ring-around-the-rosey

or ring-a·round-the-ros·y, ring-a·round-a-ros·ey

[ ring-uh-round-thuh-roh-zee ]

noun

1. a children's game in which the players sing while going around in a circle and squat when the lyrics “all fall down” are sung.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ring-around-the-rosey¹

1880–85; probably rose ¹ + -ey ²

Example Sentences

The piazza now includes a large circular bench, meant to evoke the actors’ ring-around-the-rosey in the final scene in “8 ½,” with revolving stools in the middle for children to spin around on.

From New York Times

Preschoolers climbed on the life-size sculpture of a circle of children playing ring-around-the-rosey.

From Literature