Green’s Dictionary of Slang

to have sexual intercourse.

1508		Dunbar ‘The Wowing of the King in Dunfermeling’ in Mackenzie Poems (1932) 52: And with hir playit, and maid gud game, Syne till his breist did hir imbrace, And wald haif riddin hir lyk ane rame.
a.1760		in ‘Hurlothrumbo’ Bog-house Misc. 27: Salley Stukely is the prettiest Girl in England, / I wish I was to play a Game with her single-hand.

to masturbate.

2003

Number One Adult Sexual Health Terms Advisor 🌐 Masturbation Slang Unisex Terms: [...] play a little five-on/in-one.

(US) to perform oral sex.

1966		Trimble 5000 Adult Sex Words and Phrases.
1999		D. Lypchuk ‘A dirty little story’ in eye mag. 8 July 🌐 It looked like a real toothache, so she gave him a bit of punishment, playing the piccolo like a real Peter Puffer until she received Holy Communion.

to have sexual intercourse.

1719		in D’Urfey Pills to Purge Melancholy IV 123: Come play us Adam and Eve, says Dick.
1890–1904		Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues.

to have sexual intercourse; thus the game of all fours, sexual intercourse.

c.1680		‘Mistery Discovered’ in Chappell Roxburghe Ballads (1874) II 352: Fair Susan [...] At put Inn and Inn, or All-Fours, she’l play for what Bett you’d be naming.
1684		C. Cotton Erotopolis 109: They had in these Academies other sorts of Games [...] as In and In, and All Fours.
1689		‘The Wenching Tanner’ Pepys Ballads (1987) V 252: My Dame and I fell to All-fours.
1691		‘The Old Mans Wish’ Pepys Ballads (1987) V 186: To play with my Mistress ... at All Fours, and t’other Thing too.
1699		N. Ward London Spy I6 2: Each Tippling-House kept Open Doors, / At Midnight for Sots, Rogues and Whores, / To Curse and Wrangle at All-Fours.
1718		‘The Barnard Castle Tragedy’ in Chappell Roxburghe Ballads (1880) III 797: At all Four’s she’d play, as many people know; / A fairer Gamster no Man could ever show.
1756		W. Toldervy Hist. of the Two Orphans III 166: Don’t you haul in my time by your tales of all-fours.
1781		Hicky’s Bengal Gaz. 4-11 Aug. n.p.: Play at all fours and put, that being the favorite Game here — sweet little Miss!
1783		Harris’s List of Covent Garden Ladies 4: [S]he is too great a slave to the game at all fours to deny any gentleman.
1784		Rambler’s Mag. May 180/2: You amused yourselves all last night upon All Fours [...] You even brag that you have not been in bed, nor played one game at My Lady’s Hole.
1833		‘A Game at All Fours’ in Convivialist in Spedding & Watt (eds) Bawdy Songbooks (2011) IV 20: My Lady an excellent supper devours, / Then teazes her spouse for a game at All Fours.
1840		‘The Female Gamester’ in Facetious Songster in Spedding & Watt (eds) Bawdy Songbooks (2011) III 271: Games at all fours, she beat me scores, / So well she knows the pack.
1842		Whip & Satirist of NY & Brooklyn (NY) 21 May n.p.: [of a brothel] Why ain’t that ‘all fours’ concern turned out? It’s shocking.
c.1850		Frolicsome Widow [broadside ballad] What game is it madam you’re willing to play, / She immediately answered and told him the score / The game that I choose is that of all-fours.
c.1850		Peeping Tom (London) 36 : .
c.1864		‘The Frankfort Affair’ Rakish Rhymer (1917) 68: So they toddled to bed with an amorous flame, / He play’d at all-fours, and got High, Low(e), and Game.
1890–1904		Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues.
1896		Farmer Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 71: Combat, m. The act of kind; ‘to play at all fours’.

to have sexual intercourse.

1596		Nashe Have With You to Saffron-Walden in Works III (1883–4) 191: I will not present into the Arches, or Commissaries Court, what prinkum prankums Gentlemen (his nere neighbors) haue whispred to me of his Sister, and how shee is as good a fellow as euer turnd belly to belly.
1653		Urquhart (trans.) Gargantua and Pantagruel (1927) I 86: There he played [...] at belly to belly.
1890–1904		Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues.
1960, 1975		Wentworth & Flexner DAS 30/2: belly to belly In the act of sexual intercourse.

to have sexual intercourse.

