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.
BARLEY-PLAY, n. “A call for truce in boy's [sic] games” (Uls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn.), Sh.4 1933.Ork. 1923 H. Marwick Old Ork. Games in Ork. Antiq. Soc. 66:
The English “Barley!” signifying a desire to be regarded as out of play for the time-being, is in use all over the country in one form or another. In Orkney — Barlo-play, Barlo-brok, Barrels-broken, Bollo-brok, etc. are all used some way or other in this connection.Ork.1 1933:
A runner who had, say, fallen, and could in no wise avoid capture, would shout “Barley-play,” which meant, “Give me time to put myself in such a position as if I had not fallen.”
