ring-around-the-rosey

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

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

noun

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.

Origin of ring-around-the-rosey

1880–85; probably rose¹ + -ey²

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018