1607		Rowlands Humours Ordinarie G2: I dare chalenge thee to [...] play [...] at [...] blindman buffe.
c.1620		‘When Phebus addrest’ n.p.: The youth was rough, he tooke up her stuffe, & to blindmans buffe they did goe.

to have sexual intercourse.

1599		Nashe Praise of the Red Herring 42: And what will not blinde Cupid doe in the night which is his blindmans holiday?
c.1719		‘Wully & Georgy’ in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) V 123: Out of London Town they aw did trip it, / Down to play at new bopeep at Tumbridge Well.

to have sexual intercourse.

1890–1904

Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues III 207/2: To play at [...] buttock-and-leave-her.

to have sexual intercourse.

1600		Shakespeare Twelfth Night III iv: Aye, Biddy, come with me. What, man! ’tis not for gravity to play at cherry-pit with Satan: hang him, foul collier!
1606		J. Day Ile of Guls VI i: She and I would haue about at cob-nut or at cherry-pit.
1621		Rowley, Dekker & Ford Witch of Edmonton III i: I have lov’d a Witch ever since I play’d at Cherry-pit.
1653		Urquhart (trans.) Gargantua and Pantagruel (1927) I Bk I 87: There he played [...] at cherry pit.
1890–1904		Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues.

to have sexual intercourse.

1896

Farmer Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 204: Parler. To copulate; ‘to play at cock-in-cover’.

to have sexual intercourse .

1521		Skelton Speke Parott line 412: To jumbyll, to stombyll, to tumbyll down lyke folys; [...] and to play at cowche-quale.
c.1538		Thersytes (1550) Epilogue: Of me ye shall heare tell Howe I haue made the knaues for to play couch-quaile.

to have sexual intercourse.

1890–1904

Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues III 207: To play at [...] couple-your-navels; cuddle-my-cuddie (Durfey).

to have sexual intercourse.

1660		Wandring Whore IV 9: [refers to a tune] Thats she that says she has a fiddle in her arse, which caused an old Lawyer to give her six pounds to sing and play the tune called Cuddle me Cuddy, and hath had as many P- in her C- then hairs upon it.
1699		‘The Power of Women’ in Playford Pills to Purge Melancholy I 42: From whence do you think he derived his Study [...] Twas playing with her – at Cuddle my Cuddy.
1719		in D’Urfey Pills to Purge Melancholy III 28: Playing with her at Cuddle my cuddy.

to have sexual intercourse.

1888–94		‘Walter’ My Secret Life (1966) II 304: Lass we’ll have a game at mother and father.
1890–1904		Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues.
1960		‘Lord & Marshall’ So Willing 30: Maybe some of the guys would be all excited at the prospect of playing doctor with a pretty girl, but he’d been around long enough to want more.
1996		(con. 1964-65) B. Thorpe Sex and Thugs and Rock ’n’ Roll 54: ‘Now, Mr Forpe [...] You wanna play doctors or somefing?’.
1999		Guardian Guide 20–26 Nov. 52: Charlie and Max have both been overcome by the desire to play doctors and nurses.
2003		(ref. to 1960s) in Baker & Stanley Hello Sailor! 109: The other apprentice wanted to ‘play doctors and nurses’ with Alan.

to have sexual intercourse.

1890–1904		Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues.
1896		Farmer Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 49: Brisgoutter. To copulate; ‘to play at grapple-my-belly’.

(Scot.) to have sexual intercourse.

1890–1904

Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues.

to have sexual intercourse.

a.1684		in D’Urfey ‘The Winchester Wedding’ in Ebsworth Roxburghe Ballads (1893) VII:1 209: The while that his Wife with Willy, / Was playing at Hoopers-Hide.
1699		N. Ward London Spy V 108: A parcel of Wenches fit for Husbands, playing at Hoop and Hide among the Pillars.
1835		‘Ravishing Fifty Maids’ in Fanny Hill’s New Friskey Chanterr in Spedding & Watt (eds) Bawdy Songbooks (2011) III 349: [as 1684].
1890–1904		Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues.

to have sexual intercourse.

