Ollie Ollie Oxen Free

Posted by EThornburgh on April 30, 2001

Can anyone give me the origin of the above subject?
In youth it was applied to those participating in a game being called in "free" by calling out " Ollie Ollie Oxen Free".
Are there other meanings - spellings? Origin?

Thank You.

• Ollie Ollie Oxen Free ESC 04/30/01