Oche
Encyclopedia
The oche ˈɒki, also the throw line or toe line, in the game of darts
is the line behind which the throwing player must stand. It is generally 7 foot from the face of the dartboard, measured horizontally. This is the recognized world standard as set by the World Darts Federation
and is used in most areas. The diagonal distance from the bull's eye to the oche, 9 foot, may also by used.
There is a popular (but false) theory that there was a brewery called "S. Hockey and Sons" in the West Country
of England whose beer crates were used to measure out the 9 feet from the dartboard. This tale is also sometimes associated with the phrase "toeing the hockey". However, according to a statement made by the Brewery History Society in the 1990s, no records of such a brewery can be found.
Another theory traces the term's origin to darts competitions held in the 1920s by an English newspaper, the News of the World
. This newspaper used the word "hockey" for the throwing line in their tournament rules, and may have been the first to do so. "Hockey" might be derived from the Old English word "hocken" which meant "to spit". It is said that spitting competitions were held in the bars of English public houses, and that the "hockey line" was determined by the length that a given player could spit from a position with his back to the dartboard.
Eric Partridge
suggested that the term comes from hoggins line.
Darts
Darts is a form of throwing game where darts are thrown at a circular target fixed to a wall. Though various boards and games have been used in the past, the term "darts" usually now refers to a standardised game involving a specific board design and set of rules...
is the line behind which the throwing player must stand. It is generally 7 foot from the face of the dartboard, measured horizontally. This is the recognized world standard as set by the World Darts Federation
World Darts Federation
The World Darts Federation Is a sport governing body and tournament organiser for the game of darts. It was formed in 1976, by representatives of fifteen nations. Membership is open to the official National organizing body for Darts in all nations...
and is used in most areas. The diagonal distance from the bull's eye to the oche, 9 foot, may also by used.
Origin
The origin of the term is unknown, though it probably came into use in the 1920s. It was originally spelled "hockey", only becoming "oche" in the late 1970s.There is a popular (but false) theory that there was a brewery called "S. Hockey and Sons" in the West Country
West Country
The West Country is an informal term for the area of south western England roughly corresponding to the modern South West England government region. It is often defined to encompass the historic counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset and the City of Bristol, while the counties of...
of England whose beer crates were used to measure out the 9 feet from the dartboard. This tale is also sometimes associated with the phrase "toeing the hockey". However, according to a statement made by the Brewery History Society in the 1990s, no records of such a brewery can be found.
Another theory traces the term's origin to darts competitions held in the 1920s by an English newspaper, the News of the World
News of the World
The News of the World was a national red top newspaper published in the United Kingdom from 1843 to 2011. It was at one time the biggest selling English language newspaper in the world, and at closure still had one of the highest English language circulations...
. This newspaper used the word "hockey" for the throwing line in their tournament rules, and may have been the first to do so. "Hockey" might be derived from the Old English word "hocken" which meant "to spit". It is said that spitting competitions were held in the bars of English public houses, and that the "hockey line" was determined by the length that a given player could spit from a position with his back to the dartboard.
Eric Partridge
Eric Partridge
Eric Honeywood Partridge was a New Zealand/British lexicographer of the English language, particularly of its slang. His writing career was interrupted only by his service in the Army Education Corps and the RAF correspondence department during World War II...
suggested that the term comes from hoggins line.