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Title: The Public School Word-book

Author: John Stephen Farmer

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Most recently updated: October 23, 2024

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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE
PUBLIC SCHOOL WORD-BOOK ***

THE PUBLIC SCHOOL
WORD-BOOK

THE

PUBLIC SCHOOL WORD-BOOK

A CONTRIBUTION TO

A HISTORICAL GLOSSARY OF WORDS PHRASES
AND TURNS OF EXPRESSION OBSOLETE
AND IN PRESENT USE

PECULIAR TO

OUR GREAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS

TOGETHER WITH SOME THAT HAVE BEEN OR
ARE MODISH AT THE UNIVERSITIES

BY

JOHN S. FARMER

EDITOR OF “AMERICANISMS—OLD AND NEW,”
“REGIMENTAL RECORDS
OF THE BRITISH ARMY,” AND (WITH W. E. HENLEY)
“SLANG AND ITS ANALOGUES,” ETC.

LONDON
PRIVATELY ISSUED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
BY HIRSCHFELD BROTHERS
13 FURNIVAL STREET, E.C.
MCM

PREFACE

t has been a matter of note and, maybe, of surprise that
no attempt has hitherto been made to gather in one
volume the numerous Words, Phrases, and Turns of
Expression peculiar to Our Great Public Schools.
Bare lists of a dozen or more examples may be found in certain
(mostly out-of-date) Records and Histories; but taking the Schools
individually, only in one instance—Winchester—has there been
anything but the most perfunctory attention given to the subject;
and in no case has the question received that analytical, scientific
treatment—historically and comparatively—which has proved so
invaluable in the “Oxford Dictionary” and in “Slang and its
Analogues.”

It would, however, seem almost necessary to emphasise the fact
that this Word-Book is not, per se, a dictionary of school slang. On
the contrary, it is far more than that. For, though such
colloquialisms as are peculiar to Public School life are naturally
and rightly included, yet by far the larger number of the examples
here set down do not, by any accepted method of classification, fall
within that category. I am led to make this clear at the outset by
reason of a somewhat curious, but altogether erroneous idea that
the present book was to be a mere reprint of extracts from the
larger work on which, for many years, I have been engaged. That is
not so.
Nor, moreover, do these words and phrases appear, save in very
few instances, in any other work—not even in so admirably
complete a dictionary, in other respects, as “The Century,” while
the monumental Oxford undertaking will not be available, as a
complete authority, for many years to come.
Having thus stated what this work is not, it seems borne on me to
explain, anew, what it is, or rather, what has been my method.
Briefly put, my idea has been to collect such words, phrases,
names, and allusions to customs as now are, or have been, peculiar
to English Public School life, and to apply to their definition and
elucidation what is known as the “historical” method, illustrating
such examples as lent themselves to it by quotations from old and
present-day writers.
The Public Schools with which I have been concerned, arranged
chronologically in order of foundation or charter, are as follows:—
1160 Derby. 1564 Felsted.
1387 Winchester. 1567 Rugby.
1441 Eton. 1571 Harrow.

1515 Manchester 1592 Stonyhurst.
Grammar.
1538 Royal High 1611 Charterhouse.
School,
Edin.
1541 Durham 1619 Dulwich.
Grammar.
1550 Sherborne. 1830 Loretto.
1551 Shrewsbury. 1841 Cheltenham.
1552 Christ’s 1843 Marlborough.
Hospital.
1552 King 1848 Lancing.
Edward’s.
1553 Tonbridge. 1859 Wellington.
1560 Westminster. 1875 The Leys.
Also the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge,
Durham, Aberdeen, Dublin, &c.
How far I have been successful in my task I leave others to judge. I
must confess, however, that the extent and wealth of this special
field of inquiry has somewhat astonished me: yet I fear my lists are,
in some cases, still incomplete. But, even so, this contribution
towards a more perfect glossary will, I think, be a revelation to
many.
No wonder our Mother-tongue is so vigorous, adaptable, and
expansive—reaching out in its creative energy to all the forms and
necessities of modern life—when even Young England shows such
aptitude in coining new expressions, and adapting older forms to its
ever-changing (and, shall I say, ever-increasing) needs. Studied
comparatively, there will be found much significance, not alone in
the survivals from past generations, but also in the relatively newer

phraseology. Many an interesting side-light, too, is thrown on
ancient school customs and usages.
Though primarily addressing myself to past schoolmen, it is not
without a hope that the general student and scholar, as well as those
still in statu pupillari, will find something of use and to interest.
Finally, I desire, though holding myself alone responsible for aught
that is solecismal in these pages, to acknowledge my indebtedness
to those who have afforded me such unstinted aid in compiling this
work. Especially are my thanks due to Mr. P. K. Tollit (Derby); Mr.
W. Durnford (Eton); Mr. R. D. Hodgson (Manchester Grammar);
Mr. C. A. Ross (Royal High School, Edin.); Rev. A. E. Hillard
(Durham); Mr. W. B. Wildman (Sherborne); Rev. J. F. Cornish
(Christ’s Hospital); Rev. E. W. Badger (King Edward’s, Birm.); Mr.
C. H. Crofts (Tonbridge); Rev. E. Gepp (Felsted); Mr. G. Townsend
Warner (Harrow); the Rev. Fathers Gerard and Browne and Rev. A.
Goodier (Stonyhurst); Dr. H. H. Almond (Loretto); Mr. J. F. L.
Hardy (Marlborough); Mr. J. C. Isard (The Leys).

SPECIAL NOTICE

While the “Public School Word-Book” was passing through the
press a certain amount of additional matter came to hand. Rather
than omit altogether I have included it in an Appendix.
May I also say that I shall welcome any suggestions, additions, or
corrections that may be forwarded to me?
Communications may be addressed to John S. Farmer, c/o Messrs.
Hirschfeld Bros., 13 Furnival Street, London, E.C.

THE
PUBLIC SCHOOL WORD-BOOK

, To get one’s “a,” verb. phr. (Harrow).—To pass a
certain standard in the Gymnasium: the next step
being to the Gymnasium Eight. See Appendix.

Abber, subs. (Harrow).—1. An abstract: on history, &c.;
set as a punishment.
2. An ABSIT (q.v.): on whole holidays, or under medical
advice.

Abroad, adv. (Winchester).—Convalescent; out of the
sick-room: e.g. “I have been (or come) ABROAD a week.”
Cf. Continent.
1534. Udall, Roister Doister, ... I bid him keepe warme at home, For if
he come ABROADE, he shall cough me a mome.
1598. Shakspeare, 2 Hen. IV., i. 2. I am glad to see your Lordship
ABROAD. I heard say your Lordship was sicke. I hope your Lordship goes
ABROAD by aduice.

1761. Letter [Wrench]. I have been exceeding ill ... am not just got
ABROAD again.

Abs, adj. (Winchester).—Absent: placed against the name
when away from school. [From absunt on Rolls.]
Verb. To take (get, or go) away. Formerly (circa 1840)
to ABS a tolly (candle) = to put it out; it now = to take it
away whether lighted or unlighted, the modern NOTION
(q.v.) for putting it out being to “dump” it. As a neuter
verb ABS is generally used in the imperative: e.g. “ABS!”
“Oh, do ABS!” Sometimes, however, a fellow is said TO
ABS quickly, and MESS THINGS (q.v.) are ABSED, or put away.
To HAVE ONE’S WIND ABSED = to have it taken away by a
violent blow in the stomach.

Absence, subs. (Eton).—Names-calling. [This takes place
at 3 and 6 P.M. on half-holidays; at 11.30, 3, and 6 P.M. on
whole-holidays; at 6 P.M. only in summer half.]
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 174. And the elevens were made
up, as they best might, out of such adventurous spirits as dared to “skip”

roll-calls and ABSENCE for the purpose. Eton, when the losers, attributed
the fact to the want of their best men in consequence of these difficulties.

Absit, subs. (Cambridge).—See quot.
1886. Dickens’s Dictionary of the University of Cambridge, p. 3. Every
undergraduate wishing to leave Cambridge for a whole day, not including
a night, must obtain an ABSIT from his tutor. Permission to go away for a
longer period, either at the end of the term or in the middle, is called an
“exeat,” and no undergraduate should go down without obtaining his
“exeat.”

Academia, subs. (Stonyhurst).—See Appendix.

Academy, subs. (Stonyhurst).—An exhibition given at the
end of every quarter: the first by Rhetoric (q.v.), the
second by Poetry (q.v.), the third by Syntax (q.v.), the
last, called the Great Academies, by all three combined.
This last is the crowning act of the school year, being
attended by many visitors, and is followed by the annual
distribution of prizes. Hence Academy Room = the large
hall in which the chief exhibitions, displays, concerts,
plays, &c., are held. [The name may have come from
the school at Liège, which was known as the
“Academy”; but more probably it is of much older date,
being derived from the “Academiæ” of the Ratio
Studiorum Societatis Jesu.]

Accidence (Harrow).—See Upper School.

Ack (or Ick), intj. (Christ’s Hospital).—No! nothing. Ex.
“Lend me your book.” “Ack!” Obsolete.

Action, subs. (King Edward’s, Birm.: obsolete).—A game
in which a number of boys start from one end of the
cloisters and run to the other, trying to avoid being
captured en route by others who seek to intercept them.
The game was also called Fox and dowdy. These were
names in use twenty-five years ago. To-day the same
game is called Bacca, because the prisoners must be
held long enough for the captor to say, “one, two, three,
caught, tobacco!”

Ad lib., subs. phr. (Stonyhurst).—The time when boys are
not bound to study in the Study-place (q.v.).

Admonishing-money, subs. (Westminster).—See quot.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 116. The punishments for speaking
English in hall or school, which have been before alluded to, were strictly
enforced in his [Dr. Busby’s] days in the way of fines, called
ADMONISHING-MONEY, which figure occasionally in his [Lynn’s] account.
The custom was for the second boy of the second election to act as a sort
of monitor for this purpose, and to deliver to any boy who so offended a
“mark” or tally, with the words, Tu es custos; this mark he had to pass in
turn to the first whom he could detect in a similar slip, and the boy with
whom the mark remained when hall broke up incurred a fine. Charles
Dryden, son of the poet, thought himself so hardly used by being made
custos three days running (by some unfairness, as he conceived), that the
father wrote a strong letter on the subject to his old master, Busby, and
was very nearly removing the boy from school.

Ad portas, subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—A Latin speech
delivered by the Senior College Prefect to the Warden
of New College and the Posers (q.v.) under Middle gate
at the commencement of Election week.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 61. When the Warden of New
College, Oxford, with two of his Fellows, called the “posers” (or at one
time “supervisors”), arrive at the college, ... they are received with a Latin
oration Ad Portas by the senior scholar. Two other speeches are delivered
in school just before their arrival: 1. Elizabethæ et Jacobi Laudes
(commonly known as “Elizabeth and Jacob”), by the Prefect of School; 2.
Fundatoris Laudes, formerly assigned to the senior “Founder’s kin”
scholar, but now spoken by the third prefect.

Adsum, intj. (Charterhouse).—The response made in
answer to names-calling.
1855. Thackeray, The Newcomes, p. 774. At the usual evening hour the
chapel bell began to toll, and Thomas Newcome’s hands outside the bed
feebly beat time. And just as the last bell struck a peculiar sweet smile
shone over his face, and he lifted up his head a little and quickly said
ADSUM, and fell back. It was the word we used at school when names
were called; and lo, he whose heart was as that of a little child had
answered to his name, and stood in the presence of the Master.
1900. Daily Telegraph, 23rd March, 8. 7. As in the old days of Colonel
Newcome, “ADSUM,” or “Always ready,” is still the watch-word of the
Charterhouse, whose authorities have issued a neatly-printed list of Old
Carthusians serving in South Africa, in a cover of the school colours.
1900. Tod, Charterhouse, p. 97. Adsum is the name of a new institution....
There was no occasion for it when the school was in London, and none
could pass beyond the school precincts. Colonel Newcome must have
answered ADSUM at prayers only.

Æger. See Ægrotat.

Æger-room, subs. (Felsted).—The sick-room. See
Ægrotat.

Ægrotat (or Æger), subs. (University).—(1) A medical
certificate excusing attendance. (2) The degree taken by
those so excused. Reading Ægrotat = leave taken
(generally in December) to read for one’s degree. [Lat.
ægrotare.]
1794. Gent. Mag., p. 1085. They [at Cambridge] sported an ÆGROTAT, and
they sported a new coat!
1853. Bradley, Verdant Green, iv. “That there’s the ‘All, sir, that is,—
where you dines, sir, leastways when you ain’t ‘Æger,’ or elseweer.” Ibid.,
viii.—“Not very well, Robert, thank you. I—my head aches, and I’m
afraid I shall not be able to get up for chapel.”... “If you’ll leave it to me,
sir, I’ll make it all right for you, I will. Of course you’d like to take out an
ÆGER, sir; and I can bring you your Commons just the same.”

1864. Babbage, Passages from the Life of a Philosopher, 37. I sent my
servant to the apothecary for a thing called an ÆGROTAT, which I
understood ... meant a certificate that I was indisposed.
1870. Chambers’s Journal, June 18, p. 395. Dick laughed. “I’ll get the
receipt from him. I often want a good thing for an ÆGER.”
1888. H. Smart, in Temple Bar, February, p. 213. “Instead of applying for
leave to my tutor, I had resorted to the old device of pricking ÆGER.”
1890. Felstedian, Feb., p. 2. What’s up ... with Smith? He went ÆGER
before school this afternoon. I expect he’s rather bad; he is not the fellow
to go ÆGER for nothing. I do hate that ÆGER-room.

After Four. See Four.

Afternoon-tea, subs. (Royal High School, Edin.).—
Detention after 3 o’clock.

After Twelve. See Twelve.

-agger, inseparable suffix (Charterhouse).—As in
Combinaggers, a combination suit of pyjamas.

Alderman, subs. (Felsted: obsolete).—A qualified
swimmer. [From “The Alders,” a deep pool in the river
Chelmer.]
1893. Felstedian, June, p. 79. Years ago there existed at Felsted a class of
beings known as “Swimming ALDERMEN.” What they were, and whence
they came, I know not; perhaps some Old Felstedian will be able to
enlighten me on the point. Perhaps the name was given to those who
could swim so many times from the “Alders” to “Duck-pond”; or,
perhaps, the name was derived from the aldermanic proportions of the
swimmer. Ibid. (1895, Ap., p. 44). A fourth term, “ALDERMAN,” was not in
the list. It has certainly “been dead lengthy” but was once prized by its
possessors, who had to swim so many times from the “Duck Pond” to
“The Alders” before they could gain the title. Ten lengths of the new bath
would afford a fair test, and ALDERMEN might have some privilege or
other. Its revival would be a good thing, for there has of late been a
tendency to prefer diving to swimming.

All. See Along; In; Out; and On.

Allows, subs. (Harrow).—The weekly allowance of 2s.,
from which breakages, &c., are stopped.

Alma Mater, subs. (general).—One’s school, college, or
university.
1853. Bradley, Verdant Green, ii. 2. A white tie and a pair of very small
bands—the two articles which, with the usual academicals, form the
costume demanded by ALMA MATER of all her children when they take
their places in her schools.
1874. The Blue, Aug., Reminis. of Christ’s Hospital. In fact, the musical
arrangements of our ALMA MATER were something exceedingly below par.

Along. All Along, subs. phr. (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—A
kind of dribbling football practice: indulged in during a
short spell of recreation.

Alto-cad, subs. (Winchester).—The paid member of the
choir taking alto.

Amen-chapel, subs. (Winchester).—A long service
performed on the four days set apart for
commemorating the Founder, and on the anniversary of
his death.

Ancient-mariner, subs. (University).—A rowing Don.

Anstey’s. See Planks.

Apostles, subs. (University).—See quot.
1803. Gradus ad Cantab. The APOSTLES are the clodhoppers of literature,
who have at last scrambled through the Senate House without being
plucked, and have obtained the title of B.A. by a miracle. The last twelve
names on the list of Bachelor of Arts are thus designated. [The term is
now (1900) applied to the last twelve in the Mathematical Tripos (q.v.)]

Appii (The), subs. (Durham: obsolete).—The Three Tuns,
a celebrated Durham inn. [From a misunderstanding of
Acts xxviii. 15.]

Apple-pie Day, subs. (Winchester).—The day on which
Six-and-Six (q.v.) is played—the Thursday after the first
Tuesday in December. [Because hot apple-pies were
served on GOMERS (q.v.) in College for dinner.]

Aquatics, subs. (Eton).—Where boys “in the boats” play
cricket; also the Wet-bob cricket team.

Archdeacon, subs. (Oxford).—Merton strong ale.

Armoury, The (Harrow).—The room under the Old
Schools where rifles, belonging to the Rifle Corps, are
kept.

Arrow, subs. (Harrow).—A challenge arrow, of silver:
given to the Cock-house (q.v.) at shooting.

Arundel Day (The Leys).—The choir summer holiday.

Ascension-day. See Ascensio Scholarum.

Ascensio Scholarum, subs. phr. (Stonyhurst).—The
opening ceremony of the school year. The whole house
assembles in the Study-place (q.v.), and the Prefect of
Studies reads out the new forms, prefixing the formula
“Maneant in” or “Ascendant in” as the case may be. The
day is known as “Ascension Day.”
1843. Stonyhurst Mag., Nov. 1883, p. 232. The Ascensio Scholarum was
managed quite otherwise then than now [1843-83].... Ascension Day.—
The opening day of schools. Mass of the Holy Ghost is said in the church,
after breakfast. The different schools, headed by their masters, then return
to the schoolrooms which they occupied the preceding scholastic year.
Presently the large bell tolls, and then the Prefect of Studies opens the
door of Poetry (q.v.), and announces that “Rhetoric (q.v.) is empty.” The
Poets (q.v.) leave their room and ascend to Rhetoric, and forthwith
become Rhetoricians, with all their privileges. Then the (late) Poet’s
doorkeeper knocks at Syntax’ (q.v.) door and sings out that “Poetry is
empty”; and so on through the different schools. The little fellows newly
arrived have to wait in the gallery until “Little Figures” (q.v.) is vacant,
when they become Little Figuricians, “Little Figures,” it will be observed,
being what we [1883] call “Elements” (q.v.).

Ash-planting, subs. (Rugby).—See quot.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 349. In this room [Over-School] it
was that, in the latter half of the last century, the punishment of ASH-
PLANTING used to take place. It was inflicted by order and in the presence
of a judicial committee of the præposters (Sixth Form) for some few
grave offences against the recognised internal discipline of the school,

e.g. personal assault upon one of their body by a mutinous fag—an
offence which would still be severely punished by the masters, if not by
the Sixth themselves. Three ash-saplings were used; in theory, at least, the
two first were to be broken upon the person of the culprit. The
punishment was severe—perhaps unjustifiably so; but it had the character
of being only inflicted in extreme cases, and with strict justice, and was
not regarded as a cruelty in the school.

Athens (Eton).—A bathing-place.
1865. Etoniana, p. 162. No boy is now allowed to go into a boat until he
has passed an examination in swimming before a committee of masters at
ATHENS or at Cuckoo Weir.

Audit-ale (or Audit), subs. (Cambridge).—A special brew
of ale, peculiar to Trinity College. [First-made draught
on AUDIT days.]
1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends, “Lay of St. Dunstan.” The “Trinity
AUDIT ALE” is not come-at-able, as I’ve found to my great grief when
dining at that table.
1876. Trevelyan, Life of Macaulay (1884), ch. iv. p. 127. A glass of the
AUDIT ALE, which reminded him that he was still a Fellow of Trinity.

1891. Harry Fludyer at Cambridge, 55. A lot of Freshmen got together
after Hall (it was a Saints’ day, and they’d been drinking AUDIT) and went
and made hay in Marling’s rooms.

Aul. præ, subs. (Winchester).—Prefect of Hall.
[Abbreviation of Præfectus Aulæ.]

Ave Maria Lane (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—A walk in the
playground.

, subs. (Harrow).—A standard in Gymnasium the
next below the A (q.v.). See Appendix.

Bacca. See Action.

Bacchus, subs. (Eton).—A copy of verses. See quot.
1865. Etoniana, 27. On Shrove-Tuesday verses were written [c. 1561] in
honour or dispraise of Bacchus—“because poets were considered the
clients of Bacchus”—and those composed by the senior boys were fixed
on the inside of the folding-doors of the hall, as was the old fashion in all
schools and colleges. This custom was continued almost into modern
days, and though the subject was changed, the copy of verses was still
called “a BACCHUS.” When Pepys paid a visit to the school in 1665, he
found the subject given out for that year was the one topic of absorbing
interest—the Plague.

Back. To BACK UP, verb (Winchester).—To call out: e.g.
“Why didn’t you BACK UP? I should have come.” [In
College various times are BACKED-UP by Junior in
Chambers, such as “Three quarters!” “Hour!” “Bells go
single!” “Bells down!”]

Back Alley (The Leys: obsolete).—A passage dividing
“Upper” and “Lower” Quadrangle: now done away
with.

Backings-up, subs. (Winchester).—Half-burned fagot-
ends. [Backing (prov. in Linc., Leices., and North
country) = slack; small-coal; turf.]

Backs, subs. (Cambridge).—A favourite walk with
undergraduates.
1891. Harry Fludyer at Cambridge, 23. I’m in training now for the Lent
races, and have to be out for a walk in the BACKS before breakfast every
morning.

Badger, subs. (Wellington).—A member of the Second
XV. at football. [A “badge” is bestowed when
permission is given to play in this team.]

Bag, subs. (Westminster).—Milk.

Bags (or Bags I), intj. (common).—Used to assert a claim
to some article or privilege. Analogous school slang is
FAINS or FAIN IT (q.v.) for demanding a truce during the
progress of a game, and which is always granted by the
opposing party. In other schools pike I or PRIOR PIKE serve
to lay claim to anything, or for asserting priority. Also
BAR: e.g. “He wanted me to do so and so, but I BARRED
not.” Cf. Fain.

Bags’-stile, subs. (Rugby).—See quot.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, 363. On the Dunchurch Road there
was a stile long known as BAGS’ STILE; here a certain set of boys, of whom
Lyttelton was one [c. 1793], used to sit and “chaff” the passing
“bagsmen”—for the commercial travellers to Rugby then rode with actual
saddle-bags; and this practice led to terrible fights occasionally with the
aggrieved riders.

Bake, verb (Winchester).—To rest; to sit or lie at ease.
Hence BAKER (q.v.); BAKESTER (obsolete) = a sluggard;
BAKING-LEAVE (q.v.); BAKING-PLACE (q.v.); BAKER-LAYER
(q.v.). [North. Dial. beak = to bask in the heat. Jamieson,
beik, beke, beek = to bask.]
1360. Ywaine [Ritson, E. M. R.]. And ligges BEKEAND in his bed.
d. 1395. Barbour MS. Ane Inglis man, that lay BEKAND Hym be a fyr.
1577. Kendall [Wrench]. At home we take our ease And BEAKE
ourselves in rest.
1648. Symmons, Vindication of Chas. I. Wherefore if that Pope of Rome
when he lay BEAKING himself in the midst of his luxuries, had cause to cry
out, Heu quantum patimur pro Christo.
d. 1758. Ramsay, Works. She and her cat sit BEEKING in her yard.

Baker, subs. (Winchester).—A cushion; also anything used
to sit or kneel upon, as a blotting-book, &c. [Bakers
were of two kinds: that used in “College” was of large
size, oblong in shape, and green in colour. The other,
used in “Commoners,” was thin, narrow, much smaller,
and of red colour.] Hence BAKER-LAYER (obsolete) = a

Junior who used to take a Prefect’s green BAKER in and
out of Hall at meal-times.

Baker-layer. See Baker.

Baking-leave, subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—1.
Permission to BAKE (q.v.) in a study in Commoners, or in
a Scob (q.v.) place in College. 2. Leave to sit in
another’s Toys (q.v.).

Baking-place, subs. (Winchester).—Any place in which to
BAKE (q.v.), or in connection with which BAKING-LEAVE
(q.v.) was given.

Balbus, subs. (University).—A Latin prose composition.
[From the frequency with which Balbus is quoted in
Arnold’s well-known text-book, Latin Prose
Composition.]
1870. Quarterly Review. Balbus was in constant use.

Ball. Call the ball! phr. (Stonyhurst).—The “Foul!” of
Association Football.

Balls, subs. (Winchester).—A Junior in College collects
footballs from the lockers in school and takes them
through at 6 o’clock to the Ball-keeper in Commoners
to be blown or repaired. The Ball-keeper is an Inferior

who, for service in looking after cricket and foot-balls,
is exempted from KICKING-IN (q.v.) and WATCHING-OUT
(q.v.).

Bally, subs. (Sherborne: obsolete).—Ball court, the old
name for the Fives’ courts; there was a game, evidently
like fives, played at Sherborne against the north transept
of the church as early as 1585. The word has long ago
passed out of use.

Banco, subs. (Charterhouse).—Evening preparation at
House under the superintendence of a monitor; the
Winchester Toy-time (q.v.).
1900. Tod, Charterhouse, 81. At old Charterhouse monitors had
unlimited powers.... They were seldom interfered with by any master; for
instance, the visit of a house master to BANCO was intensely resented.
There was a “boule” in the Sixth Form of 1872, as to what a monitor
should do who was thus insulted. Should he at once put his cap on, and
take no notice of the master? or would it be more dignified to walk
straight out of the room? Ibid., 84. The chief duties of a monitor now are
to keep BANCO, and to see that order is preserved in the cubicles, and in
his house generally. Banco is the time from 7.30 to 8.55 every week-day
evening except Saturday, and from 8.15 to 8.55 on Sundays, when the
Under School sit in Long Room and prepare their work for the next day.
The keeping of BANCO is a fine exercise in discipline for the monitor, and
a very convenient arrangement for the house master. It is a tradition that a
monitor helps every Under School boy with his work during BANCO if he
can. Ibid., 95. The term BANCO was suggested by H. W. Phillott,
afterwards Canon of Hereford ... in 1832, or a little later.

Bandy, subs. (Stonyhurst: nearly obsolete).—The
Stonyhurst form of Hockey: prominent in the Tichborne
trial, when the Claimant at first thought it a nickname,
and afterwards a part of the College buildings.
1823. Nares, Glossary, s.v. Bandy-ball. A Yorkshire game, played with a
crooked bat and a ball. It is the same as the Scottish game of golf. See
Stowe’s Survey, ed. 1720, i. 251.
1847. Halliwell, Archaic Words, s.v. Bandy. A game played with sticks
called BANDIES, bent and round at one end, and a small wooden ball,
which each party endeavours to drive to opposite fixed points.
Northbrooke, in 1577, mentions it as a favourite game in Devonshire. It is
sometimes called BANDY-BALL, and an early drawing of the game is copied
in Strutt’s Sports and Pastimes, p. 102.

Bangy (or Bangay), subs. (Winchester).—Brown sugar.
Also as adj. = brown. Hence BANGAY BAGS (or BANGIES) =
brown-coloured trousers. Wrench says the strong
objection to these in former times probably arose from
Tony Lumpkin coming to school in corduroys.
[Suggested derivations are: (1) from Bangalore, a
coarse-sugar growing country; (2) bhang = hemp; (3)
banjy (Essex) = dull, gloomy.] A brown gate formerly
leading from Grass Court into Sick House Meads was
known as the Bangy Gate. The term is now often
applied to the gate by Racquet Court into Kingsgate
Street.

Bar. To bar out, verb. phr. (Royal High School, Edin.:
obsolete).—To lock or barricade the doors to exclude
the masters. This custom has been practically extinct

since the day that Bailie John Macmorrane was shot by
a pupil, William Sinclair, son of the Chancellor of
Caithness, while endeavouring to get the door battered
down (Sept. 15, 1595).

Barbar, subs. (Durham).—A candidate for scholarship
from another school. [That is, “barbarian” = foreigner.]

Barber, subs. (Winchester).—A thick fagot or bough; one
was included in each bundle. Also any large piece of
wood.
Verb (University).—To work off impositions by deputy.
[Tradition relates that a learned barber was at one time
frequently employed as a scapegoat in working off this
species of punishment inflicted on peccant students.]
Also TO BARBERISE.
1853. Bradley (“Cuthbert Bede”), Verdant Green, xii. As for impositions,
why ... ’Aint there coves to BARBERISE ’em for you?

Barge, subs. (Sherborne).—Small cricket: played, with a
stump for bat, against a wall.
Verb (Charterhouse).—To hustle; TO MOB UP (q.v.); TO
BRICK (q.v.).

Barn, The (Charterhouse).—A temporary wooden
building, constructed in 1876 to meet deficiencies in
class-room accommodation. It stood on the site now
occupied by the Museum. It disappeared in 1884.

