mumblety peg

See also: mumbletypeg

English

Alternative forms

• mumbledypeg
• mumbletypeg
• mumble-the-peg

Etymology

Originally from mumble +‎ the +‎ peg.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈmʌmb(ə)ltiˌpɛɡ/

Noun

mumblety peg (uncountable)

1. (US) Any of several forms of a game in which a jack-knife is thrown so that it sticks into the ground close to the player's feet.
   • 1967, William Styron, The Confessions of Nat Turner, Vintage, published 2004, page 296:

     Others played mumbletypeg with rusty stolen jackknives, or simply drowsed in the sunlight, waking now and then to exchange their sorry belongings [...].

   • 1969, Maya Angelou, chapter 17, in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings‎^[1], New York: Bantam, published 1971, page 94:

     Bailey played mumbledypeg with the older boys around the chinaberry tree […]