subs. phr. (old).—1. See quots.
1563. FOX, Acts and Monuments, 523 [T. L. KINGTON-OLIPHANT, The New English, i. 550. Scurrilous Protestants used to call the Host ROUND ROBIN; we apply the phrase to petitions].
1565. COVERDALE, Works, i. 426. Certain fond talkers … invent and apply to this most holy sacrament names of despite and reproach, as to call it Jack-in-the-Box and ROUND-ROBIN.
1661. HEYLYN, History of the Reformation of the Church of England, i. 99. Reproached it [the Sacrament] by the odius names of Jack-in-a-box, ROUND ROBIN, Sacrament of the Halter …
2. (old).—A religious (= political) brawler.
1692. J. HACKET, Life of Archbishop Williams, ii. 177. These Wat Tylers and ROUND ROBINS being driven … out of Whitehall.
3. (colloquial).—See quots. (GROSE).
1626. The Court and Times of Charles the First, i. 187 [T. L. KINGTON-OLIPHANT, The New English, ii. 75. We find the first instance of a ROUND ROBIN in 1626; sailors write their names and marks in a good round circular form so that none might appear for a ringleader].
1660. Rump Songs, i. 66.
| The ROUND-ROBIN by a like fate | |
| Is Victor in the Tubb. |
1755. World, 146. A ROUND ROBIN … of above a thousand of the most respectable names.
1776. FORBES [BOSWELL, Johnson (HILL), III. 83]. A ROUND ROBIN, as the sailors call it … so as not to let it be known who puts his name first or last to the paper.
1838. BULWER-LYTTON, Alice, IV. iii. The whole country shall sign a ROUND ROBIN to tell him it’s a shame.
1886. Daily Telegraph, 24 Feb. The members of the Royal Commission sent to Sir George Grey a sort of ROUND-ROBIN.
4 and 5. (thieves’).—See quot. and ROUNDABOUT.
1889. C. T. CLARKSON and J. HALL RICHARDSON, Police! 341. Go in for a ROUND ROBIN, or good heavy swindle.
