Or—
Tip, tip, toe, leerie, lo!
Turn the ship and away you go;
A penny to you, and a penny to me,
And a penny to turn the basket.
—Fochabers (Rev. W. Gregor).
Turn the Trencher, or, My Lady’s Toilet
An indoor game played at Christmas time by children and adults. All the players in the room must be seated. They are then asked by the leader of the game to choose some article of a lady’s toilet, which article they will personally represent, such as diamond ring, bracelet, comb, brush, jug, basin, powder, hair-dye, dress, mantle, &c.—any article, in fact, belonging to the toilet.
The leader then goes to the centre of the room with a small trencher, round card tray, plate, or saucer in her hand. She spins this (the trencher) round as quickly as possible, saying, “My lady’s going out and needs her ‘dress,’” or any other article she chooses to name. The player who has taken the name of “dress” must get up from her seat and catch the trencher before it falls. If successful this player then spins the trencher, calling out the name of another article of the toilet. If the player fails to catch it, a forfeit is demanded by the leader. Occasionally the spinner will say, “My lady’s going to a ball (or elsewhere), and needs the whole of her toilet.” When this is said, every player has to get up and take another place before the trencher falls; the last one to get a place has to take the trencher, and if it is down, to pay a forfeit. At the end of the game the forfeits are “cried” in the usual way.—(A. B. Gomme.)
This (called “Truckle the Trencher”) used to be a standard game for winter evenings. A circle was formed, and each one was seated on the floor, every player taking the name of a flower. This game was entered into with the greatest vivacity by staid and portly individuals as well as by their juniors.—Dorsetshire (Folk-lore Journal, vii. 238).
A trencher, saucer, or plate is used. The players sit in a circle, and one twirls the trencher, at the same time calling out the name of one of the players. He or she jumps up and tries to catch the whirling trencher before it falls. If it falls or is knocked over, a forfeit is lodged, and the player who lodged the forfeit now becomes the twirler. If the trencher is caught, it is handed back and twirled again, and another name called out. The game continues till all or, at least, most of the players have lodged forfeits. It is called “Turn the Plettie.”—Macduff (Rev. W. Gregor).
This game is played in the same way in Ireland. It is called “Twirl the Trencher,” and the players take names of towns or beasts.—(Miss Keane.)
Brogden (Provincial Words, Lincolnshire) and Halliwell (Dictionary) mention it as “Turn Trencher,” a game played at Christmas time. Moor (Suffolk Words and Phrases) calls it “Move all.”