Bo Peep February 15, 2017 All Rhymes 0 Comments

A young schoolboy daydreams next to a giant clock

A Diller A Dollar

A diller, a dollar, a ten o’clock scholar!
What makes you come so soon?
You used to come at ten o’clock;
Now you come at noon.

Listen as female British:

Listen as female American:

Posted in All Rhymes, Counting & Learning, Daily Life & Objects, Mother Goose Classics, People & Characters

Tagged clock, habit, morning, punctuality, school, tease, time

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Summary:

“A Diller, A Dollar” is a short rhyme that lightly scolds a tardy student. With a sing-song rhythm and playful language, it mocks the lateness of someone who once arrived early, now showing up at noon. It’s often used as a teasing jingle by children.

Meaning:

The rhyme pokes fun at habitual tardiness, possibly teaching children the value of punctuality:

“Diller” and “dollar” are nonsensical fillers to establish rhythm and rhyme.
The “ten o’clock scholar” is a sarcastic way to refer to someone who arrives late to school.
The shift from ten o’clock to noon exaggerates the issue for comedic or corrective effect.

It’s a gentle social nudge disguised as a nursery rhyme.

Historical Context:

The phrase “ten o’clock scholar” was a common 18th and 19th-century idiom used to tease children who arrived late to school. Schools often began earlier in the day, so a ten o’clock arrival was notably late. This rhyme may have been chanted by peers or caregivers as a mild rebuke.

A Diller A Dollar

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