hopscotch
noun

- a children’s game in which a player throws a small stone or other object to land in one of a pattern of squares marked on the ground and then hops over to it to pick it up.

Collin’s English Dictionary

verb

to move or pass through something, as a geographical area or a field of endeavor, making many brief stops: “The candidate HOPSCOTCHED through four states in two days.”

dictionary dot com

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ORIGIN

Legend says that hopscotch originated in Britain during the early Roman Empire. Initially designed as a training regimen for Roman foot soldiers who ran the course in full armour and field packs, it was thought that hopscotch would improve their footwork.

Roman children apparently imitated the soldiers and “hopscotch” spread throughout Europe.

There are many other forms of hopscotch played across the globe. In Malaysia, it is known as ting-ting or ketengteng.

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SMUGGLE OWAD into a conversation today, say something like:

“If we attend the team training I don’t want to wash elephants, jump off bridges, or play HOPSCOTCH.”

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THANKS to Melanie for suggesting today’s word:

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Paul Smith