1792		Burns ‘There Was Twa Wives’ Merry Muses of Caledonia (1965) 70: There was twa wives, and twa witty wives, / As e’er played houghmagandie.
1890–1904		Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues.
1978		K. Bonfiglioli letter in Bonfiglioli Mortdecai ABC (2001) 377: Contrary to popular belief, i do not spend my days basking in the sun [...] playing houghmagandy with amoral colleens.

to have sexual intercourse.

a.1575		‘Old Simon the Kinge’ in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) III 4: Soe fellowes, if you be drunke, / of ffrailtye itt is a sinne, / as itt is to keepe a puncke, / or play att in and in.
1610–20		‘The New Exchange’ in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) V 4: Here’s dice and boxes, if you please / To play at in and in [...] & if you like such thundering spourt, / Here is my ladyes hole.
c.1617		Fletcher Chances I iv: Sure he has encountred Some light o’ Love or other, and there means To play at in and in for this Night.
1639		J. Taylor Crabtree Lectures 106: If I should now offer to play at In and In, wee should next day see you upon the Pillery .
1640		Parliament of Women B4: Mistris Dorcas Doe-little [...] saith she, my husband is a Gamester and [...] when he with his Sweet-hearts ventures his state at the Hole, I with his servant can passe away the time at In and In .
1655		Mercurius Fumigosus 34 17–24 Jan. 270: He [...] so trappan’d his honest Wife, and her supposed Cosin. Which now must suffer for their fun, / For playing false at In and In.
1662		Jack Adams, his perpetual almanack 19: The seventh house giveth judgment of marriages, Wives, quarrels, love [...] when to play at In and In.
1675		Fumblers-Hall 17: You that play and never win / At the Game of In and In.
1675		C. Cotton Scoffer Scoff’d (1765) 196: What, with some Goddess he’d have bin / Playing, belike, at In-and-In, / And would be at the Rutting-sport?
1684		C. Cotton Erotopolis 109: They had in these Academies other sorts of Games [...] as In and In.
1690		Pagan Prince 15: They might the better be able to play at In, and In.
1700		‘Cuckolds All’ in Playford Pills to Purge Melancholy II 78: Their Wives may play at In and In.
1719		in D’Urfey Pills to Purge Melancholy III 144: So Fellows if you’ll be drunk, / Of frailty it is a sin, / Or for to keep a punk, / Or play at In and In.
1890–1904		Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues.
1896		Farmer Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 74: Conférer. To copulate; ‘to play at in-and-in’.

to have sexual intercourse.

1620–50		‘Walking in a Meadow Green’ in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) II 14: Then stifly thrust, he hit me just, / ffeare not, but freely spend it, / & play about at in & out; / once more, & none can mend it.
c.1661		ballad in Wardroper (1969) 180: Then stiffly thrust and hit me just. / Fear not, but freely spend it / And play about at in and out / Once more, and none can mend it.
1834		‘The Maiden’s Surprise’ in Libertine’s Songster in Spedding & Watt (eds) I 129: Among the rest a ploughman gay, / For her was in an amorous way, / In and out, round about, doodle doo.
1890–1904		Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues.

to have sexual intercourse.

1598		Florio Worlde of Wordes.
1988		J. McDonald Dict. of Obscenity etc. 72: To play itch buttocks is to have sexual intercourse.

to have sexual intercourse; also as n. level-coil, sexual intercourse.

1598		Florio Worlde of Wordes n.p.: Giocar’ a leua culo, to play at leuell coile or itch buttock.
c.1638		R. Brome Mad Couple II i: How easie a worke / ’Twere for one woman to supply ’em both, / And hold her husband play to levell Acoile, / A wooden two-leav’d booke, a paire of Tables / Would do’t.
1663		J. Wilson Cheats IV ii: I made her confess that the Alderman and one Bilboe play level de coile with her.
1667		ballad in Wilson Court Satires of the Restoration (1976) 12: She swives like a stoat, / Goes to’t leg and foot, / Level coil with a prince and a player.
1672		‘The Bathing Girles’ in Ebsworth Westminster Drolleries (1875) II 103: Then each at other did make a pass at kissing then, And round it went to every one level coile.
1682		ballad in British Museum Additional Mss 34362.18: [She] Goes to’t Leg & foot Level coyle w’h a Prince & a Player.

see play (at) fathers and mothers

to stimulate the vagina with the fingers.

