The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland (Vol 2 of 2): With Tunes, Singing-Rhymes, and Methods of Playing etc.Gomme, Alice Bertha
General
The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland (Vol 2 of 2): With Tunes, Singing-Rhymes, and Methods of Playing etc.
Gomme, Alice Bertha
Folklore -- Great Britain; Games -- Great Britain
The players sit round a table under the presidency of a “Buck.” Each
person has his fingers clenched, and the thumb extended. Buck from time
to time calls out as suits his fancy: “Buck says, Thumbs up!” or, “Buck
says, Thumbs down!” or, “Wiggle-waggle!” If he says “Thumbs up!” he
places both hands on the table, with the thumbs sticking straight up. If
“Thumbs down!” he rests his thumbs on the table with his hands up. If
“Wiggle-waggle!” he places his hands as in “Thumbs up!” but wags his
thumbs nimbly. Everybody at the table has to follow the word of command
on the instant, and any who fail to do so are liable to a
forfeit.—Evan’s _Leicestershire Words_.
See “Horns.”
Wild Boar
“Shoeing the Wild Boar,” a game in which the player sits cross-legged on
a beam or pole, each of the extremities of which is placed or swung in
the eyes of a rope suspended from the back tree of an outhouse. The
person uses a switch, as if in the act of whipping up a horse; when
being thus unsteadily mounted, he is most apt to lose his balance. If he
retains it, he is victor over those who fail.—Teviotdale (Jamieson).
Wild Birds
“All the Wild Birds in the Air,” the name of a game in which one acts
the dam of a number of birds, who gives distinct names of birds, such as
are generally known to all that are engaged in the sport. The person who
opposes tries to guess the name of each individual. When he errs he is
subject to a stroke on the back. When he guesses right he carries away
on his back that bird, which is subjected to a blow from each of the
rest. When he has discovered and carried off the whole, he has gained
the game.—Jamieson. Jamieson adds that this sport seems only to be
retained in Abernethy, Perthshire; and it is probable, from the
antiquity of the place, that it is very ancient.
See “All the Birds in the Air,” “Fool, Fool.”
Willie, Willie Wastell
Willie, Willie Wastell,
I am on your castle,
A’ the dogs in the toun
Winna pu’ Willie doun.
Like Willie, Willie Wastel,
I am in my castel
A’ the dogs in the toun
Dare not ding me doun.
—Jamieson.
A writer in the _Gentlemen’s Magazine_ for 1822, Part I. p. 401, says
that the old distich—
“Willy, Willy Waeshale!
Keep off my castle,”
used in the North in the game of limbo, contains the true etymon of the
adjective “Willy.”
The same game as “Tom Tiddler’s Ground.” It is played in the same way.
Jamieson says the second rhyme given shows that the rhyme was formerly
repeated by the player holding the castle, and not, as now, by the
opposing players.
See “King of the Castle,” “Tom Tiddler’s Ground.”
Wind up the Bush Faggot
[Music: _Andante_, with determined deliberation.
Repeat from beginning till all are wound up.]
[Music: _Allegro_, with unbounded vigour.
_Note._—(1) The simplicity of time and no _dotted_ notes, also
_change_ of key for 2/4 music.
(2) The game unites common and triple time very successfully.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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