The Traditional Children's Games of England Scotland
& Ireland In Dictionary Form - Volume 1

With Tunes(sheet music), Singing-rhymes(lyrics), Methods Of Playing with diagrams and illustrations.

	COBBIN-MATCH—COB-NUT
	Cobbin-match A school game in which two boys are held by the legs and arms and bumped against a tree, he who holds out the longest being the victor.—Ross and Stead's Holderness Glossary. Cobble A name for " See-saw."—Jamieson. Cobbler's Hornpipe This was danced by a boy stooping till he was nearly in a sitting posture on the ground, drawing one leg under him until its toe rested on the ground, and steadying himself by thrusting forward the other leg so that the heel rested on the ground; the arms and head being thrown forwards as far as possible in order to maintain a balance. The thrust-out leg was drawn back and the drawn-in leg was shot out at the same time. This move­ment was repeated, each bringing down to the ground of the toe and heel causing a noise like that of hammering on a lap-stone. The arms were moved backwards and forwards at the same time to imitate the cobbler's sewing.—London (J. P. Emslie). Cob-nut The children in Yorkshire have a game which is probably an ancient English pastime. Numerous hazel-nuts are strung like the beads of a rosary. The game is played by two persons, each of whom has one of these strings, and consists in each party striking alternately, with one of the nuts on his own string, a nut of his adversary's. The field of combat is usually the crown of a hat. The object of each party is to crush the nuts of his opponent. A nut which has broken many of those of the adversary is a Cob-nut.—Brand, ii. 411; Hunter's Hallamshire Glossary. (b) This game is played in London with chestnuts, and is called " Conquers." In Cornwall it is known as " Cock-haw."
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