subs. phr. (old).—The nightmare.

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  TO RIDE THE WILD MARE, verb. phr. (old).—To play at see-saw.

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  1580.  SIDNEY, Arcadia, ii. With that, bestriding the mast, I gat by little and little towards him, after such manner as boys are wont, if ever you saw that sport, when they RIDE THE WILD MARE.

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  1598.  SHAKESPEARE, 2 Henry IV., ii. 4. 268. And RIDES THE WILD MARE with the boys.

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  1611.  COTGRAVE, Dictionarie. TO RIDE THE WILD-MARE, as children who, sitting upon both ends of a long pole or timber-log (supported only in the middle), lift one another up and downe.

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