To celebrate robboy's birthday, if the Dutch refer to it by cabbages, the Romans by stuffed feathers, and the French by either 'playing the mall' or another word that also doubles as an Indian dish, what game am I playing?

lanfranco

On the basis of somewhat incomplete evidence, I'm going to suggest that this is golf. The Romans played a golf-like like game called "paganica" with a feather-stuffed ball; the French played one called "jeu de mail" (and there was also one called "chole" or "soule" -- "chole" is an Indian dish); and the Dutch played one called "het kolven." I wondered whether there might be some etymological relationship there with the German "kohl" for "cabbage," but "kolven," as best I can tell, simply meant "clubs." The Dutch word for club -- "kolf" evolved into "golf." That's the best I can do. http://www.golf-directo.com/golf-uk/history-of-golf.htm Apr 05 06, 10:44 AM

andian

Made of leather to be stuffed with feathers weren't they? Happy Birthday robboy. Apr 05 06, 7:32 PM

peasypod

Well done Ms Frankiebabe, yes, and my resource (A Book Of World Firsts) tells me the cabbage bit was a 'in-joke' with the Dutch as they resembled the vegetable. Yay for you, and what, no smooch for the birthday boy? ;) Apr 05 06, 7:51 PM

lanfranco

Oh, all right. Buon Compleanno, robboy. And a bacio --just one, mind you -- from me. Apr 05 06, 8:05 PM

peasypod

It'll have to go in the queue, dear, my supply of baci should run out, oh, about August. ;) Apr 05 06, 8:12 PM