bumble-puppy

Noun

bumble puppy (uncountable)

1. (historical) A game in which players attempt to project metal balls into nine holes in a flat wooden board; nineholes.
2. (archaic) Any of various childish or informal games.
   • Cecil was absent—one did not play bumble-puppy when he was there.1908, EM Forster, A Room With A View, Penguin, published 2018, page 104
3. A simplified form of whist; whist or bridge played unskilfully.
   • Templeton isn't the sort of chap to play bumble-puppy bridge with a girl like that unless he's getting something out of it.1947, W. Somerset Maugham, Creatures of Circumstance
4. Swingball or tetherball.