pitch-farthing

Here and there were groups of "patriots" seated on the curbstones, playing pitch-farthing, known in France by the name of "bouchon."

France in the Nineteenth Century Elizabeth Latimer 1863

A group of half-grown lads were playing at pitch-farthing at the farther end, and all over the court were scattered children of all ages, ragged and noisy little creatures most of them, on whom paternal and maternal admonitions and cuffs were constantly being expended, and to all appearances in vain.

Tom Brown at Oxford Thomas Hughes 1859

'A shy at the sparrows, and a game at pitch-farthing. '

The Crown of Wild Olive also Munera Pulveris; Pre-Raphaelitism; Aratra Pentelici; The Ethics of the Dust; Fiction, Fair and Foul; The Elements of Drawing John Ruskin 1859

Nothing would have pleased them better than to break the sacred windows time had spared, and defile the graves of their forefathers with pitch-farthing and other arts; but it was three miles off, and there was

Put Yourself in His Place Charles Reade 1849

He saw it, and said to himself, "I have acted like a boy playing at pitch-farthing, not like a man who knew the value of his heart."

Put Yourself in His Place Charles Reade 1849

A quarrel happened between two shoeblacks, who were playing at what in England is called pitch-farthing, or heads and tails, and in Ireland, head or harp.

Tales and Novels — Volume 04 Maria Edgeworth 1808

Some simply said, “Good day” and walked away; others barely nodded; one simply turned away and pretended not to notice him; at last some of them — and what mortified Mr. Golyadkin most of all, some of the youngsters of the lowest grades, mere lads who, as Mr. Golyadkin justly observed about them, were capable of nothing but hanging about and playing pitch-farthing at every opportunity — little by little collected round Mr. Golyadkin, formed a group round him and almost barred his way.

The Double 2003

They want to be paid a salary for playing pitch-farthing and dawdling about, that’s all they’re fit for.

The Double 2003

But in some cases our pitch-farthing judgments must be either heads or tails; so Mr. Raby, who had cried heads, when a Mr.. Raby would have cried "woman," was right; it WAS Mr. Coventry, and not Miss Carden, who leaned over to George, and whispered, "A sovereign, to drive on without her!

Put Yourself in His Place Charles Reade 1849