Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
†HEADICKS AND PINTICKS, n.phr. A game played with pins. Also headocks or pintacks (ne.Sc. 1881 W. Gregor Folk-Lore 163; Abd. 1956). See Headum and Corsum, heids and thraws s.v. Heid, n., 1. Phrs. (11).Bnff. 1894 Trad. Games (Gomme) I. 199:
This game was played only at Christmas. The number of players was two. The stakes were pins. One player laid in the hollow of the hand, or on one of the fore-fingers, a pin, and then placed the other forefinger over it so as to conceal it. He then held up his hand to his opponent and said, “Headicks or pinticks?” His opponent made a guess [as to the direction in which the pin-point lay] by pointing with his finger and saying “Headicks,” or “Pinticks.” If the guess was correct he gained the pin, but if it was incorrect he forfeited one. The players played alternately.
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"Headicks And Pinticks n. phr.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 21 Nov 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/headicks_and_pinticks>
