Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

NAMER, n. Also dim. nam(er)ie. One of the two chief players in the game of Namers and Guessers, Namie and Guessie (Abd. 1894 Trans. Bch. Field Club III. 155–6), Golden Names (Ork.), Witchie and Namer (Sh.). See also foolie s.v. Fuil, n., and Guesserie.Mry. 1894 A. B. Gomme Trad. Games I. 409:
Namers and Guessers. . . . Two are chosen. the one to be Namer and the other Guesser or Witch. The rest of the players range themselves in a row. The Guesser retires . . . to a distance. The Namer then gives each player a secret name. When names have been given to all the players, the Namer calls on the Guesser to come. . . . He approaches, and the Namer says — Come, chois me out, come, chois me in, to — (naming one by the assumed name). The players all shout, “Tack me, tack me,” repeatedly. The Witch points to one. If the guess is correct the player goes to the Witch's side, but if it is incorrect he goes to the Namer's side. This goes on till all the players are ranged on the one side or the other. The two parties then come to a tug, with the Namer and Guesser as leaders. The gaining party then ranges itself in two lines with a space between the lines, each boy holding in his hand his cap or his handkerchief tightly plaited. The boys of the conquered side have then to run between the two lines, and are pelted by the victors.Abd. 1902 E.D.D.:
The children . . . select one to be “Namie” and another to be “Guessie”. . . . Namie gives each child a name.