At this point “Dot” puts his hand out, and the one touched has to take his place. This is practically a “counting-out rhyme,” and there seems every probability that it is a very ancient one.
The Manor of Edge, in the Hundred of Broxton, was held, according to Domesday Survey, by Edwin, a Saxon thane, who, although he was compelled to become tenant to Norman Robert FitzHugh, managed to retain for himself the two Edges. Contemporary with him was Dot, the Saxon lord of sixteen manors, some of them conjointly with Edwin; but, more unlucky than he, Dot lost all his manors and fled to Wales. His grandson, Cadwgan Dot, was father of Hova Dot or Dod, from whom the Edge and Broxton Dods claim lineal descent.
The following are additional “counting-out” specimens:—
Orcum, Borcum,
Boni, Corkum,
Ericum, Bericum, bo-ni-bus.
O.U.T. spells out.
(Chester.)
One, two,
Sky-blue;