Re: Etymology question

Our version of hide-and-seek was called 1-2-3 home. You had to get to the
place where "it" counted from and say '1-2-3 home'. If you were caught, "it"
had to touch his counting spot and say "1-2-3 x". Incidentally, "it" was
never called "it". He was always said to be "on". As far as I can tell, the
term "it" is a purely American invention. This was Gt.Yarmouth, UK, 1960's.
Re the "olly olly" - never ever heard this before today, by the way - this
could well be "all 'ee"
(i.e., "all of you") but "Oxen free"? The linguistic sweep of some
children's chants is impressive.
I can remember one song that girls (this was puirely a girls' ball-throwing
chant) in our street used to
sing about "old King Solomon" that had a chorus something like (e gilli
gillicius oceus") /i: gilai gilaiS@s oS@s/
which sounded at the time (I can remember thinking this) very "Hebraic".
Anyone knows where that could come from?
Mike
> >
> >> Do children still play hide-and-seek?
> >
> >
> > Yes - most certainly they do this side of the Pond - tho IME without the
> > chant  :)
>
>
> We just shouted 'Found you!'.  After the person who was 'it' finished
> counting, they shouted 'Ready or not, here I come!'.  I think the latter
> was somewhat traditional.
>
>
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