1592

Arden of Feversham line 1768: Didst thou ever see better weather to runne away with another man’s wife, or play with a wenche at pot-finger?

to have sexual intercourse; thus game of push-pin n., sexual intercourse.

1577		Misogonus in Farmer (1906) IV iii: If there be any gentleman, [Or any] gentlewoman [...] That can play at put pin.
1608		R. Middleton Epigrams 13: At cards and dice Puria could neuer win, / Therefore she loues no game but blunt pushpin.
c.1620		Fletcher Women Pleased II iii: No lesse sport serve ye, Then the Heire to a Dukedom? play at push-pin there Sir?
1622		Middleton & Rowley The Changeling I ii: Ay, play at push-pin, cousin, ha, ha!
1623		Massinger Duke of Milan III ii: This wanton at dead midnight, Was found at the exercise behind the Arras, With the ’foresaid Signoir [...] she would neuer tell Who play’d at push-pin with her.
1705–07		N. Ward Hudibras Redivivus II:7 10: When at push-a-pike we play With beauty, who shall win the day?
1728		Swift Gulliver Decypher’d 33: Some argue [...] why may not Prelates play at Push-pin.
1772		Bridges Burlesque Homer (3rd edn) 337: He one evening with the maid / A game at pushpin had begun.
1775		‘Miss Sutherland’ Ranger’s Impartial List of the Ladies of Pleasure in Edinburgh n.p.: She is a firm votary to the wanton Goddess, and would willingly play morning, noon, and night, at the delicious game of push-pin.
c.1800		‘Peter Pindar’ ‘Royal Visit to Exeter’ Works (1801) V 107: The King no notice tuke, ’tis zaid, But, leek a pisky, laugh’d and play’d To push-pin wey the Queen.
1833		‘A Game at All Fours’ in Convivialist in Spedding & Watt (eds) Bawdy Songbooks (2011) IV 20: John and Susan below, get at push-pin for love.
1836		‘The Winchester Wedding’ Cockchafer 42: They found them both down on the floor, / Having a game at push-pin!
1896		‘Bound for india’ in Cabinet of Venus 99: I now played the royal game of push-pin in earnest and she joined me heart and soul.

to have sexual intercourse.

1831

Satirist (London) 25 Sept. 197/3: The Doctor plays with Lady B. / At trap—and ball with Countess C.; / At shuttlecock with Mrs. A., / And rubbers short with dear Miss E.

to have sexual intercourse.

1653		Urquhart (trans.) Gargantua and Pantagruel (1927) I Bk I 11: Honest widows may without danger play at the close buttock game with might and main. [Ibid.] I Bk II 249: The women there take great delight in playing the close-buttock game. [Ibid.] 357: You and I had one merry bout together, at the brangle-buttock game.
1890–1904		Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues.
1925		E. Field ‘A French Crisis’ Facetiae Americana 18: No prurient dame [...] Could be compared with Limousin at this close-buttock game.

to have sexual intercourse.

1793

Bacchanalian Mag. 75: What maiden her love could be spurning — / Tho’ he at tric-trac will play.

to have sexual intercourse.

1730		‘Gee Ho, Dobbin’ in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) II 203: I rumpl’d her Feathers, and tickl’d her scutt, And played the round Rubber at two-handed Put .
1790		‘Bumper Allnight. Esquire’ Honest Fellow [as 1730].
1890–1904		Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues.
1896		Farmer Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 239: Sabouler. To copulate; ‘to play at two-handed put’.

of a woman, to position one’s vagina directly above one’s partner’s mouth, either literally sitting or squatting above their face, in order to facilitate cunnilingus.