Barnet, intj. (Christ’s Hospital: obsolete).—Nonsense!
Humbug!

Barn-school, subs. (Rugby).—See quot.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, 367. Dr. James found there [Rugby in
1777] 52 boys; in five years he had raised them to 165. The one large
schoolroom was no longer sufficient ... a new building was added.... Even
the new schools overflowed, for the members rose in time to near 300;
and the head-master was obliged to migrate into a barn adjoining the
Dunchurch Road.... There for more than twenty years successive head-
masters taught the two senior forms.... Connecting these buildings with
the three schools adjoining the old manor-house was a line of cow-sheds,
which served as a shelter in rainy weather.... Such was the Rugby of
1809; for it was not till long afterwards that barn and cow-sheds
disappeared, though the present school buildings were begun in that year.

Barracks, subs. (Loretto).—A Form occasionally
interpolated between Nippers (q.v.) and Fourth. [In the
Sixties a master at Loretto was known as the Captain,
and when the first overflow from the school-house took
place, the house in which a few boys slept, and over
which he was master, was called the Garrison. The
adjoining house was afterwards occupied and was
called the BARRACKS. Whence the interpolated Form,
which for a time had for its schoolroom a room at that
house, getting the name of the Barracks Form. The
name clung to it when moved to one of the regular
schoolrooms.]

Barter, subs. (Winchester).—A half volley at cricket. Also
as verb. [From Warden Barter, who was famous in the
cricket-field for dealing with such balls.]
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, 65. None showed more enthusiastic
interest in these [Public School Cricket] matches than the late excellent
Warden, Robert Speckott Barter.... He seldom missed a match at Lord’s
from the time he played in the school eleven himself. He was a
tremendous hitter in his day; and the remarkable punishment which he
dealt out to the ball, when he was lucky enough to catch it on the “half-
volley,” has given to a long hit of this character at Winchester (and even
elsewhere) the name of a BARTER.

Bartlemytide, subs. (general: old).—The summer holiday.

Base, subs. (Harrow).—A goal: at football.

Basinite, subs. (Charterhouse: obsolete).—A hot-water
fag: he had to get hot water and towels ready for a
monitor when he descended to wash in COCKS (q.v.).

Bat-mugger, subs. (Winchester).—A wooden instrument
used in oiling cricket-bats.

Battal, subs. (Harrow and Charterhouse).—Battalion drill
for the Rifle Corps: usually (at Harrow) in the evening.
[The second is the syllable accentuated.]

Battler, subs. (general).—A student. See Battlings.

Battlings (or Battels), subs. (general).—An allowance, in
money or kind; apparently originally intended to
supplement the meagre fare of fast-days. Cf. quots.
Hence TO BATTEL = to take provisions from the buttery.
1607. Wentworth Smith, Puritan [Malone, Suppl., ii. 543]. Eat my
commons with a good stomach, and BATTLED with discretion.
1611. Cotgrave, Dict.... To BATTLE (as scholars do in Oxford), être
debiteur au collège pour ses vivres. Ibid., Mot usé seulement des jeunes
écoliers de l’université d’Oxford.
16 [?]. Account rendered to Arch. of York [William of Wykeham and His
Colleges]. Item for BATTLINGS on fasting days with the lent. 0. 9. 8. [i.e.,
9s. 8d.]
1678. Phillips, Dict., s.v. Battel. In the University of Oxford is taken for
to run on to exceedings above the ordinary stint of the appointed
Commons.
1744. Salmon, Present State of Univ., i. 423. Undergraduates consisting
of Noblemen, Gentlemen-Commoners, Commoners, Scholars of the
Foundation, Exhibitioners, Battlers, and Servitors.... The Commoners, I
presume, are so called from their Commoning together, and having a
certain portion of Meat and Drink provided for them, denominated
Commons.... The Battlers are entitled to no Commons, but purchase
their Meat and Drink of the Cook and Butler.
1786-1805. Tooke, Purley, 390, s.v. Battel, a term used at Eton for the
small portion of food which, in addition to the College allowance, the
Collegers receive from the Dames.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 184. The
expense was defrayed by the boys subscribing the last three BATTLINGS
(i.e. the weekly shilling allowed each boy). This was rather an illusory
coin, for we seldom actually fingered it, as some one of the College
servants generally had a kind of prescriptive right to a benefit; and
whenever Saturday arrived, Præfect of Hall’s valet was sure to come
round to ask the boys if they would give their BATTLING to Rat Williams,

or Dungy, or Pulver, or Long John, or some other equally deserving
individual.
1853. Bradley, Verdant Green, II. vii. [Note]. Battels are the accounts of
the expenses of each student. It is stated in Todd’s Johnson that this
singular word is derived from the Saxon verb, meaning “to count or
reckon.” But it is stated in the Gentleman’s Magazine for 1792, that the
word may probably be derived from the Low-German word bettahlen, “to
pay,” whence may come our English word tale or score.
1864. Household Words, p. 188. The business of the latter was to call us
of a morning to distribute amongst us our BATTLINGS, or pocket-money.
1880. Trollope, Autobiogr., i. 13. Every boy had a shilling a week
pocket-money, which we called BATTELS. [This is probably a misprint—
the Winchester term, as that used at other schools, is BATTLING. It was
advanced out of the pocket of the Second Master.]
1886-87. Dickens, Dictionary of Oxford and Cambridge, p. 16. Battels is
properly a designation of the food obtained from the College Buttery. An
account of this, and of the account due to the Kitchen, is sent in to every
undergraduate weekly, hence these bills also are known as BATTELS, and
the name, further, is extended to the total amount of the term’s expenses
furnished by the College. In some Colleges it is made essential to the
keeping of an undergraduates’ term that he should BATTEL, i.e. obtain food
in College on a certain number of days each week.
1889. Murray, Hist. Eng. Dict., s.v. Battels. Much depends on the
original sense at Oxford: if this was ‘food, provisions,’ it is natural to
connect it with “BATTLE,” to feed, or receive nourishment.... It appears
that the word has apparently undergone progressive extensions of
application, owing partly to changes in the internal economy of the
colleges. Some Oxford men of a previous generation state that it was
understood by them to apply to the buttery accounts alone, or even to the
provisions ordered from the buttery, as distinct from the “commons”
supplied from the kitchen; but this latter use is disavowed by others, ...
but whether the BATTELS were originally the provisions themselves, or the
sums due on account of them, must at present be left undecided.

Baulk, subs. (Winchester).—A false report. This is SPORTED
(q.v.), not spread.

Beak, subs. (Harrow).—A master. Form-beak = Form-
master.

Beanfielder, subs. (Felsted: obsolete).—A long hit: at
cricket.

Bearded Cad, subs. (Winchester).—A porter employed by
the College to convey luggage from the railway station
to the school. [The term originated in an extremely
hirsute individual, who, at one time, acted in the
capacity.]

Beards! intj. (The Leys: obsolete).—An ejaculation of
surprise.

Beast, subs. (Cambridge).—A student who, having left
school, goes up to Cambridge to study before entering
the university. [Because (so it is stated) he is neither
man nor boy.]

Bedmaker (or Bedder) subs. 1. (Cambridge).—A
charwoman; a servant who makes beds and does other
necessary domestic duties for residents in College.

1891. Harry Fludyer at Cambridge, 6. Remember me most kindly to Mrs.
Bloggins. I shall never forget how good she was when we were at
Cambridge last term.... These BEDMAKERS are kind souls after all.
2. (Oxford).—Bedder = a bedroom.

Beef Row, subs. (Shrewsbury).—See quot.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, 247. The dinners themselves [c. 1800-
40] were fairly good, with the exception of the “boiled beef” days, which
were highly unpopular. The beef was probably good enough, but it was
cured with saltpetre, and the consequent redness was, in the boys’ eyes,
objectionable. Remonstrances had been made in vain; and the result was
something like a school rebellion, well remembered as the BEEF ROW. By
concerted arrangement, on one day the boys in every hall rose from the
table in a body, and left the masters and the boiled beef in sole
occupation. Butler was indignant; he came into each of the halls after
locking up, and demanded from the heads of the school a public apology
for the insult, giving them an hour for consideration, and placing before
them the alternative of immediate dismissal. The boys held together, and,
early the next morning the whole of the Sixth Form, comprising no less
than three who were to be future heads of Colleges, were started by
chaise or coach for their respective homes. The rest of the boys declared
themselves en revolte; they would not go into school, and the masters
walked about the court alternately threatening and persuading. At last a
gentleman in the town, an old Shrewsbury boy, much respected,
harangued the rebels, and persuaded them to surrender. Some sort of
concession seems almost to have been made by a portion of the absent
Sixth Form under home influence, and the affair ended in the return of all
the exiles.

Beeswaxers, subs. (Winchester).—Thick boots for
football. [Pronounced Bĕswaxers.]

Behind, subs. (Eton and Winchester).—A back at football.
At Eton SHORT BEHIND and LONG BEHIND: usually
abbreviated to “short” and “long.” At Winchester,
SECOND BEHIND and LAST BEHIND. These answer to the half-
back and back of Association football. At Winchester, in
the Fifteens, there is also a THIRD BEHIND.
Up behind, phr. (The Leys).—Out of bounds: at back of
College.

Behind one’s Side. See Side.

Bejant, subs. (Aberdeen).—A new student: one of the first
or lowest class. See Semi-bejants, Tertians, and
Magistrands.

Belial, subs. (Oxford).—Balliol College.

Bells. Bells go single, phr. (Winchester).—A single bell is
rung for five minutes before the hour at which chapel
commences. For College evening chapel three three’s
are rung, and then follows a “bell,” one for every man
in College—70. Bells down = see quots.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 62. The junior
in chamber had a hard time of it; ... while endeavouring to get through his
multifarious duties, he had to keep a sharp ear on the performance of the
chapel bell, and to call out accordingly, “first peal!” “second peal!” and
BELLS DOWN!

1878. Adams, Wykehamica, p. 256. At a quarter to six the peal again rang
out, and the cry of BELLS GO was sounded in shrill tones through every
chamber of College and Commoners.... After ten minutes the peal
changed, and only a single bell continued to ring. This was notified by the
cry BELLS GO SINGLE, and five minutes afterwards, by that of “BELLS
DOWN.”... Presently the head-master ... would descend from his library: or
the second master ... would appear at the archway near Sixth Chamber,
and the warning voice would be heard “Gabell,” or “Williams through,”
“Williams,” or “Ridding in.” Straightway there would be a general rush,
the college-boys darting across the quadrangle in the rear of the Præfect
of Chapel; while the Commoners hurried in, keeping up a continuous
stream from their more distant quarters.

Belly-hedge, subs. (Shrewsbury).—An obstruction of such
a height that it can easily be cleared: of school
steeplechases. [That is, about belly high.]

Belows, subs. (Rugby).—See Cap (3).

Bender, subs. (common).—The bow-shaped segment of a
kite.
1873. Dr. Blackley, Hay Fever, p. 145. The first kite was six feet in
length by three feet in width, and was made of the usual form, namely,
with a central shaft or “standard,” and a semicircular top or BENDER.

Bene-book, subs. (Charterhouse).—See quot.
1900. Tod, Charterhouse, 131. Besides prizes, BENE-BOOKS are awarded
to the Sixth Forms on the following system: Every boy generally does
four classical exercises a week, viz., Greek and Latin prose, Greek and
Latin verse, and one mathematical exercise; these are marked, according

to their merit, B, b, sb, s, vs, m, M; that is to say, Big bene, bene, satis
bene, satis, vix satis, male, Big male.... A BENE-BOOK (value 12s. 6d.) is
earned by the winner of two BENES a week throughout the quarter. There
used to be a yet higher mark, i.e., B † , or a Write-out, which counted
four. A B † denoted that the composition to which it was attached was
worthy of being written out in a book kept with a view to forming a new
edition of “Sertum Carthusianum.” There are many volumes of old
Write-out books on the shelves of the library, but for years no addition
has been made to them. The Write-out is quite obsolete.

Bevers, subs. (general).—An afternoon meal or
refreshment; a snack between meals. Whence
(Winchester) BEVERS (or BEVER-TIME) = an interval from
4.30 to 5 in afternoon school, observed (says Wrench)
long after the distribution of bread and beer had ceased
on whole school-days. [See Beaumont and Fletcher, i.
20; Ford, i. 392; Florio, in v. Merénda; Cooper, in v.
Antecænium; Stanihurst’s Descr. of Ireland, p. 18;
Nomenclator, p. 79; Sir John Oldcastle, p. 42;
Howell, sect. 43; Middleton’s Works, iv. 427, v. 141.]
1580. Lingua [Dodsley, Old Plays (Reid, 1825), v. 148]. Appetitus. Your
gallants never sup, breakfast, nor BEVER without me.
1585. Nomenclator, p. 79. A middaies meale: an undermeale: a boire or
BEAVER: a refreshing betwixt meales.

1597. Harrison, Desc. of England. Of old we had breakfastes in the
forenoone, BEUARAGES or nuntions after dinner, and thereto reare suppers,
generallie when it was time to go to rest, a toie brought into England by
hardie Canutus; but nowe these are very well past, and each one, except
some young hungrie stomach, that cannot fast till dinner-time, contenteth
him self with dinner and supper.
1598. Florio, Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Merenda, Plauto. Propriè olim
prandium dicebatur quod meridie daretur. Nonius cibum qui post

meridiem sumitur interpretatur. ἑσπέρισμα. Le reciner.
1604. Marlowe, Dr. Faustus. Thirty meals a day and ten BEVERS.
1607. Beaumont and Fletcher, Woman Hater, i. 3. He is none of those
same ordinary eaters, that will devour three breakfasts, and as many
dinners, without any prejudice to their BEVERS, drinkings, or suppers.
1611. Cotgrave, Dict., s.v. BEVER. An afternoon’s nuncheon.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 83. In summer
time we were let out of afternoon school for a short time about 4 P.M.,
when there was a slight refection of bread and cheese laid out in Hall. It
was called BEEVER-TIME, and the pieces of bread BEEVERS.
1847. Halliwell, Archaic Words, s.v. BEVER. An intermediate refreshment
between breakfast and dinner. The term is now applied to the afternoon
snack of harvest-men and other labourers, and perhaps may be explained
more correctly as any refreshment taken between the regular meals.
Sometimes refreshments of drink, or drinkings, were called BEVERS; but
potations were not BEVERS, as Mr. Dyce asserts.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools [Winchester], p. 23. School opened
again at two o’clock; at half-past three came an interval called BEVER-
TIME, when the boys had again bread and beer allowed them. At five the
school was dismissed, and the whole resident society—warden, fellows,
masters, and scholars—went in procession round the cloisters and the
whole interior circuit of the college.
1884. M. Morris, in English Illustrated Magazine, Nov., p. 73. [At Eton,
we] came up from cricket in the summer afternoons for BEAVER.

Bible-Clerk, subs. (Winchester).—A College Prefect in
full power, appointed for one week. Formerly (with
Ostiarius, q.v.) he kept order in school, and assisted at
floggings. He now reads lessons in Chapel, and takes
round ROLLS (q.v.). He is absolved from going up to
BOOKS (q.v.) during his term of office. The Prefect of

Hall need not act as BIBLE-CLERK unless he likes, and the
Prefect of School may choose any week he pleases; the
rest take weeks in rotation, in the order of their
Chambers in College.
15 [?]. Chris. Johnson [Wrench]. In Testamento Veteri caput alter in Aulâ
Clarâ voce legit, qui BIBLIOCLERICUS inde Dicitur; hebdomadam propriis
habet ille Camænsis.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 103. Order was
kept during school hours by the BIBLE-CLERK and Ostiarius, two of the
Præfects, who held these offices in rotation—the former lasting for a
week, the latter for one day only. They paraded School armed with sticks,
and brought up to the Head and Second Masters (who alone had the
power of flogging) the names of the delinquents which had been
“ordered” for punishment; the names of the more heinous offenders being
confided to the BIBLE-CLERK, the others to the Ostiarius.
1847. Halliwell, Archaic Words, s.v. Bible. A great book. (A.-N.) The
term was constantly used without any reference to the Scriptures. Ibid.,
s.v. Bible-clerkship. A very ancient scholarship in the Universities, so
called because the student who was promoted to that office was enjoined
to read the Bible at meal-times.
1864. Blackwood’s Magazine, XCV., p. 73. [At dinner] portions of beef
were served out to the boys ... the BIBLE-CLERK meanwhile reading a
chapter from the Old Testament. Ibid., p. 87. An hour ... is expected to be
employed in working under the superintendence of the BIBLE-CLERK, as
the Præfect in daily “course” is termed, who is responsible for a decent
amount of order and silence at these hours.
1878. Adams, Wykehamica, p. 59. There appears to have been no regular
BIBLE-CLERK.... From this it has been inferred that the institution of these
offices must have been subsequent, and (some think) long subsequent, to
the Founder’s time.

Bibler. See Bibling.

Bibling (or Bibler), subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—A
flogging of six strokes. Hence BIBLING-ROD = the
instrument used in BIBLING: it consisted of a handle with
four apple twigs in the end twisted together. It was first
used by Warden Baker in 1454, and is represented in the
Aut Disce. Bibling under nail = a BIBLING administered
for very heinous offences after an offender had stood
under NAIL (q.v.).
1864. Blackwood’s Magazine, XCV., p. 79. Underneath is the place of
execution, where delinquents are BIBLED. Ibid., p. 72. It need hardly be
said that it [the rod] is applied in the ordinary fashion: six cuts forming
what is technically called a BIBLING—on which occasions the Bible-Clerk
introduces the victim; four being the sum of a less terrible operation
called a “scrubbing.”
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 37. Underneath is the place of
execution, where delinquents are BIBLED; and near it is a socket for a
candle-sconce, known as the “nail,” under which any boy who has been
detected in any disgraceful fault—lying, &c.—is placed as in a sort of
pillory to await his punishment; a piece of ancient discipline for which
happily there is seldom occasion.

Bicker, subs. (Royal High School, Edin.).—A fray
between the boys of the school and the town boys, or
KEELIES (q.v.); generally waged with the aid of stones (cf.
George Borrow’s Lavengro, ch. vii.; also Scott,
Redgauntlet, ch. i.). In the present Rector’s boyhood
these school fights were often waged with “Cowts,”
made of a rope twisted firmly into a thick end, with
about four feet attached with which to swing it.
... Cursor Mundi, MS. Coll. Trin. Cantab., f. 87. And for she loveth me
out of BIKER, Of my love she may be siker.

1581. Riche, Farewell to Militarie Profession. My captaine, feelyng
suche a BICKERYNG within himself, the like whereof he had never indured
upon the sea, was like to bee taken prisoner aboard his owne shippe.
1585. Nomenclator. Naturæ et morbi conflictus, Aurel. κρίσις. The
conflict or BICKERMENT of nature and sicknesse.
1823. Nares, Glossary, s.v. Bickering and Bickerment. Skirmishing.
1847. Halliwell, Archaic Words, s.v. Bicker. To fight; to quarrel; to act
with hostility. Ibid., Bickerment. Conflict. Ibid., s.v. Bikere. To skirmish;
to fight; to quarrel. Also a substantive, a quarrel. (A.-S.) Cf. Leg. Wom.,
2650; Piers Ploughman, p. 429; Minot’s Poems, p. 51; Arthour and
Merlin, p. 206.

Biddy, subs. (Winchester).—A bath in College. [Fr. bidet.]

Big, adj. (Harrow).—Upwards of sixteen years of age; as
“only able to go in for BIG sports.” See Small.

Big-game, subs. (Harrow: obsolete).—The chief football
game.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 312. There is now a spacious piece
of ground kept for the especial purpose, where as many as six separate
games can be played at once, besides four smaller grounds belonging to
different houses. The BIG-GAME, in which only the élite of the school
players take part, is managed by the monitors under very stringent
regulations. [Now called Sixth Form game.—Ed.]

Big-school, subs. (King Edward’s, Birm.).—The room in
which the school assembles for prayers, or on any
occasion when it is addressed as a whole by the Head

Master. The room is also used for teaching, though not
so entirely so as twenty-five years ago.

Big-side, subs. (Rugby and elsewhere).—The combination
of all the bigger fellows in the school in one and the
same game or run. Also the ground specially used for
the game so denominated. Hence Big-side run = a
paper-chase, in which picked representatives of all
Houses take part, as opposed to a House run. See
Little-side.
1856. Hughes, Tom Brown’s School-days, vii. “Well, I’m going to have a
try,” said Tadpole; “it’s the last run of the half, and if a fellow gets in at
the end, BIG-SIDE stands ale and bread and cheese and a bowl of punch;
and the Cock’s such a famous place for ale.”

Bill, subs. 1. (Eton).—A list of the boys who go to the
Head Master at 12 o’clock; also of those who get off
ABSENCE (q.v.): e.g. an eleven playing in a match are thus
exempt. See Appendix.
c. 1850. Brodrick, Memories and Impressions. ... It is credibly reported
of Mr. Cookesley—who, in spite of a tendency to buffoonery, was an
inspiring teacher—that he addressed a remarkably stupid boy in the
following terms: “I tell you what it is, sir, if you ever show me up a copy
of your own verses again, I’ll put you in the BILL” (an Etonian euphemism
for a capital punishment). “Why, a great strong fellow like you can have
no difficulty in getting a decent copy of verses written for him, and if you
ever again bring me one of your own concoction I’ll have you flogged.”
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 100. Bagshawe even went so far as
to rebuke one of the monitors for rising in Mr. James’ presence; and when
told that it was by Mr. Busby’s order, desired him to write that down on
his BILL; a proceeding equivalent, as Mr. Busby declared, and as

Westminster and Eton men will perhaps agree, to ordering the head-
master up for corporal punishment.
1876. Brinsley Richards, Seven Years at Eton. Some of the small boys
whom this delightful youth tempted to ape his habits, had often occasion
to rue it when they staggered back to College giddy and sick, carrying
with them a perfume which told its tale to their tutors, and caused them to
be put in the BILL.
2. (Harrow).—The “call-over” of the whole school on
half-holidays; at 4 P.M. in summer, at 4.15 P.M. in other
terms. Whence BILL-BOOK = the book—the list of the
school in order of forms—from which BILL is called;
BILL-ORDER = the order of the school as in the BILL-BOOK;
BILL-MONITOR = a member of the “First Fourth” who is in
charge of the paper on which monitors sign their names
during BILL. Also used at Westminster.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 284. His pupils were chiefly boys
of rank, and during Thackeray’s time had been exempted from appearing
at BILLS. Sumner stopped this privilege, to the great disgust of Dr. Glasse
and some of his aristocratic friends. Earl Radnor even threatened to “ruin
the school” if Sumner refused to give way; but the new head-master was
firm. Lord Dartmoor, on the other hand, supported him, and removed his
sons into his House from Glasse’s, who was beaten in the struggle, and
left Harrow. Ibid., 293. At the time of his appointment he was only
twenty-six, but his reputation as a scholar stood very high. It is enough to
say that under his rule Harrow has increased in numbers, and certainly not
lost in reputation. The last BILL-BOOK contains 492 names.
1899. Public School Mag., Dec., p. 446. The uniformity of daily life at
Harrow was interrupted by a pleasant interlude not long ago. The Chinese
Ambassador paid a visit to the school. His Excellency made an inspection
of the school buildings, and was finally cheered at BILL.

Bill-brighter, subs. (Winchester).—A small fagot used for
lighting coal fires in kitchen. [From a servant, Bill
Bright, who was living in 1830.]
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 89. The
Kitchen is a spacious apartment with a vaulted roof, occupying the entire
height of the building on the west side of the quadrangle, and at least half
its length; here we might see a few Fags endeavouring to coax Jem Sims,
John Coward, or Mother Mariner (the cooks) for an extra supply of
mashed potatoes, till Kitchen is cleared by the exasperated Manciple, who
has just detected a delinquent in the act of secreting under his gown an
armful of the small faggots used for lighting the Kitchen fires (called BILL
BRIGHTERS), an opportunity for purloining which was never allowed to
slip by a Junior of a properly regulated mind.

Bim (or Bimb), verb (Tonbridge).—To cane. Hence BIMB-
STICK = a cane.

Binge, subs. (Oxford).—A drinking-bout. [Binger (Linc.) =
tipsy.]

Birch-broom Race, subs. phr. (Winchester).—See Torch-
race.

Birch-room, subs. (Westminster).—See quot.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 178. Behind is the “French room,”
once known as the BIRCH-ROOM (in which those useful implements were
manufactured and used), where a bench is carefully preserved bearing the
name of “John Dryden,” no doubt cut by the poet himself, as the style of
the letters corresponds with his date.

Bird, subs. (Durham).—A credulous boy; one easily
cajoled; a “soft.”

Bishop, subs. (Winchester).—The sapling with which a
fagot is bound together.

Bite, intj. (Charterhouse and Christ’s Hospital).—Cave!

Black, subs. (Rugby).—A nickname.
1856. Hughes, Tom Brown’s School-days, I. vi. “There’s plenty of
youngsters don’t care about it,” said Walker. “Here, here’s Scud East—
you’ll be tossed, won’t you, young un?” Scud was East’s nickname, or
BLACK, as we called it, gained by his fleetness of foot.

Black Book, The (Charterhouse).—See Extra.

Black-hole, subs. (Shrewsbury).—See quot.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 241. There used to be a small four-
square apartment, not much larger than a Punch-and-Judy box, lighted by
a single narrow loop-hole—a receptacle for the flogging-block and other
like apparatus. This was known as the BLACK-HOLE, or sometimes more
familiarly as “Rome’s Hole,” from a traditionary culprit who had been a
very regular occupant.

Black-jack, subs. (Winchester).—A large leathern beer jug
used in College. It holds two gallons. In olden times
BLACK-JACKS were in common use for small beer. [See
Unton, Inventories, p. 1; Brand’s Pop. Antiq., ii. 206;

Ord. and Reg., p. 392; Heywood’s Edward IV., p. 97.
Also Jack: whence (Christ’s Hospital) JACK-BOY = a boy
servitor of beer.]
15—. Simon the Cellarer. But oh, oh, oh! his nose doth show, How oft the
BLACK-JACK to his lips doth go.

1592. Nashe, Summer’s Last Will [Dodsley, Old Plays (1874), viii. 59].
Rise up, Sir Robert Toss-pot. [Here he dubs Will Summer with the BLACK-
JACK.]

1606. Return from Parnassus [Dodsley, Old Plays (1874), ix. 207]. A
BLACK-JACK of beer and a Christmas pie.

1630. Taylor, Works, i. 113. Nor of BLACK-JACKS at gentle buttery bars,
Whose liquor oftentimes breeds household wars.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Jack.
18[?]. T. Warton, “The Happy Junior of Sixth Chamber.” Yet still with
pleasure shall we think on The Junior’s happy life at Winton ... lozenges
and snacks ... dispars, gomers, JACKS.
c. 1844. Reminiscences of Christ’s Hospital (The Blue, Aug. 1874). By
mistake the Cask was found to contain a fine old ale. The news soon
spread from boy to boy and from ward to ward; and there was an
extraordinary call upon the services of the JACK-BOYS, whose utmost
exertions were scarcely equal to the demand. As might be expected, these
latter took care of themselves upon the occasion.

Black-sheep, verb (Winchester: obsolete).—To get above
(or “jockey”) a fellow in Middle Part: of men in Junior
Part.

Black Tiger, The (Rugby).—A nickname given to Dr.
Ingles, head-master from 1793 to 1803.

Blandyke (Stonyhurst).—The monthly recreation day.
[From the village of Blandyke (now Blandecques), a
league from St. Omers, where was a country house or
villa at which such days were spent during the summer
months.] See Appendix.

Blazer, subs. (originally Cambridge: now general).—A
light jacket of bright colour. Originally applied to the
bright red uniform of the Lady Margaret Boat Club of
St. John’s College, Cambridge. [Prof. Skeat (N. and Q.,
7 S., iii. 436), speaking of the Johnian BLAZER, says it
was always of the most brilliant scarlet, and thinks it not
improbable that the fact suggested the name which
subsequently became general.]
1880. Times, June 19. Men in spotless flannel, and club BLAZERS.
1885. Punch, June 27, p. 304. Harkaway turns up clad in what he calls a
BLAZER, which makes him look like a nigger minstrel out for a holiday.

1889. Daily News, Aug. 22, p. 6, col. 6. Dress by the Sea. Sir,—In your
article of to-day, under the above heading, you speak of “a striped red and
black BLAZER,” “the BLAZER,” also of “the pale toned” ones. This is worth
noting as a case of the specific becoming the generic. A BLAZER is the red
flannel boating jacket worn by the Lady Margaret, St. John’s College,
Cambridge, Boat Club. When I was at Cambridge it meant that and
nothing else. It seems from your article that a BLAZER now means a
coloured flannel jacket, whether for cricket, tennis, boating, or seaside
wear.—Yours faithfully, Walter Wren.
1897. Felstedian, June, p. 99. The new football BLAZER is very handsome.

