| 释义 |
ˈstool-ball
[f. stool n. + ball n.
The ‘stool’ was the wicket (see stool n. 2 d); perh. it was originally an ordinary stool.]
1. An old country game somewhat resembling cricket, played chiefly by young women or, as an Easter game, between young men and women for a ‘tansy’ (tansy 3) as the stake. Still played (in modified forms) by women and children in some districts, esp. in Sussex. (Quite distinct from stow-ball.)
a1475Myrc's Par. Pr. 11 note, Hand ball, fott ball, stoil ball & all manner other games out cherchyard. 1564in Shirburn Ball. (1907) 48 [At Midsummer sessions at Maldon, 1564, complaint was made against the constables that they had suffered] stole-ball [to be played on Sundays]. 1567Drant Horace's A.P. B iiij, The stoole ball, top, or camping ball if suche one should assaye As hath no mannour skill therin,..Theye all would..laughe at hym aloude. a1586Sidney Arcadia, Sonn. (1622) 493 A time there is for all, my mother often sayes, When she with skirts tuckt very hie, with gyrles at stoolball playes. 1612Two Noble K. v. ii. 101 Wooer. What shall we doe there, wench? Daugh. Why, play at stoole ball. 1615Chapman Odyss. vi. 139 Till which time (hauing din'd) Nausicae With other virgins, did at stool-ball play. 1648Herrick Hesper., Stool-ball (1915) 238 At Stool-ball, Lucia, let us play, For Sugar-cakes and Wine; Or for a Tansie let us pay, The loss or thine, or mine. 1677Poor Robin's Almanack 19 Apr., Observ., Young men and maids Now very brisk, At Barley-break and Stool ball frisk. 1711Steele Spect. No 71 ⁋2 Betty [was] a publick Dancer at May-poles, a Romp at Stool-Ball. 1715N. Blundell Diary (1895) 134 The Young Weomen treated y⊇ Men with a Tandsey as they had lost to them at a Game at Stoole Balle. 1801Strutt Sports & Past. ii. iii. §11. 76, I have been informed, that a pastime called stool-ball, is practised to this day in the northern parts of England. 1898Encycl. Sport II. 412 Stool-ball... The game..has of late years changed considerably... Thus, while formerly the hand was used to strike the ball, a bat is now used... The stools have been superseded by ‘targets’, which are round boards..fastened to posts.
attrib.1614Breton I would & I would not lxxix, Paryaway, And for a Tanzey, goe to Stoole-Ball-play. 1615Chapman Odyss. vi. 165 Her meane was this (though thought a stool ball chance).
2. A ball used in the game described above.
1690Pagan Prince xiv. 42 And when they see a Cannon Bullet coming toward ye..[they] will catch it like a Stool Ball, and throw it to the Devil. 1819Scott Ivanhoe xxvi, Kind service cannot be chucked from hand to hand like a shuttlecock or stool-ball. |