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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.

KEERIE-OAM, n. Also reduced form keerie (Per. 1846 Perthshire Advertiser (20 Nov.)). A name for the game of hide-and-seek (Abd. a.1838 Jam. MSS. X. 165).Per. 1825 Jam.:
The last who disappears [to hide] calls out, Keerie-oam. The boy, who has had his face at the wall, then leaves his station, and searches for those who have hid themselves; and the first whom he lays hold of takes his place in the next game.

[Orig. doubtful. ? For (tak) Keer ( < †cure = care) ye o' em.]

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"Keerie-oam n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 2 May 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/keerieoam>

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