† ˈtroll-madam Obs.
Forms: 6 troule in madame, trol in madam, trowe maddam, trolemadame, 7 trol-madame, troll-my-dame, troll-medam, trou-madam, 8 troll-madame, 8–9 trou-madame.
[app. an alteration of F. trou-madame (f. trou hole) by association with troll v.]
A game played by ladies, resembling bagatelle: see quot. 1572. = hole n. 10 a.
| 1572 J. Jones Bathes Buckstone 12 The Ladyes, Gentle Women, Wyues and Maydes maye..haue in the ende of a Benche eleuen holes made, intoo the which to trowle pummetes or Bowles of leade..or also of Copper, Tynne, Woode..the pastyme Troule in Madame is termed. margin, Trol in Madam. 1573 in Gage Hengrave (1822) 199 A frame of wood upon w{supc}{suph} they play w{supt}{suph} pellets, called trowe maddam. 1606 Holland Sueton. Annot. 18 The game of young Gentlewomen called of some Trol-Madame. 1611 Shakes. Wint. T. iv. iii. 92 A fellow (sir) that I haue knowne to goe about with Troll-my-dames. 1666 Third Advice to a Painter 19 He plays with Danger, and his Bullets trouls, As 'twere at Trou-Madam through all the holes. 1689 Lond. Gaz. No. 2503/4 If any Persons have occasion for Tables, and Table-men,..and Troll-Madams, they may be furnished. 1774 H. Walpole Let. to C'tess Upper Ossory 30 July, I would not for the world have a table of trou-madame without a king and a queen. 1819 Blackw. Mag. IV. 564 A harmless quiet kind of sport, like shuttlecock, or trou-madame, or nine-pins. |