The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland (Vol 1 of 2): With Tunes, Singing-Rhymes and Methods of Playing etc.Gomme, Alice Bertha
History
The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland (Vol 1 of 2): With Tunes, Singing-Rhymes and Methods of Playing etc.
Gomme, Alice Bertha
Folklore -- Great Britain; Games -- Great Britain
One boy is chosen Cock. The players arrange themselves in a line along
one side of the playground. The Cock takes his stand in front of the
players. When everything is ready, a rush across the playground is made
by the players. The Cock tries to catch and “croon”—_i.e._, put his hand
upon the head of—as many of the players as he can when running from one
side of the playground to the other. Those caught help the Cock in the
rush back. The rush from side to side goes on till all are captured. To
“croon” was the essential point in capturing. When a boy was being
pursued to be taken prisoner, his great object was, when he came to
close quarters with his pursuers, to save his head from being touched on
the crown by one of them.—Nairn (Rev. W. Gregor).
At Duthil, Strathspey, this game goes by the name of “Rexa-boxa-King.”
When the players have ranged themselves on one side of the playground,
and the King has taken his stand in front of them, he calls out
“Rexa-boxa-King,” or simply “Rexa,” when all the players rush to the
other side. The rush from side to side goes on till all are captured.
The one last captured becomes King in the next game.—Rev. W. Gregor.
See “Click.”
Cock-battler
Children, under the title of “Cock-battler,” often in country walks play
with the hoary plantain, which they hold by the tough stem about two
inches from the head; each in turn tries to knock off the head of his
opponent’s flower.—Cornwall (_Folk-lore Journal_, v. 61).
In the North, and in Suffolk, it is called “Cocks,” “a puerile game with
the tough tufted stems of the ribwort plantain” (Brockett’s _North
Country Words_). Moor (_Suffolk Words_) alludes to the game, and
Holloway (_Dictionary of Provincialisms_) says in West Sussex boys play
with the heads of rib grass a similar game. Whichever loses the head
first is conquered. It is called “Fighting-cocks.”
Cock-fight
This is a boys’ game. Two boys fold their arms, and then, hopping on one
leg, butt each other with their shoulders till one lets down his leg.
Any number of couples can join in this game.—Nairn (Rev. W. Gregor).
Cock-haw
See “Cob-nut.”
Cock-stride
One boy is chosen as Cock. He is blindfolded, and stands alone, with his
legs as far apart as possible. The other boys then throw their caps as
far as they are able between the extended legs of the Cock (fig. 1).
After the boys have thrown their caps, and each boy has taken his stand
beside his cap, the Cock, still blindfolded, stoops down and crawls in
search of the caps (fig. 2). The boy whose cap he first finds has to
run about twenty yards under the buffeting of the other boys, the blows
being directed chiefly to the head. He becomes Cock at the next turn of
the game.—Rosehearty, Pitsligo (Rev. W. Gregor).
[Illustration: Fig. 1.]
[Illustration: Fig. 2.]
Cockertie-hooie
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account