Bleed, subs. (Tonbridge).—One who is remarkably good at
anything.

Bleyis-sylver (or Bent-sylver), subs. (Royal High School,
Edin.).—A gratuity given in olden times by pupils to
masters. He who gave most was proclaimed “victor” or
“king.” [Bleyis is derived from bleis = a torch or blaze
(mod. Scot. bleeze). Bleyis-sylver = silver given at
Candlemas on the time of the bleeze. Dr. Jamieson
(Dict.) suggests bent = Fr. benit, i.e. blessed, because
money was given on a Saint’s day. Dr. Stevens, the
school historian, suggests bent = coarse grass. In
sixteenth and seventeenth centuries pupils had leave to
go and cut this coarse grass to strew on floor of school.
Afterwards annual holidays were instituted on first
Mondays of May, June, and July, when a money
payment was made to the master to purchase “bent.”
(Cf. Stevens’ Hist. of High School, p. 678.) This is
more probable.]

Block, The (Eton).—A wooden step in the library of the
Upper School upon which a boy set down for flogging
kneels. He is “held down” by two junior Collegers, and
the Sixth Form Preposter hands to the head-master the
necessary birch or birches.

Blockhouse, subs. (Charterhouse).—A sick-house.

Bloody Porch (Harrow: obsolete).—See quot.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 320. Harrow fagging had no
special reputation for cruelty; yet there are those living who can
remember having been called out of their beds at night to have cold water
poured down their backs—for no special reason, but as a part of the

hardening process considered good for fags generally; or to start from
Leith’s boarding-house in the dark, to go round the church-yard by the
north porch—BLOODY PORCH, as it was called, from some obscure legend.
Once a boy was sent upon this dreaded tour at night, when it so happened
that there were a party concealed in the porch, watching the grave of a
newly-buried relative—for these were the days of resurrection-men; they
mistook the unfortunate fag for a body-snatcher, and fired at him,
wounding him slightly, and frightening him almost to death.

Blotch, subs. (Harrow).—Blotting-paper.

Blow, subs. (old University).—A drunken frolic; a spree.
[Blowboll = a drunkard: cf. Skelton (Works, i. 23),
“Thou blynkerd blowboll, thou wakyst too late.”]
Verb (Winchester).—To blush. Cf. Blue = to blush, as in
quot. 1709.
14[?]. Torrent of Portugal, 11. His browys began to BLOWE.
1645. Habington, Works. Th’enamoured spring by kissing BLOWS soft
blushes on her cheek.
1709. Steele and Swift, Tatler, No. 71, p. 8. If a Virgin blushes, we no
longer cry she BLUES.

Blucher, subs. (Winchester: obsolete: ch hard).—A
College præfect in half power. His jurisdiction did not
extend beyond “Seventh Chamber passage,” though his
privileges were the same as those of other præfects.
These were eight in number.
c. 1840. MANSFIELD, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 30. The eight
senior præfects were said to have “full power,” and had some slight

privileges not enjoyed by the remaining ten, who were generally called
BLUCHERS.

1864. Blackwood, p. 86. The remaining eight college præfects (called in
Winchester tongue, BLUCHERS) have a more limited authority, confined to
Chambers and the Quadrangle.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 55. The remaining eight college
prefects (called in Winchester tongue BLUCHERS) have a more limited
authority, confined to chambers and the quadrangle; the form of making
these is—“Præficio te sociis concameralibus.” At least two prefects are
located in each of the seven chambers—one from the first seven in rank,
and one from the next seven. The juniors are also divided into ranks of
seven, and out of each rank the prefects, according to their seniority,
chose one each to fill up the numbers in their own chamber; so that each
chamber has, to a certain extent, ties and associations of its own.

Blue, subs. 1. (Christ’s Hospital).—A scholar of Christ’s
Hospital; a blue-coat boy. [Derived from the colour of
the clothes—a blue drugget gown or body with ample
skirts to it, a yellow vest underneath in winter time,
small-clothes of Russia duck, worsted yellow stockings,
a leathern girdle, and a little black worsted cap, usually
carried in the hand, being the complete costume. This
was the ordinary dress of children in humble life during
the reigns of the Tudors.] See Appendix.
1834. W. Trollope (Title), Christ’s Hospital ... with Memoirs of Eminent
Blues. Ibid. At the Spital did they first earn the title of BLUE by appearing
in raiment of that hue. Hitherto they had worn russet cotton. The bands
are supposed to be a relic of the ruff, as the girdle was of the hempen
cord. The ruff was regal, or reginal, and the cord monkish, so a BLUE
hovers ’twixt palace and monastery (one picture pourtrays the dresses of
the various Orders of Friars).

1877. W. H. Blanch, Blue-Coat Boys, p. 33. To some extent it holds also
with regard to Civil Engineers, amongst whom, however, one well-known
name is that of a BLUE.
1895. Gleanings from “The Blue” Dedication. To all Blues Past and
Present this Book is dedicated.
2. (University).—A member of the Universities of
Oxford or Cambridge. [The colours for inter-University
sports are dark and light blue respectively.]
To get one’s blue, verb. phr. (University).—To be
selected as a competitor in inter-University sports: cf.
“to get silk” (of Q.C.’s). [From the University colours.]
1899. Stonyhurst Mag., Feb., p. 194. The expression “to get a BLUE” is a
phrase which is universally recognised as applying to the athletics and
games of the sister Universities, Oxford and Cambridge, and to them
only. As an ardent Oxford man I do not appreciate his compliment; as an
old Stonyhurst boy, I cannot but deplore his servility.

Blue-book, subs. (Harrow).—A school register
(alphabetically arranged) comprising name, form,
house, tutor, age, term of coming, prizes, and honours.

Bluer, subs. (Harrow).—A blue flannel coat: worn by all
going to Footer (q.v.) in winter, and cricket in summer.

B. N. C., subs. (Oxford).—The popular abbreviation of
Brasenose College.
1885. Daily News, March 13, p. 5, col. 1. As when Corpus bumped B. N.
C. years ago, and went head of the river, whereon a spirit of wrath entered
into the B. N. C. men, and next night they bumped Corpus back again.

Board. To keep one’s name on the board, verb. phr.
(Cambridge).—To remain a member of a College.

Boat (The Leys).—A shallow valley, in which football is
played.
Procession of boats (Eton).—See Fourth of June.
To sit a boat, verb. phr. (Eton).—See quot., and Fourth
of June. [Long since abandoned.]

1865. Etoniana, p. 170. The time-honoured custom of SITTING A BOAT
must here claim mention. Some old Etonian, of generous and festive
disposition (generally an old “oar”), signifies to the captain of a boat his
intention of presenting the crew with a certain quantity of champagne. In
return he is entitled to be rowed up to Surly in the boat to which he
presents the wine; he occupies the coxswain’s seat, who kneels or stands
behind him. This giver of good things is called, from this circumstance, a
“sitter”; and the question, “Who SITS YOUR BOAT?” or, “Have you a sitter?”
is one of some interest, which may often be heard addressed to a captain.
The seat of honour in the ten-oar is usually offered to some distinguished
old Etonian. Mr. Canning occupied it in 1824.

Bob, subs. (Winchester).—A large white beer-jug, about a
gallon in capacity.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 85. Each end
and præfect’s mess had their beer served up in a large white jug, or BOB.
The vessel used for the same purpose in Commoners’ was called a
“Joram.”
1888. T. A. Trollope, What I Remember. Only those “Juniors” attended
whose office it was to bring away the portions of bread and cheese and
BOBS of beer for consumption in the afternoon.

See Dry-bob; Wet-bob.

Bod, subs. (Oxford).—The Bodleian Library; also Bodley.

Bodeites (Charterhouse).—See Out-houses.

Bodleian, The (Oxford).—A famous library, popularly
known as the Bodley, founded by Humphrey, Duke of
Gloucester, 1445-80. Despoiled in 1550 and again in
1556, it was restored and added to in 1598 by Sir
Thomas Bodley. It now contains some 600,000
volumes, and is especially rich in manuscripts (some
30,000 volumes) and other literary treasures. James
Russell Lowell, the distinguished American, says of this
famous library: “Directly we enter, we are struck by the
stillness and solemnity that reign around, helped by the
dim light, the windows with painted glass, the
ponderous shelves, the illuminated missals, the
graduates or attendants conversing in low whispers or
moving quietly about. For reading purposes the library
is as free and as good as the library of the British
Museum; with the advantages that you may be seated in
front of a window commanding a beautiful garden
prospect, that your arm-chair is not disturbed, that
books are allowed to accumulate around you, and that
you are not obliged to return them to the care of the
custodian on leaving the library. The visitor will not fail
to notice the portraits in the upper library, and especially
to cast a grateful look at the fine portrait of Bodley. He
will see the exercise-books used by Edward VI. and
Elizabeth when children, and, close by, the autographs
of distinguished visitors.”

Boiler, subs. (Winchester).—A plain coffee-pot used for
heating water—fourpenny and sixpenny boilers, not
from their price, but from the quantity of milk they held.
το παν BOILERS = large tin saucepan-like vessels in which
water for a BIDDY (q.v.) was heated.

Bolly, subs. (Marlborough).—Pudding.

Bom, subs. (The Leys).—A servant; a waiter. [A waiter
was once dubbed “a vile abomination”; whence the
contractions “vile bom” and “BOM.”]

Bond Street (Stonyhurst).—A walk along one side of the
playground. Once obsolete but now restored, being
applied to another walk.

Boner, subs. (general).—A sharp blow on the spine.

Bonner, subs. (Oxford).—A bonfire.

Bonnet. To hold the bonnets, verb. phr. (Royal High
School, Edin.: obsolete).—To hold the bonnet or
handkerchief used to divide High School boys when
fighting.

Bonnet-fire, subs. (Royal High School, Edin.: obsolete).—
The process otherwise known as “running the gauntlet.”

1812. Jamieson, Dict. Scottish Language, s.v.

Book, verb (Westminster).—See Pancake, and quot.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 172. They also claim a right to
BOOK the performer (i.e. hurl a shower of books at him) if he fails more
than once. This right was liberally exercised in 1865, when the wrath of
the school had culminated owing to repeated failures in that and the
previous year. The exasperated cook replied to the attack with his only
available missile—the frying-pan—and a serious row was the
consequence.

Books, subs. (Winchester).—1. The prizes formerly
presented by Lord Say and Sele, now given by the
governing body, to the “Senior” in each division at the
end of “Half.” 2. The school is thus divided:—Sixth
Book—Senior and Junior Division; the whole of the
rest of the School (but see quotations), is in Fifth Book
—Senior Part, Middle Part, Junior Part, each part being
divided into so many divisions, Senior, Middle, and
Junior, or Senior, 2nd, 3rd, and Junior, as the case may
require. Formerly there was also “Fourth Book,” but it
ceased to exist about the middle of the Sixties.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 104. The
school was divided into three classes, or BOOKS, as they were called. Of
these, the Præfects formed one, Sixth Book; Fifth Book was subdivided
into three parts, called respectively “Senior, Middle, and Junior part of the
Fifth”; in speaking of them, the words “of the Fifth” were generally
omitted. The rest of the boys made up “Fourth Book.”
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 24. The tiers of stone seats, which
may still be noticed in the deep recesses of the windows, were the places
in which the prefects sat when the boys were arranged in their respective

BOOKS; the term still used at Winchester for what in other schools would
be called “forms” or “classes.” There were then, as now, four BOOKS only,
though the highest was and is numbered as the “sixth.” Then followed the
fifth, fourth, and second fourth. The work of the sixth BOOK comprised
Homer, Hesiod, Virgil, Cicero, Martial, and “Robinson’s Rhetoric.” Ibid.,
36. Ninety feet long and thirty-six in breadth, it is sufficiently spacious to
allow all the BOOKS to be assembled there without more confusion than is
inseparable from the system of teaching so many distinct classes in a
single room—an arrangement peculiar to Winchester alone amongst our
large Public Schools.
1891. Wrench, Winchester Word-Book, s.v. Books. The name of the
Classes into which the School is divided. The VIth, Vth, and IInd only
remain. From Liber in the sense of Roll probably.
Up to books.—In class; repeating lessons; formerly UP
AT BOOKS.

c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 101. At each
end of school are three tiers of benches rising gradually one above the
other,—that on the ground being called “Senior Row,” and the others
“Middle” and “Junior Row” respectively. On these the Classes sit when
UP AT BOOKS, i.e. when repeating lessons.

1847. Halliwell, Archaic Words, s.v. Book. This word was formerly used
for any composition, from a volume to a single sheet, particularly where a
list is spoken of. See the State Papers, i. 402.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 37. Three tiers of fixed seats rise
against the wainscotted walls on the east and west, where the boys are
arranged when UP TO BOOKS, the chairs of the different masters being in
front of each.
1872. Walcott, Traditions and Customs of Cathedrals, “Statutes of
Chichester Cathedral.” Four wax candles are always distributed at the end
of Lauds, at the four uppermost BOOKS, to the Senior set of the BOOKS, to
find the lights to the same BOOKS for that time. [Note to foregoing:—At
Winchester College the Forms are still called BOOKS.]

1878. Adams, Wykehamica, 417, s.v.
1891. Wrench, Winchester Word-Book, s.v. Books. It has been suggested
that this phrase arose from the school having originally to go up to the
Donatus—the one book which College boasted; and an entry is extant of
a three days’ remedy being entailed by the book going to be bound. The
pluralization would be no more than an ordinary Wykehamical
inflection.... The following mysterious use of Libri, however, suggests a
much more probable origin. Chris. Johnson says: “Seu Chandlerus erat,
seu Custos ordine primus, Durus ab inductis dicitur esse LIBRIS!” To
which a contemporaneous note is appended: “Lectionum a cæna
repetitiones instituisse creditur, quas Wiccamici materna lingua Libros
dicunt.” What these “repetitiones” were is not clear; but they were some
form of lesson which præ-Elizabethan Wykehamists had christened
BOOKS in their materna lingua, and Johnson’s annotator thought the word
strange enough to deserve a note. We may, therefore, very possibly be
only perpetuating this word in our use of UP TO BOOKS.
Books Chambers.—Explained by quotations.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 103. On
Remedies (a kind of whole holiday) we also went into school in the
morning and afternoon for an hour or two without masters; this was
called BOOKS CHAMBERS; and on Sundays, from four till a quarter to five.
1891. Wrench, Winchester Word-Book, s.v. Books-chambers. Hours of
preparation in College: in the evening called Toy-time.
To get (or MAKE) BOOKS.—To get the first place, or to
make the highest score at anything. Cf. Books, sense 1.

Bookwork, subs. (University).—Mathematics that can be
learned verbatim from books—anything not a problem.

Boots-and-Leathers, intj. (Winchester).—See Peal.

Bostruchyzer, subs. (Oxford: obsolete).—A small comb
for curling the whiskers.—Hotten.

Botany-bay, subs. (University).—(1) Worcester College,
Oxford; and (2) part of Trinity College, Dublin. [On
account of their remote situations.]
1841. Lever, Charles O’Malley, xx. note. Botany Bay was the slang
name given by college men to a new square rather remotely situated from
the remainder of the college [i.e. Trinity, Dublin].
1853. Rev. E. Bradley (“Cuthbert Bede”), Adventures of Verdant Green,
i. p. 63. Botany-bay, a name given to Worcester College, from its being
the most distant college.
1886. Graves, Way about Oxfordshire, 19. At the end is Worcester
College (1714), from its remote position dubbed ... BOTANY-BAY, but
called by those who wish to speak endearingly of it “Wuggins.”
1900. Athenæum, 17th Feb., 208. Botany-bay is often found as strangely
misapplied as the “Paradise” of so many rows. For instance, the “Quad”
of Trinity College, Dublin, which has been so called for generations, can
hardly have ever been remarkable for its flora. The probable explanation
is that its buildings were old and uncomfortable, and it was the favourite
abode of the youngest and noisiest members of the University.

Botolph’s, subs. (The Leys).—A “Run” to St. Botolph’s
Church.

Bottle, verb (Durham: obsolete).—To make hot: e.g. I got
regularly BOTTLED in that room; specifically, “to roast” a
boy before a fire. See Appendix.

Bottled. To be bottled, verb. phr. (Sherborne).—To be
turned in work.

Bottom-side, subs. (Harrow).—A wing: at football. The
lower wing (if one be lower than the other); as a rule the
one farthest from the hill.

Boule, subs. (Charterhouse).—A general confab or
conversation. See Privee.
1900. Tod, Charterhouse, 82. There was a BOULE (βουλή) once in the
Sixth Form of 1872 as to what a monitor should do if he were thus
insulted [by a visit of a master to Banco].

Bounce. First Bounce, subs. (Stonyhurst).—A goal (which
is never allowed) taken by a “drop-kick” at football.
Second bounce, subs. (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—A kind
of HANDBALL (q.v.) once very popular.
1887. Stonyhurst Mag., July, p. 18, “Stonyhurst in the Fifties.” Second
bounce, a variety of handball played with small balls most artistically
made of strips of indiarubber, and covered with the best kid-leather. These
balls had to be taken to pieces and remade after every match, and they
had to be quite freshly made when used. Their seams required to be
frequently rubbed over with wax, some of which was always smeared on
the handball wall for the purpose. For a game of SECOND BOUNCE a whole
side of one of the big handballs was required, and it was played by eight
players, four a side. The “over-all” of ordinary handball was the “over
line,” and the bulk of the players stood out yards beyond it. He whose
“hand” it was bounced the ball, and with a long strong swing of his arm
hit it up against the wall, whence with a sharp smack it rebounded high in
the air and far out into the ground. As it descended one of the opposite

party stopped it with his hand and let it BOUNCE twice on the ground, the
FIRST BOUNCE being, as a rule, too high to let him strike it, and then with a
similar swing hit it up again. The rules, except as to permitting the ball to
be taken up at the SECOND BOUNCE, were similar to those of handball.
Balls perished quickly in such a game, nearly a dozen being required for
one. Second bounce used chiefly to be played on Sunday afternoon, after
Vespers, and almost all not engaged in the game would range themselves
on the flanks to watch.

Bounder, subs. (University).—A dog-cart.

Bounds, subs. (general).—The limit or the boundaries
beyond which it is not permissible to go.
On bounds (Stonyhurst).—A punishment to which a
boy who has been flagrantly “out of bounds” (the term
as in other Public Schools) is subjected. He is confined
during ordinary recreations to a very limited portion of
the playground. Such a boy is said to be “put ON
BOUNDS.”

Bowing-round Sunday, subs. phr. (Christ’s Hospital).—
See Public-supping.
1854. “Our Rebellion” [The Blue (1871) July]. Next day was BOWING-
ROUND SUNDAY. “Hand down, don’t bow,” was the signal that passed
down our ranks as we stood in the Hall Cloisters, and many were the
black looks, but few the nods of reverence, our Treasurer and his two
attendant governors got that morning.

Bowl, verb. 1. (general).—To master; to succeed: as in a
paper, a lesson, an examination, &c.; to overcome: as a
difficulty, an examiner, &c. See Floor and Throw.
1891. Harry Fludyer at Cambridge, 55. My Coach says he thinks I shall
BOWL over the Examiners next term in the General.

2. (Winchester).—To “pluck” or “plough” up to books;
TO CROPPLE (q.v.).

Box, verb. 1. (Westminster).—To take possession of; “to
bag.”
2. (Stonyhurst).—To strike a ball with the closed hand
when in the air. See Stonyhurst-football.
3. (Charterhouse).—Of books: if a member of a House
Library Committee finds a library book lying about, he
calls out the name of the book three times at the top of
his voice, and adds, “BOXED!” The boy who has taken out
the book thus BOXED is fined sixpence, saving the fine if
he shouts “Mine!” before the word of confiscation is
uttered.

Box-buildings, subs. (Sherborne: obsolete).—The
Sanatorium: in the seventeenth century called Sick-
house (q.v.), and subsequently BOX-BUILDINGS. These
buildings were pulled down in 1850 and the name
disappeared.

Boy, subs. (Harrow).—A grade of fag. The Lower School
are put ON BOY, in turns, to go messages, &c., for the

Sixth Form. See Appendix.

Brasenose (or B. N. C.), subs. (Oxford).—Brasenose
College. [Founded in 1509 on the site of four ancient
Halls—Little University Hall was one, another being
Brasenose Hall (thirteenth century). Authorities differ as
to the origin of the curious name. See quots.]
1512. Charter of Henry VIII. The King’s Hall and College of Brasenose.
1800. Churton, Life of Bishop Smith, 227. Brazen Nose Hall, as the
Oxford antiquary has shown, may be traced as far back as the time of
Henry III., about the middle of the thirteenth century; and early in the
succeeding reign, 6 Edward I., 1278, it was known by the name of Brasen
Nose Hall, which peculiar name was undoubtedly owing, as the same
author observes, to the circumstance of a nose of brass affixed to the gate.
It is presumed, however, that this conspicuous appendage of the portal
was not formed of the mixed metal which the word now denotes, but the
genuine produce of the mine; as is the nose, or rather face, of a lion or
leopard still remaining at Stamford, which also gave name to the edifice it
adorned. And hence, when Henry VIII. debased the coin by an alloy of
copper, it was a common remark or proverb, that “Testons were gone to
Oxford, to study in Brasen Nose.”
1837. Ingram, Memorials of Oxford. Brasenose.... This curious
appellation, which, whatever was the origin of it, has been perpetuated by
the symbol of a brazen nose here and at Stamford, occurs with the
modern orthography, but in one undivided word, so early as 1278, in an
inquisition now printed in The Hundred Rolls, though quoted by Wood
from the manuscript record.
1837. British Critic, xxiv. 139. There is a spot in the centre of the city
where Alfred is said to have lived. Brasenose claims his palace, Oriel his
church, and University his school or academy. Of these Brasenose is still
called “the King’s Hall,” which is the name by which Alfred himself, in
his laws, calls his palace; and it has its present singular name from a

corruption of brasinium, or brasin-huse, as having been originally located
in that part of the royal mansion which was devoted to the then important
accommodation of a brew-house.
1898. Alden, Oxford Guide, 52. Brasenose Hall (thirteenth century) is
said to have derived the name from its occupying the site of a brasen-hus
or brewhouse. Over the old entrance-gate is the representation of a brazen
nose, probably added at a much later date, when punning rebuses of this
kind were in fashion.

Brasser, subs. (Christ’s Hospital: obsolete).—A bully.

Bread-and-beer, subs. phr. (Stonyhurst).—The name
given to the snack which boys may take at five o’clock.

Bread-boy, subs. (Christ’s Hospital).—See quot.
1798. Narrative “Christ’s Hospital, Three quarters of a Century ago”
[Chelmsford Chronicle (1875), Ap. 16]. The breakfast-bell rang about
seven, when we all went into the hall, the nurses following, with boys
from each ward (called BREAD-BOYS) carrying large baskets on their
shoulders containing bread, which were taken to the head of each table,
where stood the nurse, who, after “grace,” went down the table, serving
out to each boy half of a twopenny loaf of bread. “Well,” you’ll say, “but
where’s the butter?” None was allowed—nothing but bare bread. Those
who had been sparing over night to save a portion of the small piece of
cheese they had for their supper, pulled it out of their pockets. Sometimes
a great fellow would make a little boy always supply him with cheese of
mornings, out of the piece the poor fellow had had for his supper the
night previous. Beer we had certainly, served out in wooden vessels of an
extraordinary shape, called “piggins”; about six of them for four boys to
drink out of, but such beer! The piggins were seldom replenished, for we

could not drink it. We used to call it “the washings of the brewers’
aprons.”
1900. Pall Mall Gazette, 20th March, 3. 2. “A Lenten Supper.” Last of all
the BREAD-BOY hoists the tall bread-basket shoulder high and bows round
with it, never failing to raise a laugh as well as a basket.

Bread-picker, subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—A Junior
appointed by the four senior Præfects in Commoners: at
one time to put candles in outhouses; but formerly the
word is supposed to relate to the duty of securing bread
when served out. The office exempted from fagging at
meal times.

Brekker, subs. (Harrow).—Breakfast.
1898. Stonyhurst Mag., Dec., p. 149, “Life at Oxford.” Each
undergraduate has two rooms, a bedroom and a sitting-room. In these he
lives, studies, and, with the exception of evening dinner in the Hall, has
his meals. He is thus able to entertain. The fashionable meal to which to
invite a friend is breakfast, or vernacularly BREKKER.

Brew, verb. 1. (Marlborough).—To make afternoon tea.
2. (Harrow).—To knock about; to damage.
3. (Harrow).—To cook. Hence, as subs. = a mess, or
self-cooked meal.

Brick, verb (Charterhouse).—To hustle; TO MOB UP (q.v.); TO
BARGE (q.v.).

Bricks, subs. (Wellington).—A kind of pudding. [Also
(var. dial.) = a kind of loaf.]

Bridge of Grunts (Cambridge).—See Isthmus of Suez.

Bring-on, subs. (The Leys).—A SIZING (q.v.), or extra in the
way of food (as jam, tinned meat, &c.). [That is, what a
boy “BRINGS ON” to his table, chiefly at tea.]

Broad (The), subs. (Oxford).—Broad Street.

Broad-sheet, subs. (Harrow).—The printed school list:
issued after the TRIALS (q.v.).

Brock, subs. (Winchester).—To bully; to tease; to badger.
[Brock, provincial in North and Hants = a badger, and
baiting these animals was a school sport till 1870.]
Hence BROCKSTER = a bully.

Brogues, subs. (Christ’s Hospital).—Breeches. [An old
English survival: still dial. in Suffolk.]

Broker, subs. (Oxford).—A member of Pembroke College.

Brooke Hall (Charterhouse).—At Old Charterhouse the
officers’ common room; at New Charterhouse the

masters’ common room: it is the place to which
impositions must be taken.
1900. Tod, Charterhouse, p. 94. In the seventeenth century schoolmasters
had to be careful of their politics. Thus Master Robert Brooke, the fourth
of the “schoolmasters,” is said to have refused to sign the Solemn League
and Covenant, and to have flogged some of his boys for Parliamentary
proclivities. He was ejected from his office in 1643. At the Restoration,
though not fully restored, he was given “two chambers in cloisters and a
pension of £30 a year.” After his death these two chambers were knocked
into one and it became Brooke hall.

Brook-jumping, subs. (Rugby).—See House-washing.

Brosier (or Brozier). To brozier my dame, verb. phr.
(Eton).—To “eat out of house and home.” When a DAME
(q.v.) keeps an unusually bad table, the boys agree on a
certain day to eat him literally “out of house and home.”
Hence BROZIERED = cleaned out. [Brozier (Cheshire) =
bankrupt.]
1796. Merton, Way to get Married (Inchbald, British Theatre, vol. xxvi.).
[The term is so used here.]

Browse, subs. (Marlborough).—A pleasant or easy time; a
treat; anything enjoyable: e.g. MORNING BROWSE = leave
off early school; French is a BROWSE. Hence, Captain’s
browse = an expedition to which a master takes his
House Captains. [From browse = to eat lazily.]
Adj. Pleasant; enjoyable. Also (more frequently)
BROWSY: e.g. a BROWSY morning = a morning in which

little work is done; an awfully BROWSY day, or time = an
enjoyable time.
Verb. To enjoy; to like: generally with on: e.g. “I BROWSE
ON old Smith,” or, “ON Science hour.”

Brum, adj. (Winchester).—(1) Poor; (2) mean, stingy.
Dead brum = penniless.

Brush, subs. 1. (common).—A schoolmaster.
2. (Christ’s Hospital).—A flogging.
1844. Reminis. of Christ’s Hospital [The Blue, Aug. 1874]. The
punishment ... next in severity was flogging with the birch (called
BRUSHING).

Verb (Christ’s Hospital).—To flog.

Brute, subs. (Cambridge).—See quot. Also Beast.
1868. Brewer, Phrase and Fable, s.v. Brute, in Cambridge University
slang, is a man who has not yet matriculated. The play is evident. A
“man” in college phrase is a collegian; and as matriculation is the sign
and seal of acceptance, a scholar before that ceremony is not a “man,”
and therefore only a “BIPED BRUTE.”

Buck, adj. 1. (Winchester: obsolete).—Handsome.
2. (Felsted).—Fine; jolly.
1897. Felstedian, July, p. 129. What’s the good of a Præfect? he never
gets anybody up, and has never been known to be in time himself. He’s a
BUCK lot of use.

To be bucked, verb. phr. (Uppingham).—To be tired.
To buck down, verb. phr. (Winchester).—To grieve; to
be unhappy.
To buck up, verb. phr. 1. (Winchester).—To cheer; to be
pleased.
2. (Westminster).—To exert oneself.
3. (Harrow).—To play hard; to hurry.

