One of the (usually wooden) pegs, with a notch at the upper end, to which when stuck in the ground the ropes of a tent are fastened. Hence Tent-pegging, an Indian cavalry sport, in which the player, riding at full speed, tries to transfix and carry off, on the point of his lance, a tent-peg fixed in the ground. Also attrib. So Tent-pegger, one who takes part in this exercise.
1869. E. A. Parkes, Pract. Hygiene (ed. 3), 326. Between the tent-pegs of every tent.
1878. N. Amer. Rev., CXXVII. 155. ‘Tent-pegging’ is a very favorite amusement of the sowar.
1890. Mary Abbott, The Beverleys, xii. 120. He rode superbly; was an admirable tiger-hunter with a great record; was also a renowned slayer of boars, fencer, tent-pegger, sheep-quarterer,—there was nothing he could not do.
1900. Daily News, 26 June, 3/1. The tugs-of-war, tent-peggings, V.C. races, etc., were well contested.
1901. Daily Chron., 31 May, 6/2. ‘Bobs’ … was himself the champion tent-pegger against all comers.
