Start of a counting-out rhyme

The answer to the crossword question “Start of a counting-out rhyme” is EENY. This is the first word in the popular children’s counting-out rhyme “Eeny, meeny, miny, moe.” The rhyme is used to choose a person for a game or task by pointing to each person in turn while reciting the rhyme. The word “eeny” is used to start the rhyme and is followed by “meeny, miny, moe” and so on. This rhyme has been used for generations and is still popular today.