Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
EASE, n.2 A children's game in which “a ball is thrown in the air and a name is called” (Mry.1 1925). Cf. a' the days of the week, s.v. Day, 3 (2).Mry. 1897 J. Mackinnon Braefoot Sk. viii.:
The little girls were growing roses on their cheeks at the skip-rope, or perhaps they were playing at “ease”.Mry. 1930 (per Fif.17):
Each child starts with twelve points. One child throws up the ball, shouting the name of another. If child No. 2 catches the ball, she calls “ease,” and repeats the performance If she fails, however, to catch it, she loses a point, and repeats the performance. When a child has lost all her points, she drops out of the game. The last child left with points is the winner.