Bucksome (or Buxom), adj. (Winchester).—Happy;
cheerful.

Budder, subs. (Felsted: obsolete).—A hard worker; a
SWOTTER. [From a proper name.]

Bug and Tick, subs. phr. (The Leys).—The Natural
History Society. See Bug and Snail (Appendix).

Buissonites, subs. (Charterhouse).—Now called Bodeites
(q.v.).

Bulky, adj. (Winchester).—(1) Rich; (2) generous.

Bull-dog, subs. 1. (University).—A proctor’s assistant or
marshal.
1823. Lockhart, Reg. Dalton, I., x. (1842), 59. Long forgotten stories
about proctors bit and BULL-DOGS baffled.

1841. Lytton, Night and Morning, bk. iii. chap. iii. The proctor and his
BULL-DOGS came up ... and gave chase to the delinquents; ... the night was
dark, and they reached the College in safety.
1847. Tennyson, Princess, Prologue. We unworthier told Of college; he
had climb’d across the spikes, And he had squeezed himself betwixt the
bars, And he had breath’d the Proctor’s DOGS.
1880. Brewer, Reader’s Handbook. Bull-dogs, the two servants of a
university proctor, who follow him in his rounds, to assist him in
apprehending students who are violating the university statutes, such as
appearing in the streets after dinner without cap and gown, &c.
2. (Cambridge: obsolete).—A Fellow of Trinity College.

Bully, subs. (Eton).—A mellay at football: the equivalent
of the Rugby SCRUMMAGE (q.v.), and the Winchester HOT
(q.v.).

Bunker’s Hill (Stonyhurst).—A row of cottages outside
Hodder grounds. Originally called Bankhurst, but after
a battle here between the inhabitants and the new-
comers a century ago, its present name was given to it.
(See Stonyhurst Mag., ii. 92.)

Bum-brusher, subs. (general).—A schoolmaster; also an
usher.
1704. T. Brown, Works (1760), ii. 86. [Dionysius] was forced to turn
BUM-BRUSHER.

1788. New London Magazine, p. 137. A successor was immediately called
from that great nursery of BUM-BRUSHERS, Appleby School.

1832. Blackwood’s Mag., Oct., p. 426. To protract existence ... in the
shape of BUM-BRUSHERS, and so forth, after the fashion of the exalted
emigrés of 1792.
1838. Comic Almanac, Dec. [Schoolmaster’s Letter signed] Barnabas
Bom-brush.

Bum-curtain, subs. (Cambridge).—An academical gown
—scant and short; especially applied to the short black
gown worn till 1835 by members of Caius College.
1835. (Quoted in Whibley’s Three Centuries of Cambridge Wit [1889].)
’Tis the College of Caius—’tis the land where the “BUM-CURTAIN” lately
was sported by each jolly chum, But now black and blue are the gowns
that they wear Like the eye of a drunkard returned from a fair.

Bumf, subs. (general).—Paper. See Appendix.

Bumf-hunt, subs. (Wellington).—A paper-chase.

Bumming, subs. (Wellington).—A thrashing.

Bump, subs. and verb (University).—See Bumping-race.

Bumping-race, subs. (University).—Eight-oared inter-
Collegiate races, rowed in two divisions of fifteen and
sixteen boats respectively, including a SANDWICH BOAT
(q.v.), i.e. the top boat of the second division, which
rows bottom of the first. The boats in each division start
at a distance apart of 175 feet from stern to stern in the

order at which they left off at the last preceding race,
and any boat which overtakes and BUMPS another (i.e.
touches it in any part) before the winning post is
reached, changes places with it for the next race. Hence
BUMP-SUPPER = a supper to commemorate the event.

1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, iii. He listened, and with respect too, to Mr.
Foker’s accounts of what the men did at the University of which Mr. F.
was an ornament, and encountered a long series of stories about boat-
racing, BUMPING, College grass-plats, and milk-punch.
1853. Bradley, Verdant Green, x. A BUMP-SUPPER—that is, O ye
uninitiated! a supper to commemorate the fact of the boat of one College
having, in the annual races, BUMPED, or touched the boat of another
College immediately in its front, thereby gaining a place towards the head
of the river,—a BUMP-SUPPER was a famous opportunity for discovering
both the rowing and paying capabilities of Freshmen, who, in the
enthusiasm of the moment, would put down their two or three guineas,
and at once propose their names to be enrolled as members at the next
meeting of the club.
1860. Macmillan’s Magazine, March, p. 331. The chances of St.
Ambrose’s making a BUMP the first night were weighed.
1865. Sketches from Cambridge, p. 7. I can still condescend to give our
boat a stout when it makes a BUMP.
1886-7. Dickens, Dictionary of Cambridge, p. 11. Any boat which
overtakes and BUMPS another ... before the winning post is reached,
changes place with it for the next race.
1891. Harry Fludyer at Cambridge, 2. I’m rowing in our first Lent boat.
We ought to make some BUMPS. Ibid., 51. We had a grand BUMP-SUPPER,
with lots of speeches.
1900. Westminster Gaz., 21st Feb., 8. 3. In the Second Division,
Worcester BUMPED Christ Church II. at the Ferry. Hertford left off at the
head of the division.

Bunk, verb (Wellington and Sherborne).—To expel from
school.

Bunky, adj. (Christ’s Hospital).—Awkward; ill-finished.

Bunny-grub, subs. (Cheltenham).—Green vegetables;
GRASS (q.v.).

Burr, verb (Marlborough).—To tussle or fight in a noisy,
but friendly manner. Also as subs.

Butcher. To butcher about, verb. phr. (Wellington).—To
make a great noise; to humbug.

Buttery, subs. (University).—A college kitchen. [See
Twelfth Night, i. 3; Taylor, Works, i. 113.]
1853. Bradley, Verdant Green, iv. He was bearing a jug of BUTTERY ale
(they are renowned for their ale at Brazenface).

Buying, subs. (Stonyhurst).—An opportunity which is
given for the purchase of pastry in the refectory at
“Bread-and-beer” (q.v.) time.

ab, subs. (general).—An adventitious aid to study;
a CRIB (q.v.); a PONY (q.v.). [From CABBAGE (q.v.) =
pilferings.]

1853. Bradley (“Cuthbert Bede”), Adventures of Verdant Green. Those
who can’t afford a coach get a CAB, alias a crib, alias a translation.
1876. Academy, 4th Nov., p. 448, col. 2. The use of translations, “cribs,”
or CABS as boys call them, must at some time or other engage the serious
attention of schoolmasters.

Cabbage, subs. (general).—A translation; a CAB (q.v.). Also
as verb = to use a translation or other adventitious aid in
preparing exercises; to “crib.”
1837. Gen. P. Thompson, Exerc. (1842), iv. 234. A speech, which ... had
been what schoolboys call CABBAGED, from some of the forms of oration
... published by way of caricature.
1862. H. Marryat, Year in Sweden, ii. 387. Steelyards ... sent by Gustaf
Wasa as checks upon country dealers, who CABBAGED, giving short
weight.

Cacus (Stonyhurst).—The Library lumber-room.
1888. Stonyhurst Mag., July, p. 185. The dust and darkness of CACUS is
destined to give place to the (comparatively) gilded splendour of a

Philosopher’s room. Two new windows are being opened in the wall of
the Elizabethan front over the old Bailey window.... Hitherto CACUS has
been shrouded in utter darkness, ... a receptacle for ... all the literature,
which ... had not been assigned a place in the Library.

Cad, subs. (general).—A non-school or non-University
man: in contempt. At Cambridge SNOB, the word
Thackeray used, has long been a common term for a
townsman; now the undergrad. says Townee or Towner
(q.v.). The German analogue is Philister.
1831. Hone, Year-Book, 670. Preceded by one or two bands of music in
two boats, rowed by CADS.
1856. Bradley (“Cuthbert Bede”), Adventures of Verdant Green, i. p. 117.
And I can chaff a CAD.
1860. Macmillan’s Mag., March, p. 327. You don’t think a gentleman can
lick a CAD, unless he is the biggest and strongest of the two.
1873. Saturday Review, September, p. 305. At Oxford the population of
the University and city is divided into “Dons, men, and CADS.”

Café, The (The Leys).—Head’s House Hall for meals.

Cake, subs. (Christ’s Hospital).—A stroke with a cane.
Also as verb.
1844. Reminis. of Christ’s Hospital [The Blue, Aug. 1874]. The mildest
punishment consisted of caning on the open hand (ironically termed
CAKES).

Caker, subs. (The Leys).—A bicycle. [Originally
“boneshaker”; whence “shaker” and “CAKER.”]

Calk, verb (Eton).—To throw. See Appendix, s.v. Cork.

Call, subs. (Eton).—A remission of ABSENCE (q.v.). “It is a
CALL,” i.e. “There is no ABSENCE.”

Calling-out, subs. (Charterhouse: obsolete).—See
Pulling-out.

Calling-over, subs. (Rugby).—Names-calling.
1856. Hughes, Tom Brown’s School-days, v. The master of the week came
down in cap and gown to CALLING-OVER, and the whole school of three
hundred boys swept into the big school to answer to their names.

Calton. See you on the Calton, phr. (Royal High School,
Edin.).—A challenge to fight. [The Calton Hill lies at
the back of the school; it and The Dungeons (q.v.) are
the two fighting grounds.]

Calves, subs. (Winchester).—Pronounced Caves. See
Halves.

Calx, subs. (Eton).—The goal line at football. [From a
Latin sense of CALX = a goal, anciently marked with
lime or chalk.] At Eton CALX is a space so marked off at
each end of WALL; GOOD CALX is the end at which there is
a door for a goal; BAD CALX the end where part of an elm-
tree serves the purpose.

1864. Daily Telegraph, Dec. 1. The Collegers were over-weighted ... and
the Oppidans managed to get the ball down into their CALX several times.

Campus Martius, subs. (Royal High School, Edin.).—
Until recently the name by which the battle-ground in
The Dungeons (q.v.) was known; now dying out.
Formerly the scene of encounters between different
classes.

Canals, The (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—The two ponds in
front of the College.

Candle-keepers, subs. (Winchester).—The seven seniors
in College by election who are not Præfects. They enjoy
most of the privileges of Præfects without their powers.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 30. The Seven
CANDLE-KEEPERS (why so called I have no idea, nor have I ever heard any
interpretation of the appellation). These were the seven inferiors who had
been longest in the school, quite independently of their position in it; they
were generally old and tough. Of these, the senior had almost as much
power as a Præfect; he had a “valet” in chambers, one or two “breakfast
fags,” and the power of fagging the twenty juniors when in school or in
meads. The junior CANDLE-KEEPER was called the “Deputy,” and had also
some slight privileges besides that of having a valet and breakfast fag,
which was common to all of them.
1878. Adams, Wykehamica, p. 418. See Appendix.
1881. Felstedian, Nov., p. 75, “A Day’s Fagging at Winchester.” The
CANDLE-KEEPERS are the next in chambers to the præfects; generally
fellows who have not much brains, but from having been a long time in

the school, having a certain number of “juniors,” and are excused fagging
and have certain minor privileges approaching those of a præfect.

Candlestick, subs. (Winchester).—A humorous corruption
of the word “candidate.”
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 175. Each of
these [the Electors] had in turn the privilege of nominating a boy for
admission into Winchester till all vacancies were filled, of which there
were generally about twelve, but always many more “Candidates” (or
CANDLESTICKS, as they were often called).

1878. H. C. Adams, Wykehamica, p. 418. Candlestick, merely a facetious
version of “candidate.”

Cannager-canoodle, subs. (Oxford).—A Canadian canoe.
1893. Felstedian, June, p. 718, “Oxford Correspondence.” The Char has
been daily gay with bright yellow “CANAGGER-CANOODLES,” and pink-and-
green Japanese parasols and wobbling punts with their sleeping
occupants.

Cannibal, subs. (Cambridge).—In a BUMPING-RACE (q.v.) a
College may be represented by more than one boat. The
best talent is put into the first, but it has sometimes
happened that the crew of the second have got so well
together that it has disappointed the prophets and
bumped the first of its own College. In this case it is
termed A CANNIBAL, it having eaten up its own kind, and a
fine is exacted from it by the University Boat Club.

Canoodle, verb (Oxford).—To paddle or propel a canoe.

1879. E. H. MARSHALL, in Notes and Queries, 5 S., xi. 375. When I was an
undergraduate at Oxford, to CANOODLE was the slang expression for
paddling one’s own canoe on the bosom of the Cherwell or the Isis.

Cantab, subs. (Cambridge).—A student at Cambridge
University. [An abbreviation of “Cantabrigian.”]
1750. Coventry, Pompey Litt., II. x. (1785), p. 18, col. 1. The young
CANTAB ... had come up to London.

1803. Gradus ad Cantab. (Title.)
1821. Byron, Don Juan, c. iii., st. 126. And I grown out of many
“wooden spoons” Of verse (the name with which we CANTABS please To
dub the last of honours in degrees).

Canvas, subs. (Winchester).—See quot.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 66. The Winchester football game
is peculiar. It is played in CANVAS, as it is called. A portion of Meads,
some 80 feet by 25, is marked off by screens of canvas on each side,
within which the game is played, the two open ends forming the lines of
goal, across which the ball is to be kicked. It is placed in the middle of the
ground to begin with, and a “hot” formed round it by the players stooping
down all close together, with their heads down, and at a given signal
trying to force the ball or each other away. The canvas screens answer to
the Rugby “line of touch”; when the ball escapes over these it is returned
into play by juniors stationed for the purpose, and a hot is formed afresh.
To go on the canvas, verb. phr. (Manchester Grammar).
—To finish drill (dumb-bells, clubs, &c.), and do
gymnastic exercises on the ladder, bars, rings, and
ropes. [The floor beneath the latter was once covered
with stuffed canvas; the phrase is retained, though the
canvas has given way to mats.]

Cap, subs. 1. (Westminster).—The collection at Play and
Election dinners. [The College cap was passed round on
the last night of Play for contributions. Cf. “to send
round the cap.”]
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 157. Queen Elizabeth seems to
have been present on at least one occasion, and to have contributed
liberally to the CAP, for she is recorded to have paid, in January 1564, the
sum of £8, 6s. 8d. for certain plays by the grammar school at Westminster
and the children at Powle’s. A shout of “CAP, CAP!” arises, and all available
trenchers having been pressed into the service, the captain distributes
them amongst the Old Westminster portion of the audience, who present
substantial proofs of their satisfaction. The sum collected in the CAP has
frequently amounted to above £200. After discharging all expenses of the
play the surplus is divided among the performers. But as these expenses
have a natural tendency to increase rather than diminish, while the
number of old Westminsters present is necessarily fewer than in the more
prosperous days of the school, the balance has of late been now and then
on the wrong side.
2. (Harrow).—A cap of House Colours, given by
Captains of House Cricket elevens to the House eleven,
or to some of them. The gift confers permanent
membership. Hence, the recipient of such a distinction.
See Fez.
1890. Great Public Schools, 94. Second Eleven matches are played
between the various Houses, and a challenge cup is presented at the end
of the term to the best house. No CAP may play in these matches.
3. (Rugby).—Each House had [1871] two CAPS, one the
football cap and the other the house-cap. The former
was a sign of distinction, and worn only by the few boys
in the school to whom it had been given.... If a boy
distinguished himself in cricket, he was allowed to wear
a red band; or, as a higher distinction, a blue band....

Distinctions might be varied in all manner of ways
according as a boy had won his red or his blue band, his
flannels, or his cap.... Caps are now (1890) given by the
head of the School Fifteen. After the Caps come the
Flannels (q.v.), and then come the players without
distinction. The Caps and Flannels in each House go to
make up the House Fifteen; the Flannels, without the
Caps, go to make up the second fifteen in each House,
which is called Below Caps, or for brevity, Below. The
next fifteen in each House are called Two Belows, and
so on, though it rarely happens that a House has more
Belows than two.—Lees Knowles.
Verb (general).—To take off or touch one’s hat in
salutation: also TO CAP TO and TO CAP IT.
1593. H. Smith, Scrm. (1871), i. 203. How would they CAP me were I in
velvets.
1803. Gradus ad Cantabrigiam, p. 23, s.v. BORE. Other bores are to attend
a sermon at St. Mary’s on Sunday ... TO CAP a fellow.

Captain of Election, subs. (Westminster).—See quot.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 183. The CAPTAIN OF ELECTION—the
boy who gains first place—has the privilege of being almost entirely
exempted from the fagging incidental to his junior year, and has his name
painted on the election board in gold letters. These tablets, fixed up in the
dormitory, go back as far as 1629; and among the names of the CAPTAINS,
besides Lord Mansfield, as already mentioned, may be read those of
Markman, Warren Hastings, Cyril Jackson and his brother the bishop,
Randolph (Bishop), Abbot (Speaker), Longley, &c.

Captain of the Boats, subs. phr. (Eton).—See quot.

1865. Etoniana, p. 164. The CAPTAIN OF THE BOATS is perhaps the greatest
person in the school next to the head-master—if, indeed, he does not rival
that great authority in the estimation of the boys. The whole regulation of
the boats, both as to the selection of the crew of the racing “eight,” and of
the CAPTAINS of the several boats which form the Fourth of June
procession, rests entirely with him; and as he has a great deal of this kind
of patronage at his disposal, his influence is very considerable. The boat
crews are in some sort looked upon as the aristocracy of the school, and
for this reason the position is an object of social ambition amongst the
boys.

Cargo, subs. (Winchester).—A hamper from home. The
word is still in use.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 77. The boys,
eager for breakfast, tumultuously rushed out from school-court ... to see if
Poole, the porter, had letters, or, what was even more delightful, a CARGO
(a hamper of game or eatables from home).
1881. Pascoe, Every-day Life in our Public Schools. Scholars may
supplement their fare with jam, potted meats, ... or, better still, from the
contents of CARGOES, i.e. hampers from home.

Cart, verb (University).—To defeat: in a match, a fight, an
examination, a race, &c. “We CARTED them home” = we
gave them an awful licking.

Case, subs. (Westminster).—The discussion by Seniors
and Upper Election preceding a TANNING (q.v.), and the
tanning itself.

Cathedral, subs. (Winchester).—A silk hat. [Because worn
when going to Cathedral.]

Cat-and-cartridge, subs. (The Leys).—Rabbit (or
chicken) with sausage.

Cat’s, subs. (University).—St. Catharine’s Hall. Hence
CAT’S-MEN = members of St. Catharine’s Hall.

Intj. (Royal High School, Edin.: obsolete).—The IInd
Class. [Formerly it used to be a custom for the IInd class
to pursue the Ist shouting “Gaits! Gaits! Gai-ai-aits,” to
which they replied, “Cats! Cats! Caa-ats!”] See Dogs.

Cat’s Head, subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—The end of a
shoulder of mutton.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 84. His meal
[dinner] took place at six o’clock P.M. in College (in Commoners’ it was at
one); it was ample in quantity, and excellent in quality. That of the
Præfects was nicely served in joints, that of the Inferiors was divided into
portions (Dispars); there were, if I remember rightly, six of these to a
shoulder, and eight to a leg of mutton, the other joints being divided in
like proportion. All these “Dispars” had different names; the thick slice
out of the centre was called “a Middle Cut,” that out of the shoulder a
“Fleshy,” the ribs “Racks,” the loin “Long Dispars”; these were the best,
the more indifferent were the end of the shoulder, or CAT’S HEAD, the
breast, or “Fat Flab,” &c. &c.

Cat’s-skin, subs. (Rugby).—1. See quot.

1856. Hughes, Tom Brown’s School-days, v. His go-to-meeting roof, as
his new friend called it. But this didn’t quite suit his fastidious taste in
another minute, being too shiny; so, as they walk up the town, they dive
into Nixon’s the hatter’s, and Tom is arrayed, to his utter astonishment,
and without paying for it, in a regulation CAT-SKIN at seven-and-sixpence.
2. See Rabbit-skin.

Cause-money, subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—Up-keep
money for the path leading to Hills (q.v.).
1891. Wrench, Word-Book, s.v. Cause-money. Money paid for the
maintenance of the path leading from College towards Hills.

Causey, The (Stonyhurst).—The avenue between the two
ponds in front of the College.

Cave, intj. (Eton).—“Beware!” A byword among boys out
of bounds when a master is in sight. [From the Latin.]

Cedar, subs. (Eton).—A pair-oared boat inrigged, without
canvas, and very “crank.” [No longer in use.]

Certificate Good-day, subs. phr. (Stonyhurst).—See
Good-day.

Chaff, subs. (Christ’s Hospital).—A small article or
plaything. Also as verb = to exchange; to barter. [A.S.

chaffere = to deal, exchange, or barter: as sub. =
merchandise. Also (North) chaffle = to haggle.]
1388. Wimbelton, Sermon [MS. Hatton, 57, p. 4]. If thou art a
margchaunt, disceyve not thi brother in CHAFFARYNG.
1440. Promptorium Parvulorum [MS. Harl. 221, ff. 206]. Rooryne or
chaungyne on CHAFFARE for another.
1450. MS. Bibl. Reg. 12 B. i. f. 19. Emere vel vendere, Anglice to
CHAFFARYN.

1844. Reminis. of Christ’s Hospital [The Blue, Aug. 1874]. Pocket-knives,
combs, “precious” marbles, tops, and all the other numerous nondescript
articles which go to make up the CHAFFS of a Blue.
1877. Blanch, Blue-Coat Boys, 96. Chaff me your knife.
Adj. Pleasant; glad. Also CHAFFY. [Possibly, in this sense,
a memory of chaff = banter.] Whence, CHAFF FOR YOU =
“So much the better for you.” Cf. Vex.
Intj. An exclamation of joy or pleasure.

Challenge, subs. (Westminster).—The entrance
examination for Queen’s Scholarship. See quot. [In
ancient times (vide Stow) St. Peter’s was one of the
three great schools whose scholars were accustomed on
the days of their patron Saints to challenge each other to
a contest of grammar and versification, which was
apparently the earliest form of what was afterwards
developed not only into the Westminster Challenge,
but into the Eton Montem (q.v.).]
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 182. He undergoes a very severe
examination, called the CHALLENGE, the form of which must have been

preserved from Queen Elizabeth’s days, and is the last surviving relic of
the old scholastic disputations.

Chamber-day, subs. (Winchester).—A day on which
access was allowed to CHAMBERS (q.v.) during the whole
day.—Mansfield.

Chambers, subs. (Winchester).—The College bedrooms:
in Commoners called Galleries (q.v.). [Chamber is
commonly dialectical for bedroom.] See Election
Chamber.

Charity-remove, subs. (Harrow).—A “remove” assigned
to boys who have remained in the Form below for
several successive school quarters.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 297. The intention of these
CHARITY-REMOVES (as they are called) is to prevent boys of dull abilities
being continually outstripped in the race of promotion by boys younger
than themselves; but practically the cases are very few of boys who
would be left in the same Form for above three quarters; and even then
the promotion is removed if the boy has been “notoriously and
ostentatiously” idle.

Charity-tails, subs. (Harrow).—See Tails.

Charlies, subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—Thick gloves
made of twine. [Introduced by a Mr. Charles Griffith:
hence the name.]

Chase, verb (Christ’s Hospital).—To abscond; to run
away; as from school.
1844. Reminis. of Christ’s Hospital [The Blue, Aug. 1874]. At length, to
the consternation and perplexity of the authorities, and the delight,
admiration, and envy of the fellows, this incorrigible character capped all
his former misdeeds by an act of pluck and daring which gained for
himself, from that time forth, all the honours of a hero—he CHASED.

Chaw, subs. 1. (University).—A trick; a device; a sell.
2. (Harrow).—A CAD (q.v.); any non-member of the
school. Whence Worker-chaw = the boy who runs
messages, &c., for the work-shop. Also as verb
(football), to play roughly. To be chawed = to be
injured.

Check-nights, subs. (Eton).—Rehearsals of the Fourth of
June (q.v.) performance. Held every alternate Saturday
in the boating season, when the crews rowed up to Surly
in their uniform and there regaled themselves—the
staple luxury being ducks and green pease. These
suppers were open to much objection, and the custom
has lately been done away with.—Etoniana (1865).

Cheese, subs. (Schools and University).—An adept; one
who “takes the shine out of another”; at Cambridge an
overdressed dandy = a HOWLING CHEESE.
1864. Hemyng, Eton School-days. “Do you know Homer, Purefoy?”
asked Chudleigh. “No, I have not looked at the lesson yet.” “I am sure I

don’t know why you ever do; you are such a CHEESE. I want you to give
me a construe.”

Chemmy, subs. (Manchester Grammar).—Chemistry.

Chief, subs. (Sherborne).—The Head-master.

Child, subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—1. A scholar on the
foundation.
1547. Inj. Ed. VI. Commiss. [William of Wykeham, 152]. Item: that all
graces to be said or sung at meals within the said College, and other
prayers which the said scholars or CHILDREN are bound to use shall be
henceforth sung or said evermore in English.
d. 1711. Ken, Manual ... for the use of ... Winchester College. If you are a
Commoner, you may say your prayers in your own Chamber; but if you
are a CHILD or a Chorister, then to avoid the interruptions of the Common
Chambers, go into the Chappel, between first and second Peal in the
morning, to say your Morning Prayers, and say your Evening Prayers
when you go Circum.
1891. Wrench, Winchester Word-Book, s.v. Child. The word “Scholar,”
as used by Ken, included the three classes—“Children,” Commoners, and
Choristers; and it is observable that, though it has been adopted of late
officially to designate the “Children” exclusively, this usage has not
extended to the school. “Child” has fallen into desuetude, but its place
has not been supplied by any other term.
2. See quot. 1891.
1822. Nares, Glossary, s.v. Child ... The “CHILDREN of the Chapel”
signifies the boys of the Chapel.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 64. One table, by a curious
traditionary custom, is called the CHILDREN’S table—the electors present

each choosing one of the junior scholars for their CHILD, and presenting
him with a guinea and a luxurious dinner at this privileged table.
1891. Wrench, Winchester Word-Book, s.v. Child. Each of the Electors
(q.v.) might choose a Scholar on the foundation to attend upon him (a
nominal duty in recent times) at election time. These were known as
Warden’s CHILD, Warden of New College’s CHILD, &c. Of late the Head
Master always chose for his CHILD the head scholar in Cloisters, and the
Warden the second. Each CHILD received a guinea from the Elector who
appointed him. The Children got off all fagging on DOMUM DAY (q.v.); at
Election Dinner they sat at the same table with Writers and Election
Grace Singers, where the fare was better than that served to the scholars
generally; and they had wine and dessert afterwards in CHILD’S-room in
the Warden’s house. Warden’s CHILD had during the following year the
duty of applying to the Head Master for every REMEDY (q.v.), and half-
remedy that came in the ordinary course. In applying he used the set
phrase, “The Præpostors’ duty, and they would be obliged for a remedy”
(or “half-remedy”). Whenever the application was something more than a
mere form, it was made by the Præfect of Hall, e.g. where a leave out day
disturbed the ordinary arrangements of the week.

Chince (or Chinse), subs. (Winchester).—A chance.
[Apparently a corrupted form of the word.]

Chinner, subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—A grin.

Chip-entry, subs. (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—See quot.
1884. Stonyhurst Mag., June, p. 294. The old kitchen was very near the
site of the present one, but a part of it jutted into what is now the end of
the Higher Line Washing-place. Just outside this was a flight of old oaken
steps leading to the refectory. Beyond these stairs, leading out to the back,

there was a very old round-headed oaken door, which is now in the
buttery; it is about three hundred years old. This was called CHIP-ENTRY.

Chips, subs. (Wellington).—A kind of grill. [From its
hardness.]

Choice, subs. (Harrow).—A candidate in course of trial for
an Eleven (House or School), and who has not got his
Cap (q.v.), Fez (q.v.), or Flannels (q.v.).

Chorister, subs. (Winchester).—See quots.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester (1866), 33. Besides the
Warden, Fellows, masters, and boys, there were twelve “CHORISTERS,”
who must by no means be omitted, as they formed an important part of
the internal economy. I suppose they were called CHORISTERS because
they had not to sing; certainly if ever that was a part of their duty, it had
entirely lapsed. Their office was to wait on boys, in hall and chambers, till
seven o’clock, and especially to go on errands in the town,—the boys
themselves never being allowed to go there, except when invited by
friends on Saints’ days. These little CHORISTERS wore chocolate-coloured
tail-coats and trousers, with metal buttons; and, on the whole, I think their
life must have been a weary one.... Ibid., 189. The CHORISTERS really do
sing now, and have not to run errands in the town for boys, but wait on
them in the hall instead.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 22. The Bible-clerk meanwhile
reading aloud a chapter from the Old Testament, the CHORISTERS waited at
table. An antiphonal grace and psalm were sung, after which the
CHORISTERS and college servants took their dinner.

