† Span-farthing

Obs. [f. SPAN sb.¹ or v.¹ and FARTHING sb.] A game played with farthings after the same manner as span-counter.

1

1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. xvi. (Roxb.), 82/1. Playes with Instruments…. Span Farthing.

2

1693. Locke, Educ., Wks. 1727, III. 25. Learning to wrangle at Trap, or rook at Span-farthing.

3

1720. Swift, Mod. Educ., Wks. 1755, II. II. 36. His chief solace is to steal down, and play at span-farthing with the page, or young black-a-moor.

4

1764. Bp. Hurd, Dial. Uses For. Trav., 70. You might as well … advance him directly to the boy’s top and span-farthing, as [etc.].

5

1777. [T. Swift], Gamblers, 6.

	But chief we see a tricking, sharping sort,
	Span-farthing, Hustle-cap, their joy and sport.

6