1977		(con. 1949) J.G. Dunne True Confessions (1979) 66: ‘You know how to play carnival?’ ‘I don’t know that one, no.’ ‘I sit on your face and you try to guess my weight.’.
1989		(con. 1968) W.E. Merritt Where the Rivers Ran Backward 48: I’d sure like to play carnival with her.

(US gay) to move from seat to seat in a cinema in search of a receptive sex partner.

1941		G. Legman ‘Lang. of Homosexuality’ Appendix VII in Henry Sex Variants.
1965		Guild Dict. Homosexual Terms 7: checkers, play (v.): To move from seat to seat in a motion picture house in an effort to find a willing youth. A homosexual sits next to a likely ‘candidate’ and makes some verbal or physical overture or ‘pass’; if rejected, he moves to another seat, and so on.
1972		B. Rodgers Queens’ Vernacular.

(orig. gay) to indulge in mutual masturbation.

1941		G. Legman ‘Lang. of Homosexuality’ Appendix VII in Henry Sex Variants.
1965		Guild Dict. Homosexual Terms 8: chopsticks, to play (v.): Mutual masturbation; not necessarily exclusively between homosexual boys. Derived from the ‘crossing of hands’ as in piano duets called ‘chopsticks’.
1972		B. Rodgers Queens’ Vernacular 116: mutual masturbation by two men. [...] playing chopsticks (’40s).
1982		Maledicta VI:1+2 (Summer/Winter) 147: From them she might pick up and more to startle than identify with her sisters use words and expressions such as [...] play chopsticks (mutual masturbation, from the crossing of hands when playing Chopsticks on the piano).
1999		Roger’s Profanisaurus 3 in Viz 98 Oct. 22: playing chopsticks v. A beginners’ duet. Engaging in mutual masturbation.

to have sexual intercourse.

1608		Pennyless Parliament of Thread-bare Poets 38: And those, that play fast and loose with Women’s Apron-strings, may chance to make a journey for a Winchester pigeon.
1656		‘The Threading of the Needle’ Sportive Wit in Bold (1979) 157: O, that I durst but play at in-and-in / [...] Or fast-or-loose, I care not whether much.
1667		Dryden Sir Martin Mar-all V i: They say the Women govern their Ladies and you govern us: So if you play fast and loose, not a Gallant will bribe us for our Good-wills.
1709		‘Phoebe Crackenthorpe’ Female Tatler (1992) (29) 71: Such articles [...] may be more binding on their sides that employ her than those of marriage would be on hers, had she any husband to play fast and loose with.
1748		Spy on Mother Midnight III 12: [T]hat was indeed the case of father and grandfather, they could not dabble with a milk-maid, or speak kindly to my lady's woman, but straight the apron-strings were out of order, and a squalling bratt proclaimed their amours nine months after.

to have sexual intercourse; thus as n. hey gammer cook.

1674		T. Duffet Mock-Tempest I i: [A] Trunk of Perfum’d Linnen which the Old Knight us’d to play hey Gamer Cook.
1675		T. Duffet Psyche Debauch’d 74: King Andrew and his Queen at Hey-gammer-Cook in a Grotto of Innocence.
1680		M. Stevenson Wits Paraphras’d 72: Nor shou’d thou scape my Claws, tis I / Had got one Touch at G’ammar hi.
c.1690		John the Glover, and Jane his Servant in Williams Dict. Sexual Lang. I 577: [They] strait-way [...] fell to their billing, to Hey Gaffer Cooks they went.
1702		Burlesque of L’Estrange’s Quevedo 116: [Playing] at Gammer Cook i’th’ dark.
1703		N. Ward Infallible Predictor in Writings II 350: [Inns of Court men] Study High-Gammer-Cooks Lessen, much more than they do Cook upon Littleton.
1722		Whipping-Tom Rod For a Proud Lady Pt 2 11: Drinkers, who drinking a great deal of Sugar in their warm Water, [...] makes ’em so good humour’d, as not to deny their Sparks a Game at Gamar Cook, Gratis.
1728		graffito in Merry-Thought (1731) I 18: If the Husband had come And had seen his Wife’s B—m, He’d a known by her Looks, She’d been playing-At Hoy Gammer Cooks.
1732		Harlot’s Progress 28: A Lord / [...] / saw Moll at Play, and lik’d her Looks, / And long’d for — what? — Hey Gammer Cooks?
1734		C. Johnson Hist. of Highwaymen &c. 436: He being eager on the Game of High Gammer Cook.

