ID: 654
Date: 1950s
Title: Cowardy, cowardy custard
Gender: Male and Female 
Classification: Taunt 
Rhyme: 

Cowardy, cowardy custard,
You ate a barrel full of mustard.

(Auckland, 1950s)

--

Cowardy, cowardy custard,
You ate your father's mustard.

(NZ, 1900s (Sutton-Smith, 1959:93))

--

Cowry, cowry, custard,
Your mother's made of mustard.

(NZ, 1900s, (Sutton-Smith, 1959:98))

--
 
Background Info: Opie, 1967:184, discusses the association between cowardice, yellow and custard. It seems that only in the 19th century has yellow been associated with faintheartedness; previously the colour yellow denoted jealousy.

==

Variations in Turner, 1978:84. include:

Cowardy, cowardy custard,
Ate your mother's mustard.

Cowardy, cowardy custard,
Your mother gives you mustard.

Cowardy, cowardy custard,
Dip your nose in mustard.

(Australia, 1930s-1970s)

==

Gomme, 1898:25 reports a tigging game which uses:

Cowardy, cowardy, custard,
Eat your father's mustard,
Catch me if you can.

(Cited in Turner, 1969:70)

==
 
Keywords: taunt 
Location: Various NZ 
Group size: 1 
Incidence: 3