Chouse, subs. (Eton and Winchester).—A shame; an
imposition. Hence CHOUSER. [A derivative of chouse =
trick; swindle: see quot. 1890.]
1864. Athenæum. When an Eton boy says that anything is “a beastly
CHOUSE,” he means that it is a great shame; and when an Eton peripatetic
tradesman is playful enough to call his customer “a little CHOUSER,” he
means that a leaf has been taken out of his own book by one on whom he
has practised.
1883. Brinsley Richards, Seven Years at Eton. The boy ... was told that
what he had done was an awful CHOUSE.
1890. Hist. Eng. Dict. [Murray], s.v. CHOUSE. “As to the origin of the
Eng. use, Gifford (1814), in a note on the quot. from Ben Jonson, says,
‘In 1609, Sir Robt. Shirley sent a messenger or CHIAUS to this country, as
his agent from the Grand Signior and the Sophy to transact some
preparatory business.’ The latter ‘CHIAUSED the Turkish and Persian
merchants of £4000,’ and decamped. But no trace of this incident has yet
been found outside of Gifford’s note; it was unknown to Peter Whalley, a
previous editor of Ben Jonson, 1756; also to Skinner, Henshaw, Dr.
Johnson, Todd, and others who discussed the history of the word. Yet
most of these recognised the likeness of CHOUSE to the Turkish word,
which Henshaw even proposed as the etymon on the ground that the
Turkish CHIAUS ‘is little better than a fool.’ Gifford’s note must therefore
be taken with reserve.”

Christians, subs. pl. (Cambridge).—Fellows of Christ’s
College. [Derivation obvious.]

Christopher (Eton).—An old inn in Eton Street.
1865. Etoniana, 23. On the great festivals ... they had permission to spend
part of the day in a country walk; not without a strong caution (so similar
are the temptations of schoolboys and the anxieties of masters in all ages)

against turning into taverns and beer-shops by the way. The “Tap” and the
CHRISTOPHER had their earlier prototypes....

Chuck, subs. (Westminster). See quot.
1864. Hotten, Slang Dict., s.v. A schoolboy’s treat.

Chucks! intj. (general).—A signal of a master’s approach.
A French equivalent is Vesse!

Circum. To go circum, verb. phr. (Winchester). See quot.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 23 [temp. 1570]. At five the school
was dismissed, and the whole resident society—warden, fellows, masters,
and scholars—went in procession round the cloisters and the whole
interior circuit of the college, which was called GOING CIRCUM. Thus they
passed into the hall, where a supper of mutton was served—one dispar to
every three boys.

Clacken, subs. (Royal High School, Edin.).—A wooden
bat about two feet long with a thin handle and rounded
head (e.g. ), flat on both sides, originally used
for the game of hails. The game is no longer played at
the school, but survives in the Edin. Academy. [A
“Hail” in Scotland denotes the place from which a ball
is driven off at the commencement of a game.
“Clacken” is from “clack,” the clapper of a mill.]

Clarian, subs. (Cambridge).—A member of Clare Hall,
Cambridge; also Greyhound (q.v.).

1889. C. Whibley, Cap and Gown. E’en stuke-struck CLARIANS strove to
stoop.

Classicus, subs. (Winchester).—A Junior in each Part
(q.v.): his duty is to get lessons set, &c. Classicus-paper
= CUSE (q.v.).

Clean-straw, subs. (Winchester).—Clean sheets. [Before
1540 the beds were bundles of straw on a stone floor. At
that date Dean Fleshmonger put in oaken floors, and
provided proper beds, such as existed in 1871 in Third,
and later in the case of the Præfect of Hall’s unused
beds in Sixth. The term is never used in reference to
mattresses of any kind, straw or other.] The dormitory
arrangements are now thoroughly modernised.

Clipe, verb (general).—To tell tales; to “split”; to peach.

Clodding, subs. (Rugby).—A ceremony of initiation [put
down by Dr. Wooll, temp. 1808-28] performed on those
who were promoted into the Fifth. They had to run
along the course of a small gutter which flowed from
the cow-sheds (see Barn-school), through a double line
of boys, who pelted them with clods of clay moistened
in that not very delicate stream. Unpopular boys had
these clods specially hardened for their benefit—it was
even said with stones inside. On promotion from the
Fourth to the Remove a boy had to run the gauntlet up
and down the big school between a double line of his

fellows, armed with handkerchiefs tied in “Westminster
knots.” He was allowed to protect himself with books
stuffed inside his trousers; but the punishment was
fearful.—Collins.

Cloister-peals, subs. (Winchester).—See Peals.

Cloister-roush, subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—See quot.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 117. We had
some singular customs at the commencement of Cloister time. Senior part
and Cloisters, just before the entrance of the Masters into School, used to
engage in a kind of general tournament; this was called CLOISTER-ROUSH.

Cloisters, subs. (Winchester).—The name given to Middle
and Junior Part of Fifth Book (q.v.), when combined
together in Cloister-time (q.v.).
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 24. But the younger commoners
probably seldom came into school, being taught chiefly in the chamber of
the warden or fellow under whose charge they were placed; and in
summer-time the whole of the scholars usually adjourned for lessons into
the adjacent CLOISTERS: a delightful arrangement, from which the latter
portion of the “long-half” is still called CLOISTER-TIME.

Cloister-time, subs. (Winchester).—Ten or twelve weeks
at the latter end of Long Half, commencing about
Whitsunday and ending at Standing-up week (q.v.).

Clow, subs. (Winchester).—Pronounced clō. A box on the
ear. [Possibly from clout. Halliwell, clow
(Cumberland) = to scratch. Also clew (Glouc.) = a
blow.] Also as verb: it was customary to preface the
action by an injunction to “hold down.”
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 140. The
juniors did not get much fun out of the regular games, as their part
consisted solely in kicking in the ball, and receiving divers kicks and
CLOWS in return for their vigilance. Ibid., p. 39. Nor, when ordered to
“hold down” (i.e. put your head in a convenient position) for a CLOW,
would the victim dare to ward off the blow.

Club-keeper, subs. (Harrow).—A Captain of the side in a
game: at cricket or football.
1820-5. Wordsworth [Letter, 1889]. The old ground which we played
upon was too much upon a slope, and when I was one of the Club-
keepers, and head of the eleven, a considerable sum was spent in
endeavouring to improve it, and we succeeded in levelling a sufficient
space for a tolerably good wicket.

Coach, subs. (formerly University and Public Schools:
now common).—A private tutor; and in a transferred
sense one who trains another in mental or physical
acquirements: e.g. in Sanskrit, Shakspeare, cricket, or
rowing. Analagous terms are Crammer, Feeder, and
Grinder. Also as verb = to prepare for an examination
by private instruction; to train: in general use both by
coacher and coachee.
1846. Thackeray, Vanity Fair, ch. v. The superb Cuff himself ... helped
him on with his Latin verses, COACHED him in play-hours.

1850. F. E. Smedley, Frank Fairleigh, ch. xxix. p. 240. Besides the
regular college tutor, I secured the assistance of what, in the slang of the
day, we irreverently termed a COACH.
1853. C. Bede, Verdant Green, pt. I., pp. 63-4. “That man is Cram, the
patent safety. He’s the first COACH in Oxford.” “A COACH,” said our
freshman in some wonder. “Oh, I forgot you didn’t know college slang. I
suppose a royal mail is the only gentleman COACH you know of. Why, in
Oxford a COACH means a private tutor, you must know; and those who
can’t afford a COACH, get a cab, alias a crib, alias translation.”
1864. Eton School-days, ch. ix. p. 103. Lord Fitzwinton, one of the
smallest and best COACHES—in aquatics—in the school.
1870. London Figaro, June 10, “Quadrille Conversation.” It is, we fear,
Quixotic to hope that ladies and gentlemen invited to the same ball would
COACH with the same master.

1871. Times, “Report of the Debate in House of Lords on University Test
Bill.” The test proposed would be wholly ineffective; ... while it would
apply to the college tutors, who had little influence over the young men, it
would not affect the COACHES, who had the chief direction of their studies.
1889. Pall Mall Gazette, 29th Nov., p. 1, col. 3. The schoolmaster is
concerned with the education of boys up to eighteen; all beyond that falls
either to the COACH or the professor.
1891. Harry Fludyer at Cambridge, 15. Our COACH is always finding
fault with me.

Coaching, subs. (Rugby: obsolete).—A flogging.

Coat. To get one’s coat, verb. phr. (Harrow).—To be
made a member of the “Sixth Form Game”; the
equivalent of the “Twenty-two” at other schools:
cricket.

Cob, subs. (Winchester).—A hard hit at cricket; a slogger:
a recent introduction. Also as verb (common), to detect;
to catch.
Verb. 1. (Stonyhurst).—To purloin oranges, &c., after a
Do (q.v.): e.g. “Cob for me,” sometimes whispered by
an envious disappointed one to a fortunate friend as he
goes into the “Do-room.”
2. (Harrow).—In the verbal sense of COB = to detect; to
catch (see subs., ante); the practice at Harrow is almost
always to use the word in the passive, with “badly”: e.g.
“I was badly COBBED ‘tollying-up’” (q.v.).

Cock, subs. (Stonyhurst).—An elevation from which, at
football, a GUARDER (q.v.) kicks balls which “go out”: it
corresponds to the “tee” at golf.
To be cocked up, verb. phr. (Charterhouse).—See quot.
1900. Tod, Charterhouse, 85. Fags [at Old Charterhouse] had to fag in
reality at cricket; they got COCKED UP if they cut, and they got COCKED UP
if they missed a catch, or muffed a ball. A stump was always handy.

Cock-house, subs. (general). A champion house; as at
cricket, football—anything.
1890. Great Public Schools, 95. (Harrow) The various Houses are divided
into “Upper Round” Houses (being those which possess a member of the
School Eleven at the beginning of the term), and “Lower Round” Houses
(being those which possess no member of the School Eleven at the
beginning of the term). The “Upper Round” Houses are drawn together,
and play against each other; and the same course is pursued with regard to
the “Lower Round” Houses. When all these ties are played off, the winner

of the “Upper Round” plays the winner of the “Lower Round” for COCK-
HOUSE. A silver challenge cup is presented to the COCK-HOUSE of the year.

1898. Warner in Harrow School, 271. Coming back from the holidays a
boy will eagerly discuss with his comrades the prospects of the term.
Have they any chance of being “COCK-HOUSE” in football or cricket—and
no chance is too small on which to build a mighty castle of hope.

Cockloft, The (Harrow).—A small room at the top of the
Old Schools; in turn a school-room or the limbo for the
School-stock (q.v.) of confiscated books.

Cocks, subs. (Charterhouse).—The old washing place.
[Early in the century a leaden trough, into which six
taps discharged water, was fixed in a corner of Writing
School, behind a partition which was constructed to
hold Gownboys Library. These taps suggested the term
COCKS. Formerly Gownboys washed at the pump.]

Cocoa-club, subs. (The Leys).—Afternoon tea, &c., at
four in winter in House rooms or studies.

Codd, subs. (Charterhouse).—See quot.
1854. Thackeray, The Newcomes. Yonder sit some threescore old
gentlemen, pensioners of the hospital; ... the Cistercian lads called these
old gentlemen CODDS.

Cog. To cog on, verb. phr. (Durham).—To swindle; to
cheat: e.g. “To cog on marks.” Also TO COCK ON.

Coke on Littleton, subs. phr. (Eton).—See quot.
1743. Daniel Wray, Letter from Cambridge [quoted in Etoniana (1865),
70]. One blowing a chafing-dish with a surplice sleeve, another warming
a little negus or sipping “COKE UPON LITTLETON,” i.e. tent and brandy.

Coll, subs. (United Services).—The College.
1899. Public School Mag., Nov., p. 345. To deal first with the outward
appearance of the COLL.—(COLL, be it noted, not College.) “That long
white barrack by the sea Stares blankly seaward still,” sings Kipling in
one of his very early poems.

Collections, subs. (Oxford).—College Terminal
Examinations.
1853. Bradley, Verdant Green, II. viii. Witless men were cramming for
COLLECTIONS.

College-John (Westminster).—The porter and factotum of
College: invariably so-called, whatever his name may
be.

Colleger, subs. 1. (general).—A square cap; a MORTAR-
BOARD (q.v.).

2. (Eton).—A boy on the foundation as opposed to an
Oppidan (q.v.).
1899. Public School Mag., Nov., p. 367. The discussion continues as to
whether the COLLEGERS should compete for the House Cup. As we have
always said, this seems a ridiculous suggestion. If COLLEGE is on a

separate foundation to the Oppidans, we can see no reason for them to
desire to join in competing for Oppidan events.
1890. Great Public Schools, 14. Parents of independent means rejoice
when their sons obtain places on the Foundation at Eton. Admitted after a
severe competitive examination, and specially encouraged in the habits of
industry, the seventy COLLEGERS generally win a large proportion of the
prizes and other distinctions that are offered to Etonians, and maintain the
high reputation of their old school in the class lists at Oxford and
Cambridge.

College-ware, subs. (Winchester).—Crockery that falls
without breaking.—Mansfield.

Combie, subs. (University).—The “Combination room,” a
parlour in which college dons drink wine after Hall.

Come. Come up! intj. (Sherborne).—The order given by
the Captain of the Games, after 3 Roll on a half-holiday,
to start the games at football.

Come-up, subs. (Stonyhurst).—A regulation as to the
conditions by which one player might try to take the
ball from another: football.

Commoner, subs. (general).—A boy not on the
foundation. Whence (Winchester) Commoners = the
building they lived in. [Now abolished as a residence
and converted into class-rooms with a handsome library.
The old building, which presented externally (vide

Mansfield) the appearance of an inferior workhouse,
was successfully altered by Mr. Butterfield, and is
now, in its architecture, worthy of its purpose and
surroundings.]
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 26. Of the fellow-commoners, or
COMMONERS, as they are now termed, who have so increased as to form a
supplementary body of scholars doubling in number the College boys
themselves, it will be necessary to give some account. Provision had been
made in the original statutes for the reception and instruction of
independent students to the number of ten, sons of noblemen or of
“special friends” of the College, who, though not claiming the other
advantages of the foundation, might yet wish to avail themselves of its
sound teaching; with a proviso that these should not be in any way
burdensome to the revenues.... In [Dr. Burton’s] time the College rose
rapidly as a place of education for many of the young nobility, and the
accommodations were found insufficient. He built what is now
remembered by Wykehamists of the past generation as “OLD
COMMONERS.” ... The number of COMMONERS gradually increased, until in
1820 they reached 135. “Old Commoners” was pulled down in 1839-41
to make way for the present building, which was the result of a general
Wykehamist subscription. Ibid., 115 [Westminster]. In every public
school the masters were entirely dependent for any income beyond their
statutable salaries on the liberality of the parents of those boys who were
admitted as COMMONERS, or oppidans. Ibid., Etoniana, 10. [At Eton] there
were two classes of these boys—“generosorum filii Commensales,” and
simple “Commensales”—corresponding to the “gentleman-COMMONER”
and “COMMONER” of Oxford; the former probably of higher social rank,
paying more for their commons, and dining at a separate table.

Commoner-grub, subs. (Winchester).—A dinner formerly
given by COMMONERS (q.v.) to College after cricket
matches.

Commoners-speaking, subs. (Winchester).—The day on
which the speakers, selected from among the Inferiors
(q.v.), declaimed.

Common Innings, subs. (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—A form
of cricket.

Common-time, subs. (Winchester).—The Short Half, and
beginning of Long up to Easter time.

Commons, subs. (University).—Rations of bread, butter,
and milk, supplied from the buttery. [When a number of
men breakfast together, the student whose rooms are the
rendezvous tells his scout the names of those in-college
men who are coming to breakfast with him. The scout
then collects their COMMONS, which thus forms the
substratum of the entertainment. The other things are of
course supplied by the giver of the breakfast, and are
sent in by the confectioner. As to the knives and forks
and crockery, the scout produces them from his
common stock.]
1853. Bradley, Verdant Green, viii. Of course you’d like to take out an
æger, sir; and I can bring you your COMMONS just the same.

Compo, subs. (King Edward’s, Birm.).—The
championship competition in the gymnasium, or at
fives; place-kicking.

Compositions, subs. (Stonyhurst).—Three days coming at
the end of each quarter, during which the composition
work of the various Forms is tested. According to the
results is arranged the “Order of Compositions,” which
is accepted as fixing a boy’s place in his Form for the
ensuing quarter. There is a hill some distance from the
College known as “Composition Hill,” so called
because the Poets (q.v.) went there for inspiration on
composition days. The first and second boys according
to the order of Compositions are known respectively as
“Roman Imperator” and “Carthaginian Imperator.” The
last Compositions of the year used to be known as the
“Great Compositions.” By them the Form medals, &c.,
were decided.

Compound-kish (or Hish), subs. (Marlborough).—The
rules of the Latin compound sentence.

Compul, adj. and adv. (Harrow).—That is, “compulsory.”

Compulsory, subs. (Charterhouse).—See Runabout.

Con, subs. 1. (Winchester).—A rap on the head with the
knuckles, or with anything hard, such as a cricket ball.
Also as verb: to rap with the knuckles. [The derivation
formerly accepted at Winchester was κονδυλον = a
knuckle, but the editors of the Wykehamist suggest its
origin in the North Country con, “to fillip,” with which
the French se cogner exactly corresponds.]

2. (general).—That is, “construe.” Hence TO GET A
CONSTRUE = to get some one to translate a piece.

Conduct, subs. (Eton).—A chaplain.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 163. I was stopped on my entry
into school by the “Minos.” The title of “CONDUCT,” by which the
chaplains of Eton College are known, was for many years ludicrously
misprinted by the successive editors of Horace Walpole’s Letters, who
made him talk of “standing funking over against a conduit to be
catechised.”

Conduit, subs. (Winchester).—(1) In College, a water-tap;
(2) in Commoners, a lavatory.

Continent, adv. (Winchester).—Ill; on the sick-list: cf.
Abroad. [From continens cameram vel lectum.] Hence
CONTINENT-ROOM = a sick-chamber.

1605. Shakspeare, Lear, i. 2. I pray you have a CONTINENT forbearance; ...
if you do stir abroad, go armed.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 146. When a
boy felt ill, or inclined to quit school for a period, he had to get leave
CONTINENT, which was done by sending a boy in the morning first to get
leave from his tutor, and then from the Head Master.
1878. Adams, Wykehamica, p. 224. We suggested the “CONTINENT room”;
and on being required to say what was to become of the sick boys?
replied, that it was notorious that there was never anything the matter
with them!
1881. Felstedian, Nov., p. 75, “A Day’s Fagging at Winchester.” I
remember that I have to get “LEAVE CONTINENT” for one of the fellows, i.e.
he wants to be “æger for the day” (“continent,” of course = “keeping

indoors,” being confined to “sick house” or the infirmary). I have to ask
leave from the senior præfect in chambers, the præfect of hall, the second
master, and the head-master, whom I waylay going to chapel.

Cool (or Cool-kick), subs. (Eton).—A kick at football with
no one near. Also as verb = to kick hard.

Copus, subs. (University).—A wine or beer cup:
commonly imposed as a fine upon those who talked
Latin in Hall, or committed other breaches of etiquette.
[Dr. Johnson derives it from episcopus, and if this be
correct it is doubtless the same as Bishop.]

Copy, subs. (Harrow).—An asterisk: e.g. as placed on the
broadsheet against the name of any boy who comes out
top of his division in any subject; three COPIES secure a
prize in Speech-room. See Appendix.

Corn (The), subs. (Oxford).—Cornmarket Street.

Corner, intj. (The Leys).—Look out! Clear the way!
[Originally shouted as a warning by boys cycling about
the buildings on approaching a corner.]

Corner-monitor, subs. (Harrow).—The monitor in turn at
Bill (q.v.) to keep line and preserve order generally.

Corps-board, subs. (Harrow).—The Rifle Corps notice-
board.

Cosh, subs. (King Edward’s, Birm.).—A caning. Also as
verb = to cane. A rarer word is TANK (q.v.).

Cots, subs. (Christ’s Hospital).—See quot. [A corruption of
“cotton.”]
1810. Charles Lamb, Recollections of Christ’s Hospital [1835], p. 24.
The COTS, or superior Shoe Strings of the Monitors.

Coup, verb. 1. (Durham).—To upset: in frequent use on
the river. [North dia. COUP = to empty or overset.]
2. (Stonyhurst).—At Bandy (q.v.), to lift the ball from
the ground by means of the crook of the stick.

Course, subs. (Winchester).—Duty: in rota. In course =
on duty. [Course-keeper (obsolete) = a Commoner who
drew up a table of fagging duties.—Wrench.]
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester, 206. Course-keeper, an
office in the patronage of the Commoner Præfects, the duties of which
were principally connected with the organisation of the fagging
department. He was required to have been three years in the school, to be
of reasonable bodily strength, and in Middle Part. His privileges were
numerous, the principal being that he was allowed to fag. When he
ascended into Senior Part his duties ceased, but his privileges remained;
he was then called EX-COURSE-KEEPER.

Court, The (Stonyhurst).—The quadrangle behind the
College Towers; now more commonly called the
Quadrangle. [“Quadrangle” was one of the names which
puzzled the Claimant in the famous Tichborne Trial. Cf.
Times reports; also Stonyhurst Magazine, vol. i. p. 294,
and vol. ii. p. 317.]

Courts, subs. (Sherborne).—The school quadrangles: the
earliest known use of the term is at the end of the
sixteenth century.

Cowshed, subs. (Christ’s Hospital). See Appendix.
c. 1890. More Gleanings from The Blue, 84. Time was when it was
looked upon as a sacred duty on the first Sunday of each term to
introduce Hertford boys to those three stones in the Ditch which represent
the toffee man, to show them his six little children, his brush and comb,
his windmill, and whatsoever else belonging to him the imaginative youth
can discern in the bare stones under the COWSHED, as it is called. Those
“sermons in stones” belonged essentially to Sunday.

Cow-shooter, subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—A “deer-
stalker” hat: worn by Præfects and Candle-keepers
(q.v.).

Coxy, adj. (general).—Stuck up; conceited; impudent.
[Coxy = conceited (Warwickshire).—Halliwell.]
1856. Hughes, Tom Brown’s School-days, p. 202. He’s the COXIEST young
blackguard in the house—I always told you so. Ibid., p. 214.

“Confoundedly COXY those young rascals will get if we don’t mind,” was
the general feeling.
1882. F. Anstey, Vice Versâ, ch. iv. “Now then, young Bultitude, you used
to be a decent fellow enough last term, though you were COXY. So, before
we go any further—what do you mean by this sort of thing?”

Coy, adv. (Sherborne).—Shy.

Crackle (or Crackling), subs. (University).—The velvet
bars on the gowns of the Johnian “Hogs” (q.v.). [From a
resemblance to the scored rind on roast pork.] The
covered bridge between one of the courts and the
grounds of John’s is called the Isthmus of Suez (Latin
sus, a swine).
1885. Cuthbert Bede, in Notes and Queries, 6 S., xi. 414. The word
CRACKLE refers to the velvet bars on the students’ gowns.

Cram, subs. (general).—An adventitious aid to study; a
translation; a crib. As verb = to study at high pressure.
Hence, CRAMMER = a COACH (q.v.); a GRINDER (q.v.); and
CRAMMING = studying hard.

1803. Gradus ad Cantab., s.v.
1812. Miss Edgeworth, Patronage, ch. iii. Put him into the hands of a
clever grinder or CRAMMER, and they would soon cram the necessary
portion of Latin and Greek into him.
1825. Hone, Every-Day Book, Feb. 22. Shutting my room door ... and
CRAMMING Euc.

1841. Punch, vol. i. p. 201, col. 1. Aspirants to honours in law, physic, or
divinity, each know the value of private CRAMMING.

1844. Puck, p. 13. Though for Great Go and for Small, I teach Paley,
CRAM and all.

1853. Bradley (“C. Bede”), Verdant Green, pt. II. p. 68. The infatuated
Mr. Bouncer madly persisted ... in going into the school clad in his
examination coat, and padded over with a host of CRAMS.
1863. Charles Reade, Hard Cash, i. p. 16. “All this term I have been
(‘training’ scratched out and another word put in: c—r oh, I know)
CRAMMING.” “Cramming, love?” “Yes, that is Oxfordish for studying.”

1869. Spencer, Study of Sociology, ch. xv. 574 (9th ed.). And here, by
higher culture, I do not mean mere language-learning, and an extension of
the detestable CRAMMING system at present in use.
1872. Besant and Rice, My Little Girl. The writer of one crushing article
CRAMMED for it, like Mr. Pott’s young man.

1872. Evening Standard, Aug. 16. “The Competition Wallah.” The
CRAMMER follows in the wake of competitive examinations as surely as
does the shadow the body.
1872. Daily News, Dec. 20. Competitive examinations for the public
service defeated in a great measure the object of their promoters, which
was to place rich and poor on an equality, because success was made to
depend very largely on successful CRAMMING, which meant a high-priced
CRAMMER.

Crib, subs. (general).—A surreptitious aid to study. Also as
verb.
1841. Punch, i. 177. Cribbing his answers from a tiny manual ... which he
hides under his blotting-paper. Ibid., 185. He has with a prudent
forethought stuffed his CRIBS inside his double-breasted waistcoat.
1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, ch. xxii. I wish I had read Greek a little
more at school, ... when we return I think I shall try and read it with
CRIBS.

1856. T. Hughes, Tom Brown’s School-days, pt. II. ch. vi. Tom, I want you
to give up using vulgus books and CRIBS. Ibid., ii. 3. Two highly moral
lines ... which he CRIBBED entire from one of his books.
1889. Globe, 12th Oct., p. 1, col. 4. Always, it seems likely, there will be
men “going up” for examinations; and every now and again, no doubt,
there will be among them a wily “Heathen Pass-ee” like him of whom
Mr. Hilton speaks—who had CRIBS up his sleeve, and notes on his cuff.

Crick, The (Rugby). See quot.
1890. Great Public Schools, 182. The crick is the most celebrated of all
school runs. Everybody, I fancy, in the running world has heard of it. On
a day at the end of the Christmas term—generally on the first Thursday in
December—you may see all the School assembled at the “Quad gates.”...
The crick is only run once a year. Its course is along roads and footpaths
to Crick village, and then back by Hillmorton, the finish being a length of
about a third of a mile along the Hillmorton Road. It is a race pure and
simple; and is in this respect a race against time.... The length of the race
is supposed to be about eleven or twelve miles, and the time in which it is
run is generally between an hour and twenty minutes and an hour and a
half.

Cricket-bill, subs. (Harrow).—A “call-over” on the
cricket-ground. All fall into line, down which a master
goes noting the number of those absent as stated by the
Shepherds (q.v.).

Cricket-Quarter, subs. (Charterhouse).—See Long
Quarter.

Croc, subs. (Cheltenham).—A ladies’ school when
walking out.

Crocketts, subs. (Winchester).—A kind of bastard cricket,
sometimes called “small CROCKETTS.” A stump was used
and a fives ball, with a bat of plain deal about two
inches broad, or a broomstick. To get crocketts = to
fail to score; to get a “duck’s egg.” Cf. Books.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 122. The more
noisily disposed would indulge in ... playing Hicockolorum, or
CROCKETTS.

Cropple, verb (Winchester).—To pluck; to plough—UP TO
Books. [Wykehamicé for cripple.]

Cross. To be crossed, verb. phr.—For not paying term
bills to the bursar (treasurer), or for cutting chapels, or
lectures, or other offences, an undergrad. can be CROSSED
at the buttery, or kitchen, or both, i.e. a CROSS is put
against his name by the Don, who wishes to see him, or
to punish him.
1853. Bradley (“Cuthbert Bede”), Verdant Green, pt. II. ch. x. Sir!—You
will translate all your lectures; have your name CROSSED on the buttery
and kitchen books; and be confined to chapel, hall, and college.

Crow, subs. (Stonyhurst).—A master. [From the black
gown with “wings.”]

Crown (Charterhouse).—The school tuck-shop.
1900. Tod, Charterhouse, 96. At Old Charterhouse the word CROWN, with
a sort of coronet above it, was painted in large white letters on a wall near
the racket courts. The story is that the Crown Inn once stood just outside
this wall.... When the inn was pulled down, Lord Ellenborough, then a
boy in the school, painted a crown on a wall near the place where the inn
had stood. Years after, on his return from India, being touched to find his
boyish work still in existence, he expressed a hope that it might never be
allowed to vanish; so it has been painted again from time to time, and
Merchant Taylors’ still keep it fresh. This “CROWN” was not near the tuck-
shop, which was a grimy cellar under the old school, with the face of a
disused clock for a signboard, and the superscription, “NO TICK HERE.” But
it was thought fit that the memory of this old word should be kept up
somehow and somewhere at the new school, so a large theatrical-looking
crown was suspended, like a tavern sign, outside the school tuck-shop in
the pavilion. In this way the name and memory of this bit of antiquity are
preserved.