(US) to have sexual intercourse.

1972		(con. 1930s–40s) B. Rodgers Queens’ Vernacular 108: Hobo slang (kwn ’30s & ’40s) The actual fucking of another man was called bunking up, jungling up (? fr sl jungle = hobo camp) or playing hide the sausage.
1976		P. Conroy Great Santini (1977) 312: If I’d known she was giving it away free, I’d have played hide the banana with her myself.
1981		(con. 1966) P. Conroy Lords of Discipline 222: I’d love to play hide the sausage with that hot madonna.
1981		Z-Link 30 Oct.–1 Nov. 🌐 Cheap drinks, cheap entertainment, cheap atmosphere – the perfect excuse to leave early and play hide-the-salami.
1981		S. King Roadwork in Bachman Books (1995) 44597: That’s when some stupid jock playing Friday night hippie plays hide the salami with you.
1986		M. Petit Peacekeepers 89: I know you want to get your wick dipped and play a little hide the sausage.
1987		‘Joe Bob Briggs’ Joe Bob Goes to the Drive-In 142: Did you write your famous opening line to the nerd, the sensitive suggestion, ‘Wanna play Hide the Salami?’.
1990		(con. early 1950s) J. Ellroy L.A. Confidential 294: [He] plays hide the salami with members of the canine persuasion.
1991		Eble Campus Sl. Fall 4: jelly roll – have sex. Also Play hide the sausage.
2000		M. Dibdin Thanksgiving 22: Next thing you’re squished up together playing hide the salami.
2003		McGill Reed Dict. of N.Z. Sl. 101: hide/sink the salami/sausage/sausie/sav/soss/sossy Male intromission of the penis, or more generally, sexual intercourse, eg, ‘Fancy a bit of hide the sausage tonight, dear?’ ANZ later C20.
2003		Eve. Herald (Dublin) 7 June 22/5: Lover Boy finally admited to playing hide the cigar with Monica.
2011		D.D. Brazill ‘Lady and the Gimp’ in Pulp Ink [ebook] Penhaligon was sent down for playing hide the salami with an under-aged student.
2012		J. Dicker Harry Quebert Affair (2015) 27: It’s just your genius panicking, the same way your libido makes you go soft when you’re about to play hide-the-salami.
2014		P. Wagner ‘5 Worst Things A Chick Says Late Night’ justdobetter.com 5 Feb. 🌐 ‘'Listen, going home and playing a little game of hide the salam does not make you “that kind of girl”’.
2021		J. Ellroy Widespread Panic 84: It’s not all fun and games and hide the salami’.

(gay) for two homosexual men to indulge in mutual fellatio.

1941		G. Legman ‘Lang. of Homosexuality’ Appendix VII in Henry Sex Variants.
1965		Guild Dict. Homosexual Terms 22: hoop snake (with), to play (v.): To indulge in mutual orogenitalism; from the mythical hoop snake which is said to have taken its tail in its mouth.
1972		B. Rodgers Queens’ Vernacular 182: to practice orogenitalism [...] play hoop snake [with somebody].

to have sexual intercourse.

1992		R.G. Barrett White Shoes 57: Some sort of pink satin knickers that almost sent Mr Wobbly into a tail spin [Ibid.] 58: Mr Wobbly swelled up and exploded inside DD like a hand grenade.
1996		K. Lette Mad Cows 25: So, shall we play Mr Wobbly Hides His Helmet?
2002		R.G. Barrett Mystery Bay Blues 148: Mr Wobbly started climbing out of Norton’s Speedos, angier than ever.
2002		R.G. Barrett Mystery Bay Blues 248: If Grace’s sweet lips had gone within cooee of Mr Wobbly it would have been a disaster. Instead Les spread Grace’s legs and slipped the angry little fellow into his favourite hiding place.

to have sexual intercourse.

