| 释义 |
† span-counter Obs.
[f. span n.1 or v.1 and counter n.3 Cf. span-farthing.]
A game in which the object of one player was to throw his counters so close to those of his opponent that the distance between them could be spanned with the hand.
Common in the early part of the 17th c.
1566Drant Horace, Sat. iii. G vj, A man that..is gladde To playe at quoytes, or spancounter. 1593Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, iv. ii. 166 Henry the fift, (in whose time boyes went to Span-counter for French Crownes). 1600Nashe Summer's Last Will 1589 Wks. (Grosart) VI. 149, I was close vnder a hedge, or vnder a barne wall, playing at spanne Counter, or Iacke in a boxe. 1647Peacham Worth of a Penny 32, I would wish them to venture at Span-Counter and Dust-Point with schole-boyes. 1675Cotton Burlesque upon B. 50 To play at Cat, Trap, Span-counter. [1815Scott Guy M. xii, Rich enough to play at span-counter with moidores.] |