Crow Wood (Stonyhurst).—A wood in the Park.
1884. Stonyhurst Mag., June, p. 294. The churn was in the latter days
[1834] turned by a wheel worked by water supplied from the CROW WOOD.

Crug, subs. 1. (Christ’s Hospital).—At Hertford, a crust; in
the London school, crust and crumb alike.
1820. Lamb, Elia (Christ’s Hospital) [Works (1852), 322]. He had his tea
and hot rolls in a morning, while we were battening upon our quarter of a
penny loaf—our CRUG.
2. A Blue (q.v.); especially an “old boy.”
1877. Blanch, Blue-Coat Boys, p. 80. All CRUGS will well remember, &c.

Cruganaler, subs. (Christ’s Hospital).—A biscuit given on
St. Matthew’s Day. [Orthography dubious. Blanch
inclines to the following derivation: “The biscuit had
once something to do with those nights when bread and
beer, with cheese, were substituted for bread-and-butter
and milk. Thence the term ‘crug and aler.’ The only
argument against this is the fact that the liquid was
never dignified with the name of ale, but was invariably
called ‘the swipes.’ By another derivation = ‘hard as
nails.’ It is then spelt CRUGGYNAILER.”] Obsolete.

Cruggy, adj. (Christ’s Hospital).—Hungry. [From CRUG
(q.v.).]

Crump, subs. (Winchester).—A hard hit; a fall. Also as
verb.

Cud, adj. 1. (Winchester).—Pretty; handsome. [A
suggested derivation is from κυδος; another is the A.S.
cuð, the Scots couthie, and whence cuðle, to cuddle (a
derivative of cuð), the meaning formerly given to a
verbal usage of CUD at Winchester.]
2. (Christ’s Hospital).—Severe. Whence CUDDY = hard:
difficult; said of a lesson. Also Hertfordicé for PASSY
(q.v.). [There is a common hard biscuit called a “cuddy-
biscuit” which doubtless has this derivation.] Obsolete.

Culminate, verb (University: obsolete).—To mount a
coach-box.
1803. Gradus ad Cantabrigiam, s.v.

Cup-fag, subs. (Charterhouse).—A boy whose duty it is to
place the challenge cups, should his House have any, in
their cases each morning, and remove them to a safe
place every night. He has also to keep them clean, and
for neglect of any of these duties he is fined. He
receives a quarterly payment for his services, and is
exempt from other forms of fagging.

Curtain. Above the curtain, phr. (Westminster).—See
quot.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 108. A curtain formerly was drawn
across the school, dividing the upper forms from the lower. One day a
boy was so unlucky as to tear it; and Busby’s known severity left no
doubt of the punishment that would follow. The offender was in despair,
when a generous schoolfellow volunteered to take the blame upon
himself and suffered in his friend’s stead accordingly.... In three year’s
time he was sufficiently advanced to be admitted by Busby ABOVE THE
CURTAIN—that is, into the fourth class, the lowest in the upper school. Of
this class, however, he says the head-master “took little or no care,” but as
he rose into the higher forms he found the teaching more satisfactory.

Cuse, subs. (Winchester).—A book in which a record is
kept of the “marks” in each division; a CLASSICUS PAPER
(q.v.): also used for the weekly order.

Custos, subs. (Harrow).—The official who looks after all
arrangements in the way of stationery, &c., keeps the
keys, cuts names on the House-boards, &c.
Also see Admonishing-money.

Cut, verb (general).—To avoid; to absent oneself from:
e.g. TO CUT LECTURE, TO CUT CHAPEL, TO CUT HALL, TO CUT
GATES. See Appendix.

To cut into, verb. phr. (Winchester).—Originally to hit
one with a “ground ash.” The office was exercised by
Bible-clerks upon a man kicking up a row when up to
Books. Now generally used in the sense of to correct in
a less formal manner than TUNDING (q.v.).
To cut in a book, verb. phr. (Winchester).—See quot.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester (1866). Cut in a book.—A
method of drawing lots. A certain letter was fixed on (e.g. the first in the
second line on the left page), each boy then turned over a leaf, and
whoever turned over the leaf in which the corresponding letter was
nearest to A, won.

Cuts, subs. (general).—Flannel trousers; SHORTS (q.v.).

ab, subs. (Harrow).—The entrance examination:
held at the beginning of term.

To be a DAB = to be skilled at anything. Hence, the two
entrance examinations, one at the end of term, and the
other at the very beginning of the next, are the SKEW
(q.v.) and the DAB respectively. The DAB offers no second
chance; hence a bad candidate tries the “skew” first.

Dame, subs. (Eton).—A mathematical or other master
(except a classical) who keeps a boarding-house for
boys in College. Also (obsolete) at Harrow. See
Appendix, and quot. 1867.
1786-1805. Tooke, Parley, 390, s.v. Battel. A term used at Eton for the
small portion of food which in addition to the College allowance the
Collegers receive from their DAMES.
1865. Etoniana, 133. Formerly these [boarding] houses were almost
entirely kept by “DAMES” or “Dominies”—the latter being the old style
when there was a male head of the establishment, though now the term
“DAMES” applies to all without reference to sex. Tutors and assistant-
masters used to live in most of these houses, but had no charge over the
boys. Only the lower master and some of the senior assistant-masters kept

houses of their own. There are now twenty boarding-houses kept by
masters, and ten by “DAMES”—of whom four only are ladies.
1866-72. “Mac,” Sketchy Memories of Eton (1885). I am thankful to say
that I did not attend the show. But I happened to see the World conducted
back to his DAME’S, and the spectacle was gruesome. The punishment
inflicted had been very considerable, and I do not think the World
appeared in public for quite a fortnight.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools [Harrow], p. 293. All these [sixteen
boarding-houses other than the head-master’s] are kept by assistant-
masters, and form one considerable source of their income. No DAMES’
boarding-houses are now sanctioned; and for the good order of his
establishment each master is responsible.
1890. Great Public Schools, 16. Until recently some of the boarding-
houses were kept by assistant-masters, the remainder by “dominies” or
“DAMES,” who took no part in the work of education, and had little or no
disciplinary jurisdiction. The boys, therefore, who boarded in DAMES’
houses had as their tutors assistant-masters residing elsewhere. Now,
although there remains only one female DAME, the teachers of
mathematics, science, and French are for some purposes accounted
DAMES.

Damnation-corner, subs. (Eton).—See quot., and
Damnation-hill (Appendix).
1866-72. “Mac,” Sketchy Memories of Eton (1885). Meanwhile,
“regardless of our doom, we little victims played,” or rather watched the
play; we little knew what cruel fate awaited us, or that the present head-
master of Eton and the Rev. F. W. Cornish lay in ambush for our
outcoming behind that very sharp turn in the High Street, which, on
account of its acute angle, and the consequent danger of being nailed in
shirking in old days, was somewhat flippantly termed DAMNATION-
CORNER.

Dancing Gallery, The (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—The old
name of the Picta Gallery.
1884. Stonyhurst Mag., i. 290. The gallery now known as “Our Lady’s
Gallery,” which in former times was designated THE DANCING GALLERY. It
is by competent judges pronounced to be one of the finest bits of
“Baronial Gothic” architecture in England, but the door is quite a
solecism, for it is of a much later design.

Dark Walk, The (Stonyhurst).—A long avenue of tall yew
trees in the garden. Tradition says the last of the
Shireburns was poisoned by eating some of the berries
from these trees. Cf. Stonyhurst Mag., ii. 179; iv. 703.
1885. Stonyhurst Mag., i. 179. The DARK WALK formerly extended a
considerable way nearer the house than now, and when the Jesuits came it
was found necessary to encroach upon the gardens to make room for the
playgrounds, and a certain part of the DARK WALK was taken in.

Darker (Harrow).—The photographic “dark-room”:
formerly under the Science Schools.

Dark-lanthorn (Harrow).—See Jack-o’-Lantern.

Date-card, subs. (Haileybury).—See quot.
1890. Great Public Schools, 297. Besides the ordinary forms of
punishment, there is the DATE-CARD, of which refractory or forgetful
youths write out selected “twelves.” It is much more useful to know
“Gutenberg prints from moveable type, 1453,” than to record “Infaudum,
regina, jubes renovare dolorem.”

Daviesites (Charterhouse).—See Out-houses.

Day (Stonyhurst).—Rector’s Day, Provincial’s Day,
General’s Day—whole holidays given in honour of
superiors; in the two former instances accompanied by
presentations of verses written by the boys. [The word
“DAY” seems as peculiar as “PLACE” (q.v.). Cf. the “Three
hundred-day,” given when the number of boys first
reached three hundred; “Kenna’s Day,” on the occasion
of the visit of Captain Kenna, V.C., to the College, &c.]

Day-boys, subs. (Cheltenham).—An exercise on the
horizontal bar.

Dean, subs. (Winchester).—A small band of wood round a
Bill-brighter (q.v.); that securing a fagot is called a
Bishop (q.v.).

Debater, subs. (Harrow).—The school debating society.

Deeds (or Dees), subs. (Felsted).—Private prayers.

Deg, subs. and verb (The Leys).—To degrade; to depose.
Hence, one who has forfeited rank or office by
misconduct.

Degra, subs. (Charterhouse).—A degradation.

Degrade, verb (Christ’s Hospital).—To feel degradation:
e.g. he is DEGRADED to do so-and-so.

Dep, subs. (Christ’s Hospital).—A deputy Grecian (q.v.),
i.e. a boy in the form below the Grecians.

Deputy, subs. (Winchester).—The Junior Candlekeeper
(q.v.), who had the organisation of the Fagging
department, and assisted the Senior Candlekeeper in
thrashing the Juniors in Hall.—Mansfield (c. 1840).

Derrywag, subs. (Harrow).—Paper used for parsing: ruled
twenty lines down, and six across. [That is, “derivation
paper.”]

Deten, subs. (King Edward’s, Birm.).—A card issued to a
boy set down for Saturday afternoon detention. Also
called a SOUP-TICKET.

Devor, subs. (Charterhouse).—Plum-cake. [From the Latin
verb.]

Dex, subs. (Loretto).—A form of “small cricket” once
extremely popular at Loretto. [The name originated with
Andrew Lang, and was not intended to be
complimentary to the game. Often called PUDDEX, owing
to a mistaken derivation.]

Dibs (or Dobs), subs. (Sherborne).—Prayers.

Dic, subs. (Harrow).—A dictionary.

Dinge, subs. (Royal Military Academy).—A picture or
painting.

Dip, subs. 1. (Westminster).—A pocket-inkstand.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 165. Two pen-knives, two pieces of
india-rubber, two pencils, two pieces of sealing-wax, two pieces of
penstring, two DIPS (little globular ink-bottles), two DIP-CORKS, two
wedges, two pieces of gutta-percha (for putting on the points of foils),
and any number of pens. [Contents of a Westminster fag’s pocket.]
2. (Felsted).—An “incandescent” electric lamp. Hence
DIP-KEY = an electric light switch-key.

Dispar (or Disper), subs. (Winchester).—A portion; a
share. See quot., and Cat’s-head.
1847. Halliwell, Arch. Words, s.v. Dispar ... A commons or share.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 22. Under the superintendence of
the præfectus ollæ (prefect of tub), portions of beef, called DISPARS, were
served out to the boys in messes of four, with a sufficiency of bread, and
beer in large black jacks.

Distinction-breakfast, subs. (Stonyhurst).—See Good-
breakfast.

Distinguished, adj. (Stonyhurst).—Said of a boy who
obtains two-thirds of the marks in any examination.
“Distinction” in the year’s work wins a prize, and term
“distinctions” are otherwise rewarded.

Ditch (The), subs. (Christ’s Hospital).—See Appendix.
1854. The Blue [quoted in] July 1871. The Steward did not attempt to
quiet us; he got us out of the Hall as quickly as he could, and we rushed
to the Treasurer’s house in the DITCH, and cried “Shame” till we were
tired.

Ditto-blues, subs. (Winchester).—A suit of clothes all of
blue cloth.

Div, subs. (Harrow).—A “division”: e.g. Tique-div (q.v.).

Do, subs. (Stonyhurst).—A general name for minor and
special suppers: usually given to some privileged class,
or in reward for some extra work: e.g. Choir-DO;
Magazine-DO (given to the staff and contributors to the
School magazine). Cf. Good-supper and Good-
breakfast. Whence DO-ROOM = the long room in which a
DO is held. [As a rule words with the suffix “room” are
modern; “PLACE” (q.v.) is the older form.]

Dock, verb (Winchester).—To erase: as by rubbing out, or
by a stroke of the pen; to tear out: as leaves from a
book. Also DOCK OUT.

Doctor, subs. (Winchester).—The Head-master.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 27. The Head
Master, or the Doctor, as he is always called, lives in “Commoners’
buildings.”

Dog-biscuit, subs. (Charterhouse).—A biscuit, which with
a glass of milk, or (in winter) a cup of coffee, may be
had before chapel at 7.30 A.M.

Dogger, verb (Charterhouse).—To cheat; to sell rubbish.

Dogs, intj. (Royal High School, Edin.: obsolete).—The
IIIrd Class: formerly used as was CATS (q.v.) of the IInd
Class.

Dog-shooter, subs. (Royal Military Academy).—See quot.
1889. Barrere, Slang, Jargon, and Cant, p. 317. Cadets thus term a
student who accelerates, that is, who, being pretty certain of not being
able to obtain a commission in the engineers, or not caring for it, elects to
join a superior class before the end of the term.

Dole, subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—A stratagem; a trick:
as to get one out of bed. [From Latin dolus.]

Dolifier, subs. (Winchester).—One who contrives a trick.
See Dole.

Dolphin, subs. (Harrow).—A boy who has passed a certain
examination in swimming and diving: about the fifteen
best, as a rule, are so named.
1890. Great Public Schools, p. 96. On the last Monday of the term there
is a contest for the best swimmer and the best diver, a challenge cup being
given for these events by Lord Ebrington. There are also contests for
racing, picking up eggs, and to become “DOLPHINS,” and for a Humane
Society medal.

Dome (or Doom), subs. (Sherborne).—A bedroom.

Domum, intj. (Winchester; obsolete).—The summons back
from Hills: given by College Juniors. Also as in quot.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester, 207. Domum—a Latin
Canticle, supposed to have been written by a boy who was not allowed to
go home for the holidays. The tradition says that he carved it on a tree,
and then committed suicide. On the last Friday in Long Half, after
Election, a kind of festival was held in the evening, when numbers of
people came into College, and DOMUM was sung over and over again in
School, Meads, and the principal Quadrangle ... at each place (p. 183)
singing DOMUM louder than before, till at last the power failed, and the
ladies, visitors, and superannuates went to recruit their energies for a brief
period before going to the DOMUM-BALL at St. John’s rooms.

Domum-ball, subs. (Winchester).—A ball given by the
superannuated College Prefects on the evening after the
“men” go home for the Midsummer holidays.

Domum-day, subs. (Winchester).—Going-home day at
Midsummer.

Don, subs. (University).—A fellow or officer of a college;
whence the vulgar usage = an adept; a swell. [From
Latin dominus, a lord, through the Spanish title.]
1665. Dryden, Indian Emperor, Epilogue, 21. For the great DONS of wit—
Phœbus gives them full privilege alone, To damn all others, and cry up
their own.
1698-1700. Ward, London Spy, pt. XIII. p. 299. Like the Great Old DONS
of the Law, when they dance the Measures in an Inns-of-Court Hall upon
the first day of Christmas.
1730. Jas. Miller, Humours of Oxford, i. p. 7 (2nd ed.). The old DONS ...
will come cringing, cap in hand, to offer to show the ladies the curiosities
of the college.
1826. Reynolds (“Peter Corcoran”), Song on the Fancy. Dull innocence!
Twaddle on, Thy weary worshipper—and fain Would give thee up, to be a
DON, And beat the watch in Drury Lane.

1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, ch. xi. Does not go much into society,
except ... once or twice to the houses of great country DONS who dwell
near him in the country.
c. 1880. Broadside Ballad, sung by Jenny Hill. “’Arry, ’Arry, There you
are now, ’Arry, I say, ’Arry, by Jove, you are a DON.”
1891. Harry Fludyer at Cambridge, 11. What the DONS can be about to
allow boys ... to have a bottle of champagne each, and then “more,” I can
not understand.

Dor, subs. (Old Westminster).—See quot. [To obtain a dor
= to get leave to sleep.—Halliwell.]
1715. J. Kersey, English Dictionary. Sub voce, a term used at
Westminster School for leave to sleep awhile.

Double, subs. 1. (Loretto).—A general assembly of the
school. The first double is for morning prayers at 9.30
A.M. after first hour’s school. After prayers, sides for the
day are arranged in Hall. The head boy holds a double
after dinner, when the exercise of those not playing in
regular games is arranged. [Originally summoned by a
double bell.]
2. (Harrow).—A room shared by one other. See Single.

Double Puff, subs. phr. (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—See quot.
1886. Stonyhurst Mag., iii. 18. Double puff, ... a game played after the
fashion of “tip and run,” except that instead of a wicket and tennis ball a
Stonyhurst cricket bat is used, and a ball about the size of an ordinary
BANDY (q.v.) ball, made of soft material and covered with sheepskin,
which made it very hard to hit far, and still harder either to catch, or to
pick up and throw in.... The distance between the wickets is not as long as
in wicket cricket; and the rule about bowling is the same as in Stonyhurst
cricket, namely, under-arm and not waiting till the batsman is ready. It
used to be played a good many years ago on Sunday afternoons, between
Vespers and supper; and the community used to come out in large
numbers to play it.

Double-ruled, subs. (Harrow).—Punishment paper. [Ruled
double like a copy-book.]

Dough, subs. (general).—Pudding.

Doul, subs. (Shrewsbury and Durham).—A fag. Also as
verb. Obsolete at Durham. Cf. Dowlings.

1867. Collins, The Public Schools [Shrewsbury], p. 250. Four boys are
“put on” by rotation every week as general fags for the head common
room, whose duties in modern days consist chiefly in fetching and
carrying. These fags are called DOULS (δουλος) in the classical
Shrewsbury vernacular.

Dove, subs. (Cambridge: obsolete).—A member of St.
Catharine’s College.
1889. C. Whibley, Three Centuries of Cambridge Wit, p. xxix. It is said
that the members of St. Catharine’s Hall were first of all called “Puritans”
from the derivation of the name of their patroness from καθαίρειν. The
“dove” being the emblem of purity, to change a name from “Puritans” to
DOVES was but one short step.

Dowlings, subs. (Shrewsbury).—Football.
1883. Pascoe, Life at our Public Schools. There are four or five
compulsory games a week (football) known as DOWLINGS (δουλος).

Down. To be down, verb. phr. (Winchester).—To be
engaged in fagging: as in the cricket field, &c. A
College usage.
Also see Go and Send.

Draw. To draw round, verb. phr. (Felsted).—Originally to
bustle about; to chastise in a jocular way. Later, and
usually = to smack on the face or head.

Dreep (or Dreip), subs. (Royal High School, Edin.).—A
curiously dressed person: e.g. “That’s a funny-looking
DREEP.”

Dribbler, subs. (Sherborne).—A weak-minded person.

Drifty, adj. (Felsted: obsolete).—Cold: e.g. “a DRIFTY day.”

Drive, verb (Felsted).—To be late, or nearly late, for a roll-
call. Also as subs.: e.g. “He did a drive.”
Intj. (Felsted).—A contemptuous retort, signifying that
a piece of news is stale: originally DRIVE UP! [The
original usage.]

Dry-bob, subs. (Eton).—A boy who goes in for cricket
rather than boating. See Wet-bob.
1839. Buckland [Macmillan’s Mag. (Nov. 1889), “Eton Fifty Years
Ago”]. It was the ambition of most boys to be a wet-bob, and to be “in the
boats.” The school was divided between wet-bobs and DRY-BOBS, the
former taking their pleasure on the river, and the latter in the cricket-field.

Duchess’ Rooms (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—A section of the
old College once inhabited by a Dowager Duchess of
Norfolk.
1885. Stonyhurst Mag., ii. 100. The whole of this building ... stood in
what is now the back court.... It was entirely of wood and plaster, in the
style denominated “post and pattern.” The Duchess of Norfolk, the last of
the Shireburns, daughter of Sir Nicholas, resided in it, hence the name of

THE DUCHESS’ ROOMS by which it was last known. She faced the front of
the wooden building with stone, and inserted sash windows, a style then
coming into fashion.

Dubs, adj. (Winchester).—Double.

Duck, subs. 1. (Winchester).—The face. To make a duck =
to grimace. [Duck (var. dial.) = to bow.]
2. (Felsted).—A school matron.
3. (Harrow).—One of the House swimming four,
upwards of sixteen. Whence DUCKLING = one under
sixteen.
1890. Great Public Schools, p. 96. “Ducker” is open all the summer term,
and for two weeks after the boys go back in September. For those who
care for swimming there are inter-House swimming matches; and each
House elects DUCKS (boys over sixteen) and DUCKLINGS (boys under
sixteen) to compete for Cock-House.

Ducker, The (Harrow).—The school bathing-place beyond
the Footer Fields: the largest artificial open-air bathing
place in England. Originally the Duck-puddle.
[Probably the first example of the “-ER” terminations: it
is at least forty years old.]
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 322. Bathing was always, until
very lately, practised under difficulties at Harrow. The common bathing-
place, known as DUCK-PUDDLE ... was a long piece of muddy water,
varying from four to eight feet in depth. There, after it had been stirred up
by all possible means into more of a puddle than usual, new boys were
formally dipped.... To avoid mixing in the general wash at DUCK-PUDDLE,
many boys used to go out to the Brent at Perivale, or even as far as

Ellestree reservoir, for bathing; and these were favourite expeditions on
the mornings of Saints’ days. But Dr. Vaughan had the old “puddle” lined
with brick, and supplied with water by a steam-engine, to the great
additional comfort of the bathers.

Ducks, subs. (Harrow).—Football knickerbockers. [Made
of white “duck.”]

Dump, verb (Winchester).—To extinguish: as a candle. Ex.
DUMP the TOLLY (q.v.). [Dump (Devon) = to knock
heavily; to stump.]

Dungeons. Meet you in the dungeons, phr. (Royal High
School, Edin.).—A challenge to fight. See Calton, and
Campus Martius.

Dusthole, subs. (Cambridge: obsolete).—Sidney Sussex
College.

arly (or Late) Play, subs. (Westminster).—See
quot.

1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 186. Besides the regular weekly
half-holidays, there are others specially granted, known as EARLY and
LATE PLAYS. The latter, given by the head-master at his discretion, consists
in the remission of all school work after eleven A.M. But an EARLY PLAY—
when school is “up” at nine—is a much more formal indulgence,
accorded by very ancient custom only to the personal request of some
visitor of distinction. St. David’s Day (March 1st) and St. Patrick’s
(March 17) have always been holidays of this class: for the former, the
late and the present Sir Watkin Wynn have always come down to
Westminster; and for the latter, the late Marquess of Lansdowne (as an
Irish peer) and Sir Everard Home. The custom, even now observed on
some occasions, was for the visitor’s arrival at the gate to be formally
announced to the head-master by Monos, who received a “tip” for his
services. The master at once “came down school,” and reappeared
through the great door, accompanied by the hero of the day, who was
received by the boys with great demonstrations of welcome, expressed by
the vigorous rapping of books on the desks. Both knelt down side by side,
while the “monitor of school,” kneeling immediately in front of them,
proceeded with the usual school prayers. The visitor then “begged a
play,” which was granted. The applause was renewed, and acknowledged
by a bow, after which the whole of the boys rushed joyously down school,
the masters following in more grave and stately fashion. The visits of the
“King of North Wales” were doubly popular, since he presented every

Welsh boy with a sovereign—a custom which the present baronet
liberally continues.

East. See Wise Men of the East.

Ecky, subs. (Manchester Grammar).—Exercise.

Egg (or Egg-up), verb (Marlborough).—To show
ostentatious zeal. Whence EGGER (subs.) and EGGY (adj.).

Egg-flip Day, subs. (Winchester).—The Founder’s
Commemoration Day. [Because a favourite beverage at
the festivities succeeding the great annual football
match played on that day between the “first sixes” of
Commoners and College was “Egg-flip.”]

Eggotty, adj. (Felsted).—Used as follows: A boy seen
carrying an egg or eggs, if addressed by another as
“EGGOTTY,” might, must in fact, almost in honour, throw
an egg at him. If the egg-owner was a good shot he
would invite his friend “call me EGGOTTY.”

Eight, subs. (Harrow).—The school Shooting EIGHT: also
the Gym. EIGHT.

Election, subs. (Winchester).—The examination of
Præfects and Senior Part for New College, and of

candidates for admission to Winchester.
Intj. (Westminster).—A fag-call.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 164. From about 8 to 10 he [the
fag] is supposed to be at work, in a sort of common room assigned to the
juniors collectively, preparing his lessons for next day; but the call of
“ELECTION,” which signifies that the services of one of the junior election
is required by one of the seniors, used to be frequent enough to be a very
serious interruption. It is admitted that these demands upon a junior’s
time have commonly been such that “a boy tempted to be idle, as most of
them are, finds very considerable difficulty in doing his work.” In order
to check these interruptions as far as possible, a late regulation has made
all fagging unlawful during these evening hours of work.
To gain a year by election, verb. phr. (Winchester).—
A boy not being a Founder (q.v.) was obliged to leave at
the Election immediately succeeding his eighteenth
birthday; he whose birthday came shortly after Election,
was thus enabled to stay till he was nearly nineteen, and
was so said “to gain a year.”—Mansfield (c. 1840).

Electors, subs. (Winchester).—The Warden and two
Fellows of New College, and the Warden, Sub-Warden,
and Head-master of Winchester, who conducted
Election (q.v.).—Mansfield (c. 1840).

Elegant Extracts, subs. (Cambridge).—Students who,
though “plucked,” were still given their degrees. A line
was drawn below the poll-list, and those allowed to pass
were nicknamed the ELEGANT EXTRACTS. There was a
similar limbo in the honour-list.

Elements, subs. (Stonyhurst).—The first Form.

End, subs. 1. (Winchester).—A table or division of a table
in College Hall, practically meaning “mess.”—Wrench.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester (1866), 208. End.—At
dinner-time the Inferiors (q.v.) were divided into six companies, each
being presided over by a Candlekeeper (q.v.). These companies and the
table at which they sat were called ENDS.
2. (Felsted).—See Tip.

English, subs. (Winchester).—A translation; an
adventitious aid to study; a crib.

Ensign (Eton).—See Montem.

Enterta, subs. (Charterhouse).—An entertainment.

-er, inseparable suffix (Harrow).

Erasmus. Great (or LITTLE) ERASMUS FORM, subs. phr.
(Christ’s Hospital).—See quot.
1834. Trollope, History of Christ’s Hospital. The great and little
erasmus forms get their respectable and respective titles from the fact that
their tenants in old time studied the larger and smaller Colloquies of the
learned Erasmus.
1870-95. More Gleanings from The Blue, 191. The Great Erasmus.—
The origin of a name is seldom what one thinks it ought to be. Those of

us who rejoice in being able to write after our names the mystic letters,
L.E.x., L.E.y., L.E.z., are distinguished from our less fortunate neighbours
by the lightning fluency with which we are able to talk secrets in Greek.
Erasmus is a Greek word, and the Dutchman, thanks to a visit to Oxford,
became so great a scholar in Greek, that he was appointed first Regius
Professor of Greek in the University of Cambridge.... Unfortunately, this
is all wrong as far as the LITTLE ERAS. are concerned, for they were not
called ERAS. because they knew Greek, but because they read Latin....
Erasmus did a kindness to Christ’s Hospital long after his death in having
written a number of “Colloquies,” conversations between typical
characters of his day, in clear and faultless Latin.

Ewe-lamb, subs. (The Leys).—A school hour in which a
Master or Prefect has no appointed lesson.

Ex, subs. (Harrow).—(1) An exercise of any sort; and (2)
an EXEAT (q.v.). Also (Charterhouse) in sense 2, but not
EXTRA, sense 3 (q.v.).

Ex-Course-keeper, subs. (Winchester).—See Course-
keeper.

Exeat, subs. 1. (general).—Written permission to go away
from School or College either at the end or during the
term for a longer period than a day. Cf. Absit.
1886. Dickens, Dict. of Cambridge, 3. No undergraduate should go down
without obtaining his EXEAT.
2. (Charterhouse).—An interval in the middle of each of
the three terms of the school year; it was instituted so

that there might be no leaving at odd times. It lasts from
noon on Saturday to 6.45 P.M. on the following Monday.
Formerly Upper School had a going-out Saturday
every week, and the Under School one every other
week, and leave lasted from noon on Saturday till
Sunday evening chapel. Also at Harrow a similar term
of leave.

