1877. Hawley Smart, Play or Pay. ch. vi. To take care of a pretty girl, … with a sister to do gooseberry.
1880. G. R. Sims, Jeph, p. 8. Mamma always played gooseberry on these occasions.
1883. Globe, 6 July, p. 1, c. 5. They will be compelled in self-defence to have a shorthand writer present to play gooseberry, and to be able to furnish proof that their discourse was innocent.
1892. J. McCarthy and Mrs. Campbell-Praed, Ladies’ Gallery, p. 51. Well, I am not a good hand at playing gooseberry, and I don’t like spoiling sport.
To play old gooseberry, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To play the deuce; to upset or spoil; to throw everything into confusion; but see quot. 1811. Old Gooseberry = The devil (see Skipper). [See Notes and Queries, 2 S x., 307, 376; xii., 336.]
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v. Gooseberry. He played up old gooseberry among them; said of a person who, by force or threats, suddenly puts an end to a riot or disturbance.
1819. Moore, Tom Crib, p. 22. Will play up old gooseberry soon with them all.
1823. Bee, Dict. of the Turf. To play up gooseberry; children romping about the house or the parent rating them over.
1837. Ingoldsby Legends. ‘Bloudie Jacke of Shrewsberrie.’ There’s a pretty to-do! All the people of Shrewsbury playing old gooseberry With your choice bits of taste and virtù.