In Freedom’s Ring, Temperance Hayes loves games of strategy—whether they’re board games or games of the heart. Check out all the games we refer to!
Believe it or not, one of the very first games a child learns to play actually led me to a research rabbit hole when I couldn’t figure out what my characters should call it!
Tic-tac-toe by any other name
Yes, as you might guess, tic-tac-toe is a pretty old game. Some variation of tic-tac-toe was doubtlessly played in the 18th century, and as children, Owen and Temperance used to sneak into her father’s study to play. But here’s the tricky part: the game was not called tic-tac-toe in the 18th century.
The definitive Oxford English Dictionary (can you tell I’m super excited to have access through my grad school?) dates the term “tick-tack-toe” to 1884—but it referred to a different game: “a children’s game played on a slate, consisting in trying with the eyes shut to bring the pencil down on one of the numbers of a set, the number hit being scored.”
The earliest reference they have listed for our favorite x-and-o game by this name is 1960! (If you have an earlier reference to the name in print, the OED definitely wants to know!)
Noughts and crosses
Across the pond today, the game is called noughts and crosses (nought meaning nothing/0 and crosses meaning xes). So, there we go, right? Our 1770s characters can just call it that.
Nope. The OED first lists that name in print in 1864. Sometimes, I’ll fudge an anachronistic term if it’s absolutely perfect, not too too far out of date, or more understandable to modern readers than the “correct” equivalent, but this was a bit much.
Nine holes
Further research led me deeper. The original game didn’t actually use the # board, but nine holes in the same positions. Players would stick a stick upright in the holes. Three in a row won. One book I looked at showed cavemen playing this game, but I’m not sure it really goes that far back . . .
I know you’re wondering: the OED lists this term back to 1573, but it refers to two other games in addition to exes and ohs. They sound like cornhole-type games.
Plus this is another problem: would you picture tic tac toe if my characters called the game “nine holes”?
Merels
I know. I spent like a day on this. I can’t believe I’m spending more time writing up the blog post, but here we are.
The OED entry for nine holes says “conferatur merels.” So I conferated—ahem, compared them.
Definition #1: a piece in nine man morris.
Definition #2: the game of nine man morris (or a three-merel version).
Definition #3: the game of fox and geese. (“The board for this game is created by placing five three-counter merels boards in a cross.”)
😐
It’s not exactly wrong to mention merels, as nine man morris is a related game where you also try to get three in a row. But this was not helpful.
So . . . what would they call it?
This left me with a dilemma. Nine holes is probably the best term, but it isn’t easy to understand, and I don’t want to make you stop reading to try to puzzle out what I mean.
In the end, I did what I do best as a fiction author: I made something up.
Owen edged out a laugh. He had to get over this ridiculous childhood infatuation.
“Thank you, Owen.” Temperance said it with such sincerity, looked into his eyes with such earnestness, crossed the room and kissed his cheek with such tenderness. “I’m so grateful to have you to depend upon.”
She rested her hand on his arm, and he covered it with his own. “Always, Temperance. Ever since we were children.”
She smiled but pulled her hand away. “That was so long ago.”
“Do you remember how we would sneak in here in the evenings to play three-in-a-row?”
“With my father’s paper, and we were soundly punished.” Her voice had sharpened.
Ah. She did remember, then.
What’s your favorite name for tic-noughts-oh-holes?