Exercises, subs. (Sherborne: obsolete).—Ordinary Form
lessons, not merely written work: seventeenth century.

Explain. Don’t explain! intj. (The Leys).—An injunction
to silence; “Shut up!”

Extra, subs. (Harrow).—1. Extra school on Tuesdays,
when those SENT (q.v.) copy out Latin grammar for two
hours and a half: an extreme punishment.
2. (Harrow).—An extra day’s BOY (q.v.): given to those
who CUT (q.v.) when “on boy.”
3. (Charterhouse).—Extra school: it lasts from 2 to 4
every Wednesday afternoon. The ways of procuring
admission to it are various: to neglect a REP (q.v.) or a
“construe,” to be late for anything, to make a noise in
the cubicles, to come into school in slippers, or any
misdemeanour leads to a boy being “down for EXTRA.”
The entries are kept in ... The Black Book. Extra
school is for offences committed during the first part of
the week. There is also Extra drill on Saturdays in
Scholars’ Court, which lasts half the time of Extra

school, and which is much more disliked, for offences
committed between a Thursday and a Saturday.

Extra Drill, subs. (The Leys).—Imposed by way of
punishment.

Ex Trumps, adv. phr. (Winchester).—Extempore. To go up
to books ex trumps = to go to class without preparing
one’s lesson.

ag, subs. 1. (general).—A boy who does menial
work for a schoolfellow in a higher Form. [From
FAG, to grow weary.]

c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester (1866), 37. The duties of a
FAG, in the days of which I write, may be more easily described by
informing the reader what he had not to do, than by endeavouring to
make out a list of his positive duties. I believe when I say that he had not
to make the beds, nor to clean shoes, I have exhausted the negative
catalogue.
1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, ch. xviii. Bob Trotter, the diminutive FAG of
the studio, who ran on all the young men’s errands, and fetched them in
apples, oranges, and walnuts.
1856. Hughes, Tom Brown’s School-days, vii. These were the principal
duties of the FAGS in the house. From supper until nine o’clock three FAGS
taken in order stood in the passages, and answered any præposter who
called “Fag,” racing to the door, the last comer having to do the work.
This consisted generally of going to the buttery for beer and bread and
cheese (for the great men did not sup with the rest, but had each his own
allowance in his study or the fifth-form room), cleaning candlesticks and
putting in new candles, toasting cheese, bottling beer, and carrying
messages about the house.... And besides this nightwork, each præpostor
had three or four fags specially allotted to him, of whom he was supposed
to be the guide, philosopher, and friend, and who in return for these good
offices had to clean out his study every morning by turns, directly after
first lesson and before he returned from breakfast.

1857. G. A. Lawrence, Guy Livingstone, ch. i. Is still enumerated among
the feats of the brave days of old, by the FAGS over their evening small
beer.
2. (Christ’s Hospital).—See quot.
1850. L. Hunt, Autobiography, ch. iii. Fag, with us [at Christ’s Hospital]
meant eatables. The learned derived the word from the Greek phago, to
eat.
3. (Stonyhurst).—A fielder: at cricket. Also FAGGER.
4. (Stonyhurst).—A bore.
Verb. 1. (general).—To do menial work for a
schoolfellow in a higher Form. Hence FAGGER, FAG-
MASTER, FAGGING, and FAGGERY.

1853. De Quincey, Autob. Sketches, i. 210. Faggery was an abuse too
venerable and sacred to be touched by profane hands.
1873. Pall Mall Gazette, 17th May. The Winchester “tunding” system,
with all its faults, is hardly less objectionable than the FAGGING system
pursued in the Scotch endowed hospitals.
1881. Felstedian, Nov., p. 75. As I was smaller and weaker than most of
the FAGS running, I hardly ever managed to get a place, and it was absurd
to expect me to do so. I had been “spanked” two or three times already
for failing, but I don’t know that I was more successful for that. I know I
cordially detested that branch of FAGGING.
1884. Temple Bar, August, p. 514. He must have completely marred his
chance of happiness at the school when he refused to FAG and took
countless thrashings, snivelling.
1891. Harry Fludyer at Cambridge, 46. My new FAG-MASTER, Forker
Major, is a beast.
2. (Stonyhurst).—To field: at cricket. The ordinary
meaning either as subs. or verb does not exist at

Stonyhurst.

Fag-book, subs. (Charterhouse).—Formerly a book given
by a monitor on leaving to each of his fags: it is now
usual to give a bat or a racket.

Fain lo! (or Loss), intj. (Felsted).—A phrase used to retain
a seat, &c., temporarily vacated. Also Lo.

Fains (Fainits! or Fain it), intj. (general).—A call for
truce during the progress of a game without which
priority of place would be lost; generally understood to
be demanded “in bounds,” or when out of danger.
[Thought to be a corruption of “fend.”]
Verb (also Fend, Fain, Fainits, &c.).—A cry of warning,
or of prohibition: as to prevent any change in the
existing conditions of a game; e.g. at marbles, FEN-
PLACINGS = no alteration in position of marbles is
permissible; FEN-CLEARANCES = removal of obstacles is
forbidden. [Fend = M.E. defend in sense of “to forbid.”]
Fain, and fain I, are corruptions. At Winchester, FINGY
YOU, or FINGY THAT, are analagous; but at Christ’s
Hospital FIN = “I won’t have.”
Ante 1815. E. C. Harrington, in N. and Q., 5 S., vii. 98. Respecting the
word FEN ... I can testify to the use of the term by school-boys prior to the
battle of Waterloo ... meaning that we protested against an exceptional
action.
1852. Dickens, Bleak House. “I’m fly,” says Jo. “But FEN larks, you
know.”

1877. Notes and Queries, 5 S., vii. 178. A comical application was, I
remember well, “FEN live lumber!” which, if pronounced in time, would
disable your opponent from moving a bystander out of the way of his
shot.

Fardel, subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—A division of Sixth
Book for New College Election. [A.S. ferthe = the
fourth, and del, a part or portion.]
1200. Orminn. The FEORRTHE DALE was bitahht (delivered) to Pilate.
1283. William of Palerne. Non might sen other the FERTHE DEL of a
furlong.

Faside, subs. (Loretto).—To Faside Castle, and back:
altogether about five miles. Boys who have been
watching football matches have always to do this in wet
weather; and, in bad weather, a Wallyford (q.v.).
Whence Faside and Three Trees = a combined walk
and run about seven miles on a short school-day not
wet, when ground is unsuitable for games. [Why Three
Trees is unknown.] See Grind-days.

Fat-flab, subs. (Winchester).—A cut off the fat part of a
breast of mutton. See Dispar.

Feeder-cric, subs. (Christ’s Hospital: obsolete).—The
game usually known as “rounders.” See Appendix.
1874. The Blue, Mar. In the country we shall have real unlimited cricket
in the place of rounders, FEEDER-CRIC, and the scanty bi-weekly game in
the suburbs.

Fellow-commoner, subs. (general).—See quots., and
Commoner.
1794. Gent. Mag., p. 1084. One [student at Cambridge] was a Harry
Soph; another a FELLOW-COMMONER and senior Soph, and occasionally
jocularly called an empty bottle, whilst è contrà, a bottle decanted, was,
from time to time, denominated a FELLOW-COMMONER.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 26. Thomas Middleton petitions
King Charles, on his restoration, to grant his royal letters to the
Winchester electors in favour of his son’s admittance “as a child in
Winchester College, where he has now spent three years as FELLOW-
COMMONER.”

1891. Harry Fludyer at Cambridge, 38. She said she had heard from her
cousin, who is, I think, a FELLOW-COMMONER, or something of that sort, at
Downing College, that Harry is one of the most popular men at
Cambridge.

Feoffee, subs. (Manchester Grammar: obsolete).—The
original name for the trustees in whose hands the
foundation estate was placed by Hugh Bexwycke. [A.S.
feo = fee or inheritance.]

Ferk. See Firk.

Ferula, subs. (Stonyhurst).—See Tolly.

Festive, adj. (Charterhouse).—Said of a boy who has not
learned his duty to his superiors and seniors.

Fez, subs. (Harrow).—The equivalent of the Cap (q.v.) for
cricket: the FEZ being given to the House Eleven for
distinction at football.

Field, verb. 1. (Winchester).—To take care of; to support:
in swimming.
2. (Harrow).—See Lick.
3. (Eton).—See Wall.
The Field, subs. (Sherborne).—See Fields.

Fields, subs. (Sherborne: obsolete).—The playing-ground:
seventeenth century. The modern term is “The Field,”
though there are five separate grounds.

Fifteens, subs. (Winchester).—A football match. See Six-
and-six.

Fifty, The, subs. (Tonbridge).—The chief football ground;
the next immediately below it is the Middle Fifty, then
the Lower Fifty, and the Fourth Fifty. Cf. Hundred,
which is now obsolete.

Fighting-green, subs. (Westminster).—The old battle-
ground in the western cloister.

Figures, subs. (Stonyhurst).—The Second Form: formerly
Great Figures. See Little Figures.

Fin, intj. (Christ’s Hospital).—A form of negative. Ex. “FIN
the small court” = “I won’t have, &c.” [Lat. fend.] See
Fains.

Find, subs. (Harrow).—A mess of, usually, two upper boys
which takes breakfast and tea in the rooms of one or
other of the set: a privilege of the Sixth Form. Whence
FIND-FAG = a fag who lays the table for the upper boys.
[Find (dial.) = to supply; to supply with provisions.]
Also as verb.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 316. Immediately a certain number
of rolls (FINDS they were called—etymology unknown) were ordered at
the baker’s, and were rebaked every morning until they were pretty nearly
as hard as pebbles. At nine o’clock on the morning fixed for the rolling in,
the members of the hall ranged themselves on the long table which ran
along one side of the room, each with his pile of these rolls before him,
and a fag to pick them up.

Finder, subs. (Oxford).—A waiter.

Finjy! intj. (Winchester).—An exclamation excusing one
from participation in an unpleasant or unacceptable
task, which he who says the word last has to undertake.
Cf. Fains.

Firk (or Ferk), verb (Winchester).—To proceed; to hasten;
to expel; to send; to drive away. [O.E. fercian.] Also TO
FIRK UP and TO FIRK DOWN.

1283. William of Palerne. Thei bisiliche fondede (tried) fast to FERKE him
forthward.
c. 1400. Troy Book. I you helpe shall the flese for to fecche, and FERKE it
away.
[?] MS. Lincoln, Morte Arthure, f. 79. The Kyng FERKES furthe on a faire
stede.
1599. Shakspeare, Henry V., iv. 4. Pistol. I’ll fer him, and FIRK him, and
ferret him, discuss the same in French unto him. Boy. I do not know the
French for fer and ferret and FIRK.
1611. Barry, Ram Alley [Dodsley, Old Plays (Reed), v. 466]. Nay, I will
FIRK my silly novice, as he was never FIRK’D Since mid-wives bound his
noddle.
1640. Brome, Antipodes. As tumblers do ... by FIRKING up their breeches.
1795. Sewell, Hist. of Quakers. At this the judge said, “Take him away:
prevaricator! I’ll FERK him.”

Five, The, subs. (Charterhouse).—The Five bell.

Flannels, subs. (Harrow).—The members of either School
Eleven.
1899. Public School Mag., Dec., p. 446. Up to the present the eleven have
won four matches and lost one, while Monro, Cookson, Wyckoff, and
Borwick have all received their FLANNELS.

Flat, subs. (Royal High School, Edin.).—An objectionable
person; a “bounder.” [A misuse of flat = fool.]

Fleshy, subs. (Winchester).—A thick cut out of the middle
of a shoulder of mutton. See Dispar.

Flies. Squashed flies, subs. (Durham: obsolete).—Biscuits
with currants.

Floor, verb (general).—To pluck; to plough. Also = to
master; to prove oneself superior to the occasion: e.g. TO
FLOOR A PAPER, LESSON, EXAMINATION, EXAMINER, &c. Cf.
Bowl; Throw.
1852. Bristed, Five Years in an English University, p. 12. Somehow I
nearly FLOORED the paper.
1853. Bradley, Verdant Green, iv. Mr. Filcher thoroughly understood the
science of “FLOORING” a freshman.
1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford. I’ve FLOORED my Little Go.
1891. Harry Fludyer at Cambridge, 98. These blessed exams. are getting
awfully close now, but I think I shall FLOOR mine.

Fluke, verb (general).—To shirk.
1864. Eton School-Days, ch. xvi. p. 203. “By Jove! I think I shall FLUKE
doing Verses; I should like to see Paddy drive tandem through College,”
said Butler Burke.

Flyer, subs. (Winchester).—A half-volley at football. A
MADE-FLYER is when the bound of the ball is gained from
a previous kick, by the same side, against canvas or any
other obstacle, or is dropped, as in a “drop-kick.” This is
now confused with a “kick-up.”—Wrench.

Flying-man, subs. (Eton).—The boy who stands behind
the “bully,” and either runs down, or kicks hard, as may
be required.
1864. Eton School-Days, ch. xxiii. p. 255. He possessed good wind, and
was a very good “kick-off,” and he could “bully” a ball as well as any
one. He was a little too heavy for FLYING-MAN, but he made a decent
“sidepost,” and now and then he officiated as “corner.”

Fobs, subs. (Durham: obsolete).—Boiled bread and milk.

Footer, subs. (Harrow).—(1) Football; (2) a player of
football according to Rugby rules; and (3) the ball itself.
1890. Great Public Schools, p. 96. Directly after the goose match
(Michaelmas Day) FOOTER proper begins, and is the principal game
played at the school during the Christmas term. The game as played at
Harrow differs considerably from the game as played at Eton and other
schools, and has distinct rules of its own; it may be said to be more like
the Association game than any other.
1896. Felstedian, Nov., p. 139. H. H. H. who wants to have a “second”
FOOTER shirt.

Footer-hill, The (Harrow).—The hill from the football-
fields and DUCKER (q.v.).

For, phr. (Tonbridge).—A form of ridicule: e.g. “first
eleven FOR one” would be used in jeering at a boy who
had recently obtained his colours.

Forakers (or Foricus), subs. (Winchester).—The water-
closet. [Formerly foricus, and probably a corruption of
foricas, an English plural of the Latin forica.]

Force. Out by force, phr. (Stonyhurst).—Of a football
when it goes out from two opposite players at the same
time.

Founders, subs. (Winchester).—Boys who proved their
descent from the Founder, and were afterwards elected
(by rote among the Electors) as such. Only two were
admitted each year, and only two were sent to New
College, but these two were put at the head of the Roll
(q.v.) whatever their previous position in Sixth Book
(q.v.) might have been. They were not obliged to leave
at the age of eighteen, as the other boys were, but were
allowed to remain till they were twenty-five. They were
supposed to have particularly thick skulls.—Mansfield
(c. 1840).

Founder’s-Com., subs. (Winchester).—The four days on
which there were festivals in commemoration of the
Founder, when there was Amen-chapel (q.v.); the
Fellows and Masters gave a dinner in Common-room,

and the Founders (q.v.) received a sovereign each.—
Mansfield (c. 1840).

Founder’s-day, subs. (Harrow).—The 3rd of October, the
anniversary of the death of John Lyon: usually kept on
the nearest Thursday to the date in question.

Founder’s-kin, subs. (various).—Those, who at
Winchester, Harrow, &c., could show descent from
William of Wykeham or John Lyon, &c., as the case
might be, and who were entitled to priority of election
on the foundation.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 32. The preference assigned to
FOUNDER’S-KIN in the election soon brought into the field, as may be
supposed, young Wykehams and Williamses from all quarters, with others
who proved more or less satisfactorily their connection with the founder’s
family; and gradually the customs obtained of electing two only of these
favoured candidates at the head of the roll for admission, and filling up
the remaining vacancies by a process of successive nominations by each
of the six electors, the Warden of New College having the first turn, until
the number of vacancies was supplied.

Founder’s-Ob., subs. (Winchester).—The anniversary of
the Founder’s death.

Four-holed Middlings, subs. phr. (Winchester: obsolete).
—Ordinary walking shoes. Cf. Beeswaxers.

Fourth, subs. (Cambridge).—A rear or jakes. [Origin
uncertain; said to have been first used at St. John’s or
Trinity, where the closets are situated in the Fourth
Court. Whatever its derivation, the term is now the only
one in use at Cambridge, and is frequently heard outside
the university.] The verbal phrase is TO KEEP A FOURTH.

Fourth Book, subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—All the boys
below Junior Part the Fifth. See Books.

Fourth Former (Harrow).—The oldest form room in the
Old Schools: now used for morning prayer by those
who go to the Old Schools, and also as the head-
master’s torture-chamber.

Fourth of June (Eton).—See quot.
1865. Etoniana, p. 166. Since the glories of Montem have departed, the
fourth of June procession has taken its place as the great yearly festival
of Etonians. It was instituted in commemoration of a visit of King George
III., and is held on his birthday. It is the great trysting day of Eton, when
her sons gather from far and wide, young and old, great and small,—no
matter who or what, so long as they are old Etonians; that magic bond
binds them all together as brothers, and levels for the time all distinctions
of age or rank. The proceedings begin with the ‘speeches’ delivered in the
upper school at twelve o’clock before the provost, fellows, masters, and a
large audience of the boys’ friends. Selections from classical authors,
ancient or modern, are recited by the Sixth-form boys, who are dressed
for the occasion in black swallow-tail coats, white ties, black knee-
breeches and buckles, silk stockings, and pumps. Then follows the
provost’s luncheon, given in the college hall to the distinguished visitors,
while similar entertainments on a smaller scale are going on in the

various tutors’ and dames’ houses. At 3 o’clock there is full choral service
in chapel. At 6 o’clock all hands adjourn to the Brocas, a large open
meadow, to witness the great event of the day,—the procession of the
Boats to Surly Hall, a public-house of that name, on the right bank of the
river, some three and a half miles from Windsor. The boats are divided
into two classes—Upper and Lower. The Upper division consists of the
Monarch ten-oar, the Victory, and the Prince of Wales, or, as it is more
usually called, the Third Upper. The Lower boats are the Britannia,
Dreadnought, Thetis, and St. George; sometimes, when the number of
aspirants to a place is larger than usual, an eighth boat called the Defiance
is added. The collegers have also for some years put on a four-oar—
latterly expanded into an eight—which follows in the procession. The
flotilla is preceded by the Eton racing eight-oar, manned by the picked
crew who are to contend at Putney or Henley. Each boat has its distinctive
uniform. Formerly these were very fanciful—Greek pirates, or galley
slaves in silver chains, astonishing the quiet reaches of the Thames for the
day. The crews of the Upper boats now wear dark blue jackets and
trousers, and straw hats with ribbons, displaying the name of the boat in
gold letters. The coxswains are dressed in an admiral’s uniform, with gold
fittings, sword, and cocked-hat. The captain of each boat has an anchor
and crown embroidered in gold on the left sleeve of his jacket. In the
Lower boats, the crews wear trousers of white jean, and all ornaments and
embroidery are in silver. Each boat carries a large silk flag in the stern.
The procession is headed by a quaint old-fashioned boat (an Eton racing
boat of primitive days) rowed by watermen and conveying a military
band. The Westminster eight always receives an invitation to this
celebration, and occasionally makes its appearance on the river, adding
very much to the interest of the procession.... Opposite to Surly Hall, a
liberal display of good things ... awaits the arrival of the crews—the Sixth
Form alone being accommodated with a tent. After a few toasts, and as
much champagne as can be fairly disposed of in a short time, the captain
of the boat gives the word for all to re-embark, and the flotilla returns to
Eton in the same order.... Singing, shouting, racing, and bumping, all go
on together in the most harmonious confusion.... The boats, after their
return through Windsor Bridge, turn and row two or three times round an
eyot in the middle of the stream above the bridge. During this time a

grand display of fireworks takes place on the eyot. The ringing of the fine
old bells in the Curfew Tower, the cheering of the crews, and the brilliant
coloured fires which strike across the water, and light up the dense
masses of spectators along the bridge, the rafts, and the shore, produce an
effect not easily forgotten. A pyrotechnic illumination of the College arms
concludes the ceremonies, and is the signal for the crews to land and
march in jubilant disorder back to College.

Fox-and-dowdy, subs. (King Edward’s, Birm.: obsolete).
—See Action.

Fragment, subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—A dinner for six
(served in College Hall, after the ordinary dinner),
ordered by a Fellow in favour of a particular boy, who
was at liberty to invite five others to join him. A
fragment was supposed to consist of three dishes.—
Winchester Word-Book [1891].

Free, adj. (Oxford).—Impudent; self-possessed.
1864. Tennyson, Northern Farmer (Old Style), line 25. But parson a
coomes an’ a goos, an’ a says it eäsy an’ FREEÄ.

Freed, adv. (Stonyhurst).—Of an extra recreation: given
for some special reason.

Fresh, adj. (University).—Said of an undergraduate in his
first term.
1803. Gradus ad Cantabrigiam, s.v.

1866. Trevelyan, Horace at Athens. When you and I were FRESH.

Fresher. See Freshman.

Freshers. The Freshers, subs. (Cambridge). That part of
the Cam which lies between the Mill and Byron’s Pool.
So called because it is frequented by FRESHMEN (q.v.).

Fresh-herring, subs. (King Edward’s, Birm.).—A boy
newly admitted to the school. Such a one is seized on
his first or first few visits to the playground, and
conveyed to a corner—a MONKEY DEN—where he is more
or less forcibly SQUABBED (q.v.) against the wall by as
many persecutors as can get at him. The incongruity of
fresh-herrings in a monkey-den does not seem to be
remarked. But twenty-five to thirty years ago FRESH-
HERRINGS were hurled over the Precipice. This was a
drop of some six or eight feet from the general level of
the playground over a retaining wall to the bottom of an
incline up which coal-stores, &c., could be brought into
the playground. The new science and art rooms have
covered the site, and MONKEY-DEN has superseded the
terrors of this local Tarpeian Rock. The FRESH-HERRING is
always told that he must bring beeswax and turpentine
for the purpose of polishing his desk, and he not
infrequently comes armed with this or some other form
of furniture-polish, to the glee of the “stuffer-up.”

Freshman (or Fresher), subs. (University).—A University
man during his first year. In Dublin University he is a
JUNIOR FRESHMAN during his first year, and a SENIOR
FRESHMAN the second year. At Oxford the title lasts for
the first term. See Soph.
1596. Nashe, Saffron Walden, in Works, iii. 8. When he was but yet a
FRESHMAN in Cambridge.

1611. Middleton, Roaring Girl, Act iii. sc. 3. S. Alex. Then he’s a
graduate. S. Davy. Say they trust him not. S. Alex. Then is he held a
FRESHMAN and a sot.

1650. Howell, Familiar Letters [Nares]. I am but a FRESHMAN yet in
France, therefore I can send you no news, but that all is here quiet, and
’tis no ordinary news, that the French should be quiet.
1671. Cotgrave, Wit’s Interpreter, p. 221. First, if thou art a FRESHMAN,
and art bent To bear love’s arms, and follow Cupid’s tent.
1767. Colman, Oxonian in Town, ii. 3. And now I find you as dull and
melancholy as a FRESHMAN at college after a jobation.
1841. Lever, Charles O’Malley, ch. xiv. “This is his third year,” said the
Doctor, “and he is only a FRESHMAN, having lost every examination.”
1853. Bradley, Verdant Green, iii. Mr. Green saw at a glance that all the
passengers were Oxford men, dressed in every variety of Oxford fashion,
and exhibiting a pleasing diversity of Oxford manners. Their private
remarks on the two new-comers were, like stage “asides,” perfectly
audible. “Decided case of governor!” said one. “Undoubted ditto of
FRESHMAN!” observed another.

1891. Harry Fludyer at Cambridge, 55. A lot of FRESHMEN got together
after Hall (it was a Saints’ day, and they’d been drinking audit) and went
and made hay in Marling’s rooms.
1891. Sporting Life, Mar. 20. The mile, bar accidents, will be a gift to B.
C. Allen, of Corpus, who has more than maintained the reputation he
gained as a FRESHER.

1895. Felstedian, Dec., 178. The new trousers and immaculate brown
boots of the “FRESHER” are suffering terribly from the slush.
1898. Stonyhurst Mag., Dec., p. 149, “Life at Oxford.” Three Seniors
were entertaining some fifteen or more FRESHERS.
Adj. (University).—Of, or pertaining to, a FRESHMAN, or a
first year student.

Freshman’s Bible, subs. phr. (University).—The
University Calendar.

Freshman’s Church, subs. phr. (Cambridge).—The Pitt
Press. [From its ecclesiastical architecture.]

Freshman’s Landmark, subs. phr. (Cambridge).—King’s
College Chapel. [From the situation.]

Freshmanship, subs. (old).—Of the quality or state of
being a freshman.
1605. Jonson, Volpone, or the Fox, iv. 3. Well, wise Sir Pol., since you
have practised thus, Upon my FRESHMANSHIP, I’ll try your salt-head With
what proof it is against a counter-plot.

Froust, subs. (Harrow).—1. Extra sleep allowed on
Sunday mornings and whole holidays. Also (2) an easy-
chair. Hence Frouster.

Frout, adj. (Winchester).—Angry; vexed.

Fudge, subs. 1. (Christ’s Hospital).—To copy; to crib; to
dodge or escape: also see quot.
1870-95. More Gleanings from The Blue. The Latin Grammar was a
strange book to the new boy; he says he was “relieved from
embarrassment by the readiness with which my schoolfellows in the class
above assisted in explaining,” &c. &c.; so a “FUDGE” is not a modern
invention, though it is expressed by a polite periphrasis.
1877. The Blue-Coat Boys, p. 97. Fudge, to prompt a fellow in class, or
prompt oneself in class artificially. Thence to tell: e.g. “FUDGE me what
the time is.”
2. (common).—To advance the hand unfairly at
marbles.

Fug, subs. (Harrow).—1. A small soft football. Also (2) the
game as played with such a ball in a yard, house, &c.
See Appendix.
Verb. 1. (Shrewsbury).—To stay in a stuffy room.
2. (Harrow).—To stop indoors.

Fug-footer, subs. (Harrow).—A species of football played
in passages with a FUG (q.v.) See ante.

Fuggy, subs. (general).—A hot roll.
Adj. (Shrewsbury).—Stuffy.

Fug-shop, subs. (Charterhouse).—The carpenter’s shop.

Functior (or Functure), subs. (Winchester).—An iron
bracket candlestick, used for the night-light in College
Chambers.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester, p. 68. Beside the window
yawned the great fireplace, with its dogs, on which rested the faggots and
bars for the reception of the array of boilers. Above it was a rushlight,
fixed in a circular iron pan fastened to a staple in the wall; it was called
the FUNCTIOR.
1891. Wrench, Winchester Word-Book, s.v. Functure. The word looks
like fulctura, an earlier form of fulture, meaning a prop or stay, with
phonetic change of l into n.

Funking-Monday, subs. (Christ’s Hospital).—See quot.
1887. The Blue, Nov. Yet it is not from ignorance of vulgar slang that the
author’s elegance springs, for he unbends once so far as to say that the
Monday after the holidays is called “FUNKING-MONDAY.”

Funking-room, subs. (medical).—The room at the Royal
College of Surgeons where students collect on the last
evening of their final during the addition of their marks,
and whence each is summoned by an official
announcing failure or success.
1841. Punch, i. p. 225, col. 2. On the top of a staircase he enters a room,
wherein the partners of his misery are collected. It is a long, narrow
apartment, commonly known as the FUNKING-ROOM.

Funkster, subs. (Winchester).—A coward.

Furk. See Firk.

ag, subs. 1. (Christ’s Hospital).—See quot. Gag-
eater = a term of reproach.

1813. Lamb, Christ’s Hospital, in Works, p. 324 (ed. 1852). L. has
recorded the repugnance of the school to GAGS, or the fat of fresh beef
boiled; and sets it down to some superstition.... A GAG-EATER in our time
was equivalent to a ghoul, ... and held in equal estimation.
2. (Winchester: obsolete).—An exercise (said to have
been invented by Dr. Gabell) which consists in writing
Latin criticisms on some celebrated piece, in a book
sent in about once a month. In the Parts below Sixth
Book and Senior Part, the GAGS consisted in historical
analysis. [An abbreviation of “gathering.”]
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 108. From time
to time, also, they had to write ... an analysis of some historical work;
these productions were called GATHERINGS (or GAGS).

Gain. See Election.

Gaits (Geits, Gytes, or Gites), subs. (Royal High School,
Edin.).—The first, or lowest class. See Cats.

Gallery, subs. (Winchester).—A Commoner bedroom.
[From a tradition of GALLERIES in Commoners.] Hence
GALLERY NYMPH = a housemaid.