1999

D. Lypchuk ‘A dirty little story’ in eye mag. 8 July 🌐 Nobody has ever asked me to engage in East African activities and I’ve never played night baseball before.

to caress, to fondle; to have sexual intercourse.

c.1505

R. Copland Complaynte of Them that ben To Late Maryed 10: My wyfe shewed to me her proper dugge, / On the mornynge her delyte for to make, / And to haue me for to play nugge a nugge.

of a woman, to have sex with a man.

1890–1904		Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues.
1896		Farmer Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 26: Badigeonner. To copulate; ‘to play one’s ace’.

to have sexual intercourse.

1653		Urquhart (trans.) Gargantua and Pantagruel (1927) I Bk I 86: There he played [...] at prickle me tickle me.
1890–1904		Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues.
1896		Farmer Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 26: Badinage d’amour, m. 1. Copulation; ‘pickle-me-tickle-me’.

see sink the sausage under sink v.

to masturbate.

1939		in G. Legman Limerick (1953) 257: There was a young man from the Bronx / Who when offered a piece said, ‘No thonx.’ / He said, ‘I declare, / I prefer solitaire, / And all that I do is just yonx’.
1972		B. Rodgers Queens’ Vernacular.

to have sexual intercourse.

1790		‘Bumper Allnight. Esquire’ Honest Fellow 212: Toasts [...] The first game ever played at.
1896		Farmer Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 96: Divertissement, m. The act of kind; ‘the first game ever played’.
1898		Binstead & Wells A Pink ’Un and a Pelican 272: Well, well, round goes the world; here’s to the first game ever played at!

of a man, to have sexual intercourse.

c.1786		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue ms. additions n.p.: Three to one. two Stones and a P—k against one C—t. he is laying [sic] three to one though sure to lose.
1788, 1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd, 3rd edn) n.p.: He is playing three to one, though sure to lose; said of anyone engaged in the amorous congress.
1811		Lex. Balatronicum.
1823		Egan Grose’s Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.
1890–1904		Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues.

to have sexual intercourse.

1942

H. Miller Roofs of Paris (1983) 114: She wanted to play head-to-tail with Anna. [Ibid.] 196: Billie sees to it that you keep in line when you play tickle tail with her!

(US) to have sexual intercourse.

1964

J. Thompson Pop. 1280 in Four Novels (1983) 479: You and Myra better stop playing tickle the pickle, boy.

(US) to indulge in sexual fondling.

1987

‘Joe Bob Briggs’ Joe Bob Goes to the Drive-In 138: We had a few of those rip-off Limeaid tequila drinks [...] and played touchy-touchy with a couple bimbos.

to masturbate.

1879		in G. Legman Limerick (1953) 273: There was an Archbishop of Rheims / Who played with himself in his dreams. / On his night-shirt in front / He painted a cunt, / Which made his spend gush forth in streams.
c.1915		in P. Smith Letter from My Father (1978) 61: Emma played with me and I played with her.
1922		Joyce Ulysses 526: You can apply your eye to the keyhole and play with yourself while I just go through her a few times.
1943		C. McCullers Heart is a Lonely Hunter (1986) 164: He was always wanting to stop off behind bushes and pee and play with himself awhile.
1953		T. Runyon In For Life 270: All nut doctors are the same [...] They just want to know if you play with yourself.
1966		(con. 1948–52) L. Thomas Virgin Soldiers 13: I do like to have a little play with myself in the night.
1966		M. Rumaker Exit 3 and Other Stories 166: Man, don’t sit next to me if you’re gonna start playing with yourself again.
1977		G.F. Newman Villain’s Tale 60: So instead he reached under the covers and grabbed his cock. ‘Caught you! Playing with yourself,’ he said.
1989		T. Blacker Fixx 234: Your own gray-haired mother [...] announces that the country’s womenfolk should learn to play with themselves.
1999		Guardian Guide 4–10 Dec. 87: When his mum knocks on the bathroom door to find out what he’s up to, you’ll wish he had been playing with himself.
2000		Penguin Book of All-New Aus. Jokes 33: A young boy is in his room playing with himself when his mother comes in and catches him. ‘If you keep doing that you’ll go blind!’ she yells. The boy replies: ‘Well, can I keep doing it until I need glasses?’.
2010		K. Richards Life 52: He was famed for playing with himself through his trouser pocket.