RIGAMAROLE
Wild Word Friday!
In the Middle Ages, people played a game in which a long sheet of paper was inscribed with a number of short descriptions. A string was attached at each description and the paper was rolled up. A player would choose a string, unroll the paper, and read the description, which would likely be silly or even insulting and was taken as a description of the reader. LOL. Well maybe not LOL.
Okay, I can see why that game more or less fizzled out before modern times, but the name of the game has stuck with us – Ragman’s Roll. (Hang on. Give me a minute here to explain.) By the 1600s the game was out of fashion, but the name Ragman’s Roll was being used to designate a list of items, and eventually came to be pronounced and written as rigmarole. In modern times we’ve added an extra “a” to the word, because it’s easier to say RIGaMAROLE.
Now, of course, when we say RIGAMAROLE, we’re usually talking about a whole tangle of unnecessary commotion, something that’s rather complicated and bothersome. So, the next time you hear or say the word RIGAMAROLE, think about that roll of paper and all those strings, each linked to an insult. What a RIGAMAROLE!
In this modern age of computer games, do you still play any old-fashioned participation games or board games? If so, what’s your favorite?
Blessings!
Sue
(Photographs from Wikipedia. Some information from The Merriam Webster New Book of Word Histories.)
Loved this! Thanks, Sue. 🙂
Our family loves an old game called croquinoles. Ever heard of it?
This is fascinating, Sue! Tidbits like this (any thought on the origin of ‘tidbit/’tidbits’?!) flesh out historical times and make them seem less historical and more-well-human:D
I’ve never heard of Croquinoles, Arlene. Do you use a board or cards or dice? The name is intriguing!
Thank you, Hillari! I love the idea of “TIDBITS.” I’ll definitely put it on my list for September “Wild Words!!” (I do my Wild Word posts ahead of time for summer because I’m so busy with company.)
Once a year, we rent a cottage with friends and get very competitive about jigsaw puzzles. We actually keep an eye out during the year for really difficult ones to bring to the cabin. We bring a bright utility work lamp to hang over the big coffee table so that we can do puzzles when it gets dark. Not exactly a board game per se, but it achieves the goal of everyone playing together, talking, and getting to know one another better as the years to by.
Our family loves jigsaw puzzles, too, Janie. We have quite a few Christmas puzzles and usually have one on a table undergoing construction during the holidays. I love having a few minutes to sit and work on a puzzle because Christmas usually means lots of company for us, and I spend most of the holiday in the kitchen!!