plovers, three partridges, and a papingo-aye;
Wha learns my carol and carries it away?
The king sent his lady on the eighth Yule day,
Three ducks a-merry laying, a bull that was brown--
[The rest to follow as before.]
The king sent his lady on the ninth Yule day,
Three swans a-merry swimming--
[As before.]
The king sent his lady on the tenth Yule day,
An Arabian baboon--
[As before.]
The king sent his lady on the eleventh Yule day,
Three hinds a-merry hunting--
[As before.]
The king sent his lady on the twelfth Yule day,
Three maids a-merry dancing--
[As before.]
The king sent his lady on the thirteenth Yule day,
Three stalks o' merry corn, three maids a-merry dancing,
Three hinds a-merry hunting, an Arabian baboon,
Three swans a-merry swimming,
Three ducks a-merry laying, a bull that was brown,
Three goldspinks, three starlings, a goose that was grey,
Three plovers, three partridges, a papingo-aye;
Wha learns my carol and carries it away?
--Chambers's _Pop. Rhymes_, p. 42.
III. My lady's lap dog,
Two plump partridges and my lady's lap dog;
Three grey elephants, two plump partridges and my lady's lap
dog;
Four Persian cherry trees, three grey elephants, &c.;
Five Limerick oysters, four Persian cherry trees, &c.;
Six bottles of frontignac, &c.;
Seven swans a-swimming, &c.,
Eight flip flap, floating fly boats, &c.;
Nine merchants going to Bagdad, &c.;
Ten Italian dancing-masters going to teach ten Arabian
magpies how to dance, &c.;
Eleven guests going to celebrate the marriage of the
Princess Baldroulbadour with the Prince of Terra-del-Fuego,
&c.;
Twelve triumphant trumpeters triumphantly trumpeting the
tragical tradition of Telemachus.
--London (A. B. Gomme).
IV. Twelve huntsmen with horns and hounds,
Hunting over other men's grounds!
Eleven ships sailing o'er the main,
Some bound for France and some for Spain;
I wish them all safe home again.
Ten comets in the sky,
Some low and some high;
Nine peacocks in the air,
I wonder how they all come there,
I do not know and I do not care.
Eight joiners in a joiners' hall,
Working with the tools and all;
Seven lobsters in a dish,
As fresh as any heart could wish;
Six beetles against the wall,
Close by an old woman's apple stall;
Five puppies of our dog Ball,
Who daily for their breakfast call;
Four horses stuck in a bog,
Three monkeys tied to a clog;
Two pudding ends would choke a dog,
With a gaping wide-mouthed waddling frog.
--Halliwell's _Nursery Rhymes_, cclxxx., cvi.