Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
†ALLICOMGREENZIE, n. A girls' game. (See quot.)Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 17:
Allicomgreenzie — A little amusing game played by young girls at country schools. They form themselves into a circle, faces towards the centre; one goes round on the outside with a cap, saying, while so doing: “I got a letter from my love, And by the way I drop'd it — I drop'd it.” Then she lets the cap fall behind someone, the which seeing, takes it up and runs after the other in order to catch her; but she eludes her as well as possible, by crossing the circle frequently, and the follower must exactly follow her steps; if she fails doing this, she must stop, and stand in the circle, face out all the game afterwards; if she succeeds in catching the one, the one caught must so stand, and the other take up the cap and go round as before.
