“Eeney, meeney, miney, moe” is a children’s rhyme where, with each word, the person counting or reciting points at one of a group of players to establish who will be “it.”
The ritual was handed down from the Druids, who used the same counting formula to choose human sacrifices.
The precise meanings and origins of the words eeney, meeney, miney and moe are unknown.
The theory that the rhyme is from an ancient Anglo-Saxon, Celtic, or Welsh numbering system can’t be proven.
The rhyme was first written down in 1855 along with several other versions, for example, “Hanna, mana, mona, mike.”
Related Posts
-
Where does the phrase “without rhyme or reason” come from and What does it mean?
The phrase "without rhyme or reason" means: lacking in sense or justification. The French still say, ni rime ni raison; but we borrowed the saying from the French of the late Middle Ages,…
-
What Does the Phrase “It’s Neither Rhyme Nor Reason” Mean and Where Did it Come From?
When you say that something is "neither rhyme nor reason," you are quoting Sir Thomas More. After reading something a friend had written, Sir Thomas told him that he would have to rewrite…
-
Who Was Humpty Dumpty, Where Did the Nursery Rhyme Come From, and What Does it Mean?
The nursery rhyme in which "Humpty Dumpty has a great fall" dates back to 1493 and refers to King Richard III of England. Richard had a hump on his back and had been…
-
Where Did the Nursery Rhyme “Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary” Originate and What Does it Mean?
The children's nursery rhyme "Mary, Mary, quite contrary" is about Mary, Queen of Scots, and emerged during her struggle for power with Queen Elizabeth I. The "pretty maids all in a row" were…
-
What Does the Rhyme “Red Sky At Morning, Sailors Take Warning, Red Sky At Night, Sailors’ Delight” Mean?
There is some truth to the rhyme "Red sky at morning, sailors take warning, red sky at night, sailors' delight". The trick is to look at the part of the sky where the…
-
Where Did the Melody For “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” Come From and How Did the Nursery Rhyme Originate?
In 1806, Jane Taylor published "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" simply as "The Star." The tune was already in use for "Baa Baa Black Sheep" and the Alphabet Song. The melody for all three…
