Brewer's: Aunt Sally

A game in which a wooden head is mounted on a pole. The fun of the game is to knock the nose of the figure, or break the pipe stuck in its mouth. This is to be done by throwing at it, from a stated distance, a short club. The word aunt was anciently applied to any old woman: thus, in Shakespeare, Puck speaks of

“The wisest aunt telling the saddest tale.” —Midsummer Night's Dream, ii. 1.

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Related Content