level-coil

Definition

A boisterous and rowdy game formerly played on Christmas, in which players must quickly switch seats at a signal.

Etymology

A corruption of French lève-cul (“lift the buttocks”).

Example Sentences

• "[…] so they did, and entred the Parler, found all this leuell coyle, and his pate broken, his face scratcht […]"
• "A daily Deluge over them does boyle: / The Earth and Water play at Level coyle."
• "Level-Coile (from the Fr. leuer le Cul, i. to raise or remove the Buttock) is when three play at Tables, or other Game, where onely two can play at a time, and the loser removes his Buttock and sits out, and therefore called also Hitch-Buttock."