Gang, subs. (Felsted: obsolete).—A particular friend. From
the ordinary meaning of the word, applied first to the
two friends, then to each of them. Used only of “acute”
friendship. Also as verb = to carry on such a friendship
with another.

Garden, The (Stonyhurst).—The playgrounds, built on the
site of part of the old garden, long kept this name. “The
boys went to the GARDEN” = “into the playground”:
obsolete.

Gater, subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—A plunge head
foremost into a POT (q.v.).

Gates, subs. (University).—The being forbidden to pass
outside the gate of a college. Hence as verb = to confine
wholly or during certain hours within the college gate
for some infraction of discipline. To BREAK GATES = to
stay out of college after hours. Gate-bill (old) = the
record of an undergraduate’s failure to be within the
precincts of his college by a specified time at night.
1803. Gradus ad Cant., p. 128. To avoid GATE-BILLS he will be out at
night as late as he pleases ... climb over the college wall, and fee his gyp
well.

1835. The Snobiad (Whibley, Cap and Gown, p. 141). Two proctors
kindly holding either arm Staunch the dark blood and GATE him for the
term.
1853. Bradley, Verdant Green, I. ch. xii. He won’t hurt you much,
Giglamps! Gate and chapel you!
1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, ch. xii. Now you’ll both be GATED
probably, and the whole crew will be thrown out of gear.
1865. Cornhill Mag., p. 227. He is requested to confine himself to college
after a specified hour, which is familiarly termed being GATED.
1870. Morning Advertiser, May 23. The two least culpable of the party
have been GATED.
1881. Lang, Xxxii. Ballades, “Of Midsummer Term.” When freshmen are
careless of GATES.
To be at gates, verb. phr. (Winchester: obsolete).—To
assemble in Seventh Chamber passage, preparatory to
going Hills or Cathedral.

Gaudeamus, subs. (general).—A feast; a drinking bout;
any sort of merry-making. [German students’, but now
general. From the first word of the mediæval (students’)
ditty.]

Gaudy (or Gaudy-day), subs. (general).—A feast or
entertainment: specifically, the annual dinner of the
Fellows of a college in memory of founders or
benefactors; or a festival of the Inns of Court. [Lat.
gaudere = to rejoice.]
1540. Palsgrave, Acolastus [Halliwell]. We maye make our tryumphe,
kepe our GAUDYES, or let us sette the cocke on the hope, and make good

chere within dores. Ibid., I have good cause to set the cocke on the hope,
and make GAUDYE chere.
1608. Shakspeare, Antony and Cleopatra, iii. 11. Come, Let’s have one
other GAUDY night; call to me All my sad captains; fill our bowls; once
more Let’s mock the midnight bell.
1636. Suckling, Goblins [Dodsley, Old Plays (Reed), x. 143]. A foolish
utensil of state, Which, like old plate upon a GAUDY day, ’s brought forth
to make a show, and that is all.
1724. E. Coles, Eng. Dict. Gaudy days, college or Inns of Court festivals.
1754. B. Martin, Eng. Dict., 2nd ed. Gaudies, double commons, such as
they have on GAUDY or grand DAYS in colleges.
1760. Foote, Minor, Act i. Dine at twelve, and regale, upon a GAUDY DAY,
with buns and beer at Islington.
1803. Gradus ad Cantab., p. 122. Cut lectures ... give GAUDIES and
spreads.
1820. Lamb, Elia (Oxford in the Vacation). Methought I a little grudged at
the coalition of the better Jude with Simon—clubbing, as it were, their
sanctities together, to make up one poor GAUDY-DAY between them.
1822. Nares, Glossary, s.v. Gaudy day or Night. A time of festivity and
rejoicing. The expression is yet fully retained in the University of Oxford.
Blount, in his Glossographia, speaks of a foolish derivation of the word
from a judge Gaudy, said to have been the institutor of such days. But
such days were held in all times, and did not want a judge to invent them.
1822. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. xxiii. We had a carouse to your
honour ... we fought, too, to finish off the GAUDY.
1878. Besant and Rice, By Celia’s Arbour, ch. xxxiii. Champagne ... goes
equally well with a simple luncheon of cold chicken, and with the most
elaborate GAUDY.

General’s-day (Stonyhurst).—See Day.

Gentlemen-Philosopher, subs. (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—
See Philosopher.

Genuine, subs. (Winchester).—Praise. Also as verb = to
praise. [It is suggested (but see quot.) that the derivation
may be from genuina, the “jaw-tooth,” praise being
nothing but “jaw”: cf. Parsius, i. 115.]
1891. Wrench, Winchester Word-Book, s.v. Genuine.... He was awfully
quilled and GENUINED my task. Possibly from calling a thing genuine. Cf.
to blackguard, to lord, &c. But fifty years ago it was a subs. only. [See
Appendix.]

Gip (or Gyp), subs. (Cambridge).—A college servant.
1891. Harry Fludyer at Cambridge, 8. My GYP said he thought he knew
some one who’d give me eighteen shillings for it.

Girdlestoneites (Charterhouse).—A boarding-house.
[From a master’s name.] See Out-houses.

Glope, verb (Winchester: obsolete).—To spit.

Go. To go down, verb (University).—To leave school or
college: by special EXEAT (q.v.) or at vacation. Whence
TO BE SENT DOWN = to be under discipline; to be rusticated.

1863. H. Kingsley, Austin Elliot, i. 179. How dare you say “deuce” in my
presence? You can GO DOWN, my Lord.
1886. Dickens, Dict. of Cambridge, 3. No undergraduate should GO down
without obtaining his EXEAT.

1891. Harry Fludyer at Cambridge, 53. I’m thankful to say this Term’s
nearly over now.... We shall be able to GO down next week ... which is a
blessing.
1898. Stonyhurst Mag., Dec., p. 149, “Life at Oxford.” You will think,
then, that most of us do no work. Well, a good many do precious little.
Still there is this check. All who do not pass their examinations within a
certain time must “GO DOWN,” i.e. they must leave. It wholly depends
upon ourselves, then, how much work we do; and it is naturally a much
more difficult matter to “read” in this way than when one has regular
schools and studies.

Goal, subs. (Winchester).—(1) At football the boy who
stands at the centre of each end, acting as umpire; and
(2) the score of three points made when the ball is
kicked between his legs, or over his head, without his
touching it. See Schitt.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 138. Midway
between each of the two ends of the line was stationed another boy, as
umpire (GOAL he was called), who stood with his legs wide apart, and a
gown rolled up at each foot: if the ball was kicked directly over his head,
or between his legs, without his touching it, it was a GOAL, and scored
three for the party that kicked it.

God, subs. 1. (Eton).—A Sixth Form boy. See Appendix.
1881. Pascoe, Life in our Public Schools. A GOD at Eton is probably in a
more exalted position, and receives more reverence than will ever
afterwards fall to his lot.
2. (Westminster).—The juniors who, at the
Westminster Play (q.v.), occupy a back gallery. A
proposal was made in 1792 to exclude them from the
performance on the grand nights, which, however, was

successfully resisted. Whence GOD-KEEPER = a Third
Election boy, who acts as deputy monitor, and keeps the
gallery deities in order.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 155. A rushing noise is heard as of
a party of inebriated whirlwinds coming up College, and the Di Superi (in
vulgar parlance THE GODS) make their appearance. Now is the time to see
the GOD-KEEPER in his glory, in kid gloves, cane, and commanding voice:
“Here, Jones, go up closer. Room for three or four more in that corner.
Tumble-up, Davis.”

Going-out Saturday, subs. (Charterhouse).—See Exeat 2.

Gold Hatband, subs. (old University).—A nobleman
undergraduate; a TUFT (q.v.).
1628. Earle, Microcosmography. His companion is ordinarily some stale
fellow that has been notorious for an ingle to GOLD HATBANDS, whom hee
admires at first, afterwards scornes.
1889. Gentleman’s Mag., June, p. 598. Noblemen at the universities, since
known as “tufts,” because of the gold tuft or tassel to their cap, were then
known as GOLD HATBANDS.

Golgotha, subs. (old University).—The Dons’ gallery at
Cambridge; also a certain part of the theatre at Oxford.
[That is, “the place of skulls” (cf. Luke xxiii. 33 and
Matt. xxvii. 33); whence the pun, Dons being the heads
of houses.]
1730. Jas. Miller, Humours of Oxford, Act ii., p. 23 (2nd ed.). Sirrah, I’ll
have you put in the black-book, rusticated—expelled—I’ll have you
coram nobis at GOLGOTHA, where you’ll be bedevilled, Muck-worm, you
will.

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1791. G. Huddesford, Salmagundi (Note on, p. 150). Golgotha, “The
place of a Skull,” a name ludicrously affixed to the Place in which the
Heads of Colleges assemble.
1808. J. T. Conybeare in C. K. Sharp’s Correspondence (1888), i. 324.
The subject then of the ensuing section is Oxford News ... we will begin
by GOLGOTHA.... Cole has already obtained the Headship of Exeter, and
Mr. Griffiths ... is to have that of University.

Gomer, subs. 1. (Winchester).—A large pewter dish used
in College. [Probably from its holding a homer or omer
in measure: see quots.]
1610-31. Donne. Not satisfied with his GOMER of manna.
d. 1656. Hall, Satires, Bk. v. He that gave a GOMER to each.
1778. Inventory of Kitchen and Hall. Twenty-four GOMERS (amongst
dishes and brass pots).
2. A new hat: specifically, a beaver when first
introduced: but see quot., Peals, and Appendix.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, 68. Top-boots are no longer
considered, by young gentlemen of twelve, “your only wear” to go home
in, although the term for them—GOMERS (i.e. go-homers)—still survives
in the Winchester vocabulary.

Good-breakfast, subs. (Stonyhurst).—A breakfast given to
those Distinguished (q.v.) every term: also called
Distinction-breakfast. Cf. Do and Good-supper.

Good-creatures, subs. (Charterhouse).—Meat, vegetables,
and pudding. [From a quaint old-fashioned “Scholars’

grace”—“Lord, bless to us these thy GOOD-CREATURES,”
&c.]

Good-day, subs. (Stonyhurst).—A free day given at the
end of the school year to those distinguished in
mathematics. There is also a “Rhetoric GOOD DAY,” given
to the Rhetoricians (q.v.), and a “Certificate GOOD DAY,”
given to candidates for the Higher Certificate
Examination.

Good-Four-o’clock, subs. (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—A
repast similar in character to a Good-supper and a
Good-breakfast (both of which see).

Good-supper, subs. (Stonyhurst).—A supper given for a
special reason: e.g. the Choir-supper (that given to
members of the Choir); the Actors’-supper (that given
to the participants in Shrovetide-plays); the Eleven-
supper (to the Cricket eleven after an “out” match), &c.
Cf. Do and Good-breakfast.

Goose-match, subs. (Harrow).—A cricket match played
between the School Eleven and a team of Old
Harrovians on Michaelmas Day, or as near to it as
possible. The Eleven opposing the School are called
“the geese.” See Appendix.

Gosh, subs. (Winchester).—To spit.

Gown, subs. 1. (Winchester: obsolete).—Coarse brown
paper.
2. (University).—The schools as distinguished from the
TOWN (q.v.): e.g. Town and Gown.

1847. Thackeray, Punch’s Prize Novelists, “Codlingsby,” p. 232. From
the Addenbroke’s hospital to the Blenheim turnpike, all Cambridge was
in an uproar—the College gates closed—the shops barricaded—the shop-
boys away in support of their brother townsmen—the battle raged, and
the GOWN had the worst of the fight.
1853. Bradley, Verdant Green, II., ch. iii. When GOWN was absent, Town
was miserable.
1891. Pall Mall Gaz., 30th May, p. 4, c. 3. Town and GOWN joined in
harmony.

Gownboy, subs. (Charterhouse).—A scholar on the
foundation: they wore at the Charterhouse black Eton
jackets, black trousers, shoes called Gowsers (q.v.), and
gowns. This distinctive garb was abolished in 1872.

Gownboy-arch (Charterhouse).—An arch near the east
end of the chapel, formerly the doorway from Scholars’
Court into Gown-boys. The earliest Old Carthusian
name inscribed on it bears date 1778.

Gownboy-cricket, subs. (Charterhouse).—Cricket in
which there are twenty bowlers to one batsman, with no
fielders.

Gownboys (Charterhouse).—A boarding-house. [Because
on migration to Godalming in 1872 nearly all the old
Gownboys (q.v.) were received there.]

Gowner, subs. (Winchester).—The Goal (q.v.) at football
stood with his legs stretched out, and a gown, rolled up
into a ball, at each foot. When the ball was kicked over
either of these gowns, without goal’s touching it, this
counted two for the party who kicked it.—Mansfield
(c. 1840). Also see Goal and Schitt. Now obsolete.

Gownsman (also Gown), subs. (University).—A student.
1800. C. K. Sharpe, in Correspondence (1888), i. 96. A battle between the
GOWNSMEN and townspeople ... in spite of the Vice-Chancellor and
Proctors.
1850. F. E. Smedley, Frank Fairlegh, ch. xxv. The ancient town of
Cambridge, no longer animated by the countless throngs of GOWNSMEN,
frowned in its unaccustomed solitude.
1853. Bradley, Verdant Green, III. By the time Mr. Bouncer finished
these words, the coach appropriately drew up at the “Mitre,” and the
passengers tumbled off amid a knot of GOWNSMEN collected on the
pavement to receive them.
1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford. The townsmen ... were met by the
GOWNSMEN with settled steady pluck.

Gowsers, subs. (Charterhouse: obsolete).—Shoes.

Grammar, subs. 1. (Stonyhurst).—The Lower Fourth
Form.

2. (Harrow).—See Upper School.

Grand-matches, subs. (Stonyhurst).—The three final
matches of the Stonyhurst-football (q.v.) season,
played always on the Thursday before Shrove-tide, and
on the following Monday and Tuesday. These days are
school holidays, and in the evenings the great plays of
the year are given.

Grass, subs. (Royal Military Academy).—Vegetables.
To be sent to grass, verb. phr. (University).—To be
rusticated; to RECEIVE A TRAVELLING SCHOLARSHIP (q.v.).
1794. Gent. Mag., p. 1085. And was very near rustication [at Cambridge]
merely for kicking up a row after a beakering party. “Soho, Jack!” briskly
rejoined another, “almost presented with a travelling fellowship? very
nigh being SENT TO GRASS, hey?”

Greaser, subs. 1. (Durham: obsolete).—A cad.
2. (Winchester: obsolete).—A mode of torture
performed by rubbing a boy’s head hard with the
knuckles.—Mansfield (c. 1840).

Great-go (or Greats), subs. (Cambridge).—The final
examination for the B.A. degree: cf. Little-go. At
Oxford, GREATER.
1841. Prince of the New-made Baccalere, Oxford. Great-go is passed.
1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, ch. x. Both small and GREAT are
sufficiently distant to be altogether ignored, if we are that way inclined.

1856-7. Thackeray, King of Brentford’s Test., st. 7. At college, though not
fast, Yet his little-go and GREAT-GO, He creditably pass’d.
1871. Morning Advertiser, April 28. Yes, Mr. Lowe has been plucked for
his GREAT GO.
1883. Echo, 3rd May, p. 2, c. 4. But few, indeed, are the men who have
been in for GREATS during the last twenty years, and who have not blessed
Mr. Kitchin for his edition of the Novum Organum.

Grecian, subs. (Christ’s Hospital).—A senior boy.
1870. Blue Budget, March. We have the full sanction and approval of the
GRECIANS, and some of them intend even to contribute articles
themselves.
1871. The Blue, Aug. Boys are taken at the age of seven years and remain
till they are sixteen.... If at their sixteenth year they have shown
remarkable aptitude, they are allowed to remain longer, and as GRECIANS
—a traditional title, the origin of which is unknown—to pursue more
advanced studies and to enjoy certain privileges as to table. [See
Appendix.]

Green. 1. (Charterhouse).—The cricket-ground. See
Under-green.
2. (Felsted: obsolete).—A Post-Office Order. [From the
colour.]

Green-back, subs. (University).—One of Todhunter’s
series of mathematical text-books. [Because bound in
green cloth. Cf. Blue-ruin = Bohn’s Classical Series.]

Green Book, The (Charterhouse).—A record of the date of
entering and leaving the school: this has been somewhat
loosely kept, and gaps are conspicuous.

Green-room Boys, subs. phr. (Stonyhurst).—Boys chosen
to be the stage-manager’s assistants at the Shrove-tide
plays.

Greens, The (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—Two large grass
plots, or lawns and shrubberies, on the south front. A
cricket-ball hit full pitch into either of these from the
opposite end of the playground was known as “A
Greener.” Whence GREEN-BOYS = boys who used to look
after the “GREENS.”

Greeze, subs. (Westminster).—A crowd.

Greyers, subs. (Harrow).—Grey flannel trousers: worn by
all the school not entitled to white Flannels (q.v.) at
cricket.

Greyhound, subs. (Cambridge: obsolete).—A member of
Clare College; a CLARIAN (q.v.).
1889. Whibley, Cap and Gown, xxviii. The members of Clare ... were
called GRAYHOUNDS.

Grind, subs. (common).—(1) Study; reading for an
examination. Also as a verb. (2) A plodding student. (3)
Athletic sports in general: specifically, a training run.
Also as verb = to teach; to instruct; to coach.
1856. Hughes, Tom Brown’s School-days, pt. II. ch. v. “Come along,
boys,” cries East, always ready to leave the GRIND, as he called it. Ibid.,
ch. vii. “The thing to find out,” said Tom meditatively, “is how long one
ought to GRIND at a sentence without looking at the crib.”
1872. Chambers’s Jour., April. Joe Rullock, the mighty gymnasiarch, the
hero of a hundred GRINDS, the unwearied haunter of the palæstra, could
never give the lie to his whole past life, and deny his own gymnastics.
1887. Chambers’s Jour., 14th May, p. 310. Smalls made just such a goal
as was required, and the GRIND it entailed was frequently of no slight
profit to him.
The Grind, subs. (Cambridge).—The ferry-boat at
Chesterton. (Oxford) A diversion popular among the
less athletic tutors and undergraduates, which consists
in walking by the Banbury Road to the 2-1/2 mile stone,
crossing to the Woodstock Road, which is here only a
quarter of a mile distant, and so returning to Oxford,
occasionally varying the proceeding by reversing the
order of the walk. It is, however, probable that the
introduction of golf has dealt a severe blow at the
popularity of this innocent amusement. Also THE FIVE
MILES GRIND.

’Varsity Grind (Oxford).—A steeplechase held at
Stratton Audley.

Grind-days, subs. (Loretto).—The GRIND-DAYS occur twice
a year: in October and March. Privileged boys, school

officers, Sixth and Fifth, and probably Upper Fifth, go
by train to various places, such as Peebles, Pomathorn,
&c., and walk, perhaps about twenty miles, to some
other place, where they dine, returning by train. Some
of the rest cross the Pentlands, and the Juniors go up the
highest Pentland.

Grinder, subs. (general).—A private tutor; a COACH (q.v.).
1812. Miss Edgeworth, Patronage, ch. iii. Put him into the hands of a
clever GRINDER or crammer, and they would soon cram the necessary
portion of Latin and Greek into him.
1841. Punch, vol. i. p. 201. Then contriving to accumulate five guineas to
pay a GRINDER, he routs out his old note-books from the bottom of his box
and commences to read.
1841. A. Smith, “The London Medical Student” in Punch, i. p. 229. G
was a GRINDER, who sharpen’d the fools.
1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, ch. v. She sent me down here with a
GRINDER. She wants me to cultivate my neglected genius.

Grinding-mill, subs. (general).—The house of a tutor or
COACH (q.v.), where students are prepared for an
examination.

Groats. To save one’s groats, verb. phr. (old University).
—To come off handsomely. [At the Universities nine
groats are deposited in the hands of an academic officer
by every person standing for a degree, which, if the
depositor obtains, with honour, are returned to him.—
Grose.]

Grotius-time, subs. (Winchester).—From 7 P.M. to 7.45 P.M.
on Sundays, in Cloister-time (q.v.) when Sixth Book
(q.v.) and Senior Part (q.v.) went into school to
translate the work of that author.—Mansfield (c. 1840).
Now obsolete.

Groute, verb (Marlborough and Cheltenham).—To work
or study hard; to SWOT (q.v.).

Grovel, subs. (Sherborne).—A scrummage at football.

Grubber, subs. (general).—A tuck-shop. See Lamb’s-
tails, Round Othellos, Kill-me-quicks, and
Picaninnies.
1899. Public School Mag., Dec., p. 441. The shop is privately managed
by Mr. Kimmins, of High Street, Tonbridge [and] is known as “GRUBBER.”

Grubby, subs. (Royal High School, Edin.).—The luncheon
room.

Gruff, adj. (Christ’s Hospital).—Low-pitched: of the
voice. See quot., and Squeaky.
c. 1844. Reminis. of Christ’s Hospital [The Blue, Aug. 1874]. The voices,
in our own peculiar phraseology, being divided into two classes—those
who sang “squeaky,” and those who sang GRUFF.

Guarder, subs. (Stonyhurst).—A goal-keeper: at football.
Whence SECOND-GUARDER = the “full-back” of
Association Football; and THIRD-GUARDER = the
“halfback” of Association Football.

Gulf, subs. (Cambridge).—The bottom of a list of
“passes,” with the names of those who only just succeed
in getting their degree. At Oxford a man who, going in
for honours, only gets a pass. Hence as verb
(Cambridge) = to place in the GULF; TO BE GULFED = to be
on such a list. [Men so placed were not eligible for the
Classical Tripos.]
1852. Bristed, Five Tears in an English University, p. 205. Some ten or
fifteen men just on the line, not bad enough to be plucked, or good
enough to be placed, are put into the GULF, as it is popularly called (the
examiners’ phrase is “degrees allowed”), and have their degrees given
them, but are not printed in the calendar. Ibid., 297. I discovered that my
name was nowhere to be found—that I was GULFED.
1853. Bradley, Verdant Green, pt. III. p. 89. I am not going to let them
GULPH me a second time.

1863. H. Kingsley, Austin Elliot, p. 123. The good Professor scolded,
predicted that they would all be either GULFED or ploughed.
1865. Sporting Gaz., April 1. A man who was GULFED for mathematical
honours was certainly, in olden time, unable to enter for the classical
examination; but though the arrangement is altered, the term is not
obsolete. A man who is GULFED is considered to know enough
mathematics for an ordinary degree, but not enough to be allowed his
degree in mathematics only; he is consequently obliged to pass in all the
ordinary subjects (except mathematics) for the “poll,” before taking his
degree.

1876. Trevelyan, Life of Macaulay (1884), ch. ii. p. 61. When the Tripos
of 1822 made its appearance, his name did not grace the list. In short ...
Macaulay was GULFED.
1896. Tonbridgian, No. 339, 1124. Poole hopes to get a Third in Honour
Mods., and Law hopes to escape a GULF next year in the same.

Gull, subs. (Oxford: obsolete).—A swindler; a trickster. Cf.
“Gull-catcher,” of which it is probably an
abbreviation.
1825. The English Spy, v. i. p. 161. “You’ll excuse me, sir, but as you are
fresh, take care to avoid the GULLS.” “I never understood that GULLS were
birds of prey,” said I. “Only in Oxford, sir, and here, I assure you, they
bite like hawks.”

Gutter, subs. (Tonbridge).—A scrummage at Rugby
football: now nearly obsolete. [Properly the space
between the teams in the scrummage.]
Verb (Winchester).—To fall in the water flat on the
stomach.

Gymmy, subs. (Manchester Grammar).—The gymnasium.

Gyp (or Gip), subs. (Cambridge).—A college servant. At
Oxford, a scout; at Dublin, a skip. [Etymology doubtful:
according to Sat. Rev. an abbreviation of Gipsy Joe:
according to Cambridge undergraduates, from the Greek
γυψ (GUPS) = a vulture; from the creature’s rapacity.]
1794. Gent. Mag., p. 1085. [A Cambridge college servant is called a JIP.]

1803. Gradus ad Cantab., 128. To avoid gate-bills he will be out at night
as late as he pleases, ... climb over the college wall, and fee his GYP well.
1842. Tait’s Mag., Oct., “Reminiscences of Coll. Life.” There is attached
to colleges and halls a person more useful than ornamental, and better
known than paid, whom Oxonians name GYP, from his supposed moral
affinity to a vulture (γυψ). The same is in Dublin denominated a Skip,
because of the activity which is an indispensable item in his
qualifications.
1849. C. Kingsley, Alton Locke, ch. xii. I’ll send you in luncheon as I go
through the butteries; then, perhaps, you’d like to come down and see the
race. Ask the GYP to tell you the way.
1850. Smedley, Frank Fairleigh, p. 254. Fellow you call the GYP wanted
to make me believe you were out—thought I looked too like a governor
to be let in, I suppose.
1882. F. Anstey, Vice Versâ, ch. v. Who should we see coming straight
down on us but a Proctor with his bull-dogs (not dogs, you know, but the
strongest GYPS in the college).

Gyte, subs. (Royal High School, Edin.).—A first year’s
student.

abit, subs. (old University).—See quot.

1803. Gradus ad Cantabrigiam. Habit. College HABIT, College dress,
called of old, livery: the dress of the Master, Fellows, and Scholars.

Hades, subs. (The Leys).—A W.C. Cf. Styx.

Haggory, subs. (Stonyhurst).—One of the gardens in the
Higher Line (q.v.) playground, which the Irish boys in
the early years of the century turned into a debating-
place, to promote the views of O’Connell and his party.
[A corruption of ἁγορά.]

Hairy, adj. (Oxford).—Difficult.
d. 1861. Arthur Clough, Long Vacation Pastoral. Three weeks hence we
return to the shop and the wash-hand-stand-bason, Three weeks hence
unbury Thicksides and HAIRY Aldrich.
1864. The Press, Nov. 12. Hairy for difficult is a characteristic epithet.

Half-faggot, subs. (Winchester).—See quot.

1881. Felstedian, Nov., p. 75, “A Day’s Fagging at Winchester.” At 6.15,
when the first bell for chapel rings, I go round and wake up everybody; as
the præfects like hot water for washing, I make up a fire, and put on the
boilers; in other words, throw a bundle of sticks called a “HALF-FAGGOT”
on the old-fashioned “dogs,” or uprights, which form the only fireplaces
in chambers, coal not being in use.

Hall, subs. 1. (Oxford).—Dinner. Also as verb = to dine.
[Taken in College Hall.]
1891. Harry Fludyer at Cambridge, 55. A lot of Freshmen got together
after HALL (it was a Saint’s day, and they’d been drinking audit) and went
and made hay in Marling’s rooms.
2. (Sherborne).—Evening preparation.
3. (Shrewsbury).—See Senior Hall.
To go on hall, verb. phr. (Winchester).—To fag: as a
breakfast waiter.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 48. However, as boys came to
school better scholars, and were consequently higher placed, fourth form
fags grew scarce, and the junior fifth were ordered, as the phrase was, TO
GO ON HALL. One champion stood upon his rights, and refused; the
indignant prefect proposed to thrash him publicly; the juniors rose in a
body and pinioned the prefects. Fond mammas, and other declaimers
against school tyranny, will regret to hear that this spirited resistance was
not appreciated by Dr. Williams; after a patient hearing of the pleas on
both sides, he supported the prefect’s authority (it may be concluded that
they had not really exceeded it), and six of the ringleaders were expelled.

Hall-crier, subs. (Shrewsbury).—See quot.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 249. And two HALL-CRIERS (or
latterly one), whose chief business was to read out at breakfast time lists

of the fags on duty for cricket or football, descriptions of lost articles, &c.
&c. This office in former days had commonly to be performed under a
fire of such missiles as came handiest—amongst them often the
regulation iron spoons supplied for the bread-and-milk breakfast which
was the fare in the rougher days of Shrewsbury. Each proclamation began
in due form with “Oh yes! oh yes! (Oyez! oyez!)” and ended with “God
save the King (or Queen)! and d—— the Radicals!”

Hall-fagging, subs. (Charterhouse).—A duty imposed on
sixteen of the lowest boys in each House. They have to
attend in Hall, usually four at a time, and carry out
orders, while the monitors have breakfast and tea. There
was no need for this duty at Old Charterhouse, fags
being always at hand. At New Charterhouse this was not
always the case; they were often playing at football or
cricket, or sitting in the library. Monitors, therefore,
arranged the system of HALL-FAGGING. Latterly it has
become usual to send into Hall fags who have offended
against monitorial discipline, have been talkative in
Banco, or noisy in the cubicles. Where such culprits are
available the regular fags are exempt.—Tod.

Halve, subs. (Charterhouse).—A half-holiday: on
Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Halves (pron. Hāves), subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—Half-
Wellington boots, which were strictly