Knock down ginger

Knock down ginger is the name of a children’s street game dating from the early 19th century where children knock on doors and then run away before the door is answered. Knock down was simply an expression dating from the late 18th century for knocking on a door, presumably from pulling or striking the door knocker in a downward direction. Ginger was a common word in those days, meaning to ginger up or move smartly, which the children had to do before the door was opened by a possibly irate homeowner.