Obs. Forms: 5 cloishe, 5–6 closshe, cloysh(e, 6 clashe, classhe, claish(e, claisshe, clayshe, 6–7 closhe, 6– closh. [a. Flem. and Du. klos bowl (for playing). Kilian has klos, globus, sphæra, klos-bane sphæristerium, klos-beytel flagellum, vola, klos-poorte annulus sphæristerii, klossen ludere sphæra, ludere globo per annulum; Plantin (1573), has klos une boule, klos-bane parc à bouler, klos-poorte une porte à bouler, anneau de fer à passer la boule, klossen bouler, jouer à la boule par travers un anneau de fer. These terms still occur in Du. Dictionaries, though the game appears to be obs. in Holland.]
An obsolete game with a ball or bowl, prohibited in many successive statutes in the 15–16th c. It was obsolete before the time of Cowell (1554–1611), who supposed it to be equivalent to nine-pins or skittles. From the 16th c. Dutch lexicographers and Dutch descriptions, it appears that the bowl used in the game had to be driven by a spade- or chisel-shaped implement, the klos-beytel, through a hoop or ring, as in croquet.
1477. Act 17 Edw. IV., c. 3. Diversez novelx ymaginez Jeuez appellez Cloishe Kaylez half kewle Hondyn & Hondoute & Quekeborde. Ibid. (1495), 11 Hen. VII., c. 2 § 5. Noon apprentice … [shall] pley … at the Tenys Closshe Dise Cardes Bowles.
1514. Fitzherb., Just. Peas (1538), 80 b. Tenes, Clashe, Dise, Cardes, Boules, or any other unlawful games.
1531. Elyot, Gov., I. xxvii. In classhe is emploied to litle strength; in boulyng often times to moche.
1541. Act 33 Hen. VIII., c. 9 § 8. Any common house, alley or place of bowlinge, Coytinge, Cloyshe, Coyles, halfe bowle, Tennys, Dysing, Table, or Cardinge.
1548. Bp. Hooper, 10 Commandm., xi. Wks. (Parker Soc.), 393. Here is forbidden also all games for money, as dice, cards, cloyshe, and other.
1587. Lambarde, Eiren., II. vii. (1588), 203. Every Iustice of the Peace may … enter into any common house or place where any playing at the Bowles, Coites, Closh, Cailes … or at any other game prohibited … schal be suspected to be used.
1607. Cowell, Interpr., Closhe is an unlawfull game forbidden by the statute which is casting of a bowle at nine pinnes of wood.
1641. Termes de la Ley, 62. But there [it] is no more properly cald Clash … it is now ordinarily call’d Kailes or Kiles.
1801. Strutt, Sports & Past. (1810), III. vii. 239.
1861. M. Pattison, Ess. (1889), I. 45. The younger amused themselves with claish, or kegelspiel.
Hence † Closh-bane [MDu. klos-bane, mod.Du. klos-baan bowling-green, f. baan way, road, alley, etc.], a green or ground for playing closh.
1500. Cartulary Hosp. St. Thomas, Southwark (Stow MS. 640, Brit. Mus. lf. 336 b). A lease … of the tenement sometyme called the ffawcon, after a tenysplay & cloishbane, with all maner edifices, gardeyns, & grounds.
