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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

REX, n. Also rax, and dim. raxie, and in phr. in children's game, Rax, king of Scotland, or Raxie-boxie-, Rexa-boxa-king; curtailed form rex(a), see quots.Inv. 1894 A. B. Gomme Trad. Games I. 73:
When the players have ranged themselves on the one side of the playground, and the King has taken his stand in front of them, he calls out “Rexa-boxa-king”, or simply “Rexa”, whn all the players rush to the other side. The rush from side to side goes on until all are captured.
Bnff. 1898 A. B. Gomme Trad. Games II. 106:
Rax or Raxie-boxie, King of Scotland. The players, except one, take their stand at one side and one stands at the other side in front of them. When all are ready, the one in front calls out “Cock”, or “Caron”, when all rush across to the other side, and he tries to catch one of them in crossing. The one caught helps to catch the others as they run back. Each time the players run from the one side to the other the word “Cock”, or “Caron” is called out, and the change is continued till all are caught — each one as caught becoming a catcher.
Per. 1903 H. MacGregor Souter's Lamp 59:
The weak ones who were never picked for “Rex” or “Futba”!

[Lat. rex, king. The game is elsewhere called King Caesar, dyke-king. Cf. Regibus.]

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"Rex n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 May 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/rex>

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