cockal

English

Etymology

Uncertain.

Noun

cockal (countable and uncountable, plural cockals)

1. (obsolete, uncountable, games) A game played with sheep bones instead of dice.
2. (obsolete, countable) The bone used in playing the game; a huckle bone.
   • 1648, Robert Herrick, “The Fairie Temple: Or, Oberons Chappell. Dedicated to Mr. John Merrifield, Counsellor at Law.”, in Hesperides: Or, The Works both Humane & Divine […], London: […] John Williams, and Francis Eglesfield, and are to be sold by Tho[mas] Hunt, […], →OCLC, pages 102–103:

     [The altar is] of a little Tranſverce bone; / VVhich boyes and Bruckel'd children call / (Playing for Points and Pins) Cockall.

References

• “cockal”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

Anagrams

• Alcock, Lacock