Mr. Kinahan says there is among old Irish games one sometimes called cat, played with three or more players on each side, two stones or holes as stations, and a lobber, but the regular cat is played with a stick four inches long, bevelled at each end, called the cat. This bevelled stick is laid on the ground, and one end hit with a stick to make it rise in the air, when it is hit by the player, who runs to a mark and back to his station. The game is made by a number of runs; while the hitter is out if he fails three times to hit the cat, or if he is hit by the cat while running.—(Folk-lore Journal, ii. 264.) The common game of “tip-cat” was called cat-and-kitten by Dorset children. The long stick represented the “cat” and the small pieces the “kitten.”—(Folk-lore Journal, vii. 234.) Elworthy (West Somerset Words) calls it [Stick and Snell]. Brogden (Provincial Words, Lincolnshire) gives it as tip-cat, as does Lowsley (Berkshire Glossary), also [Trippit and Coit], and Trippit and Rack in some parts of the North.—Brockett’s North Country Words. Once commonly played in London streets, now forbidden.
See “[Cudgel],” “[Waggles].”[Addendum]
Tip-tap-toe.
A square is drawn having nine smaller squares or houses within it. Two persons play. They alternately make the one a square and the other a cross in any one of the houses. He that first gets three in a line wins the game.—Peacock’s Manley and Corringham Glossary. Brogden (Provincial Words, Lincolnshire) calls it Tit-tat-toe, also Lowsley (Berkshire Glossary).
Northall says called Tick-tack-toe in Warwickshire and Staffordshire; the rhyme is “Tick-tack-toe, I’ve caught you.”
This game is called “[Noughts and Crosses],” in London, probably from those marks being used in the game.
See “[Kit-Cat-Cannio],” “[Noughts and Crosses].”
Tiring Irons.
An old game with iron rods and rings.—Holland’s Cheshire Glossary.