isn't cramp bones a old nick name for dice? not that cramp bones were dice-- but they were cut and marked and used to play a game something like 'craps'(or is craps a contrantion of cramp?) -- and when dice became cheaper (and more people live in cities, and not in the country side where they could get sheep bones easily) 'dice' subsituted -- and keep the old name.. at least for while..

i have gotten my floor installed in my living/dining computer room space, and have purchaced my first set of bookcases, and soon will be unpacking (after 14 long months of being packed away) some dictionaries and other books! hurrah!--then i will have 'partridge's dictionary of slang once again available... to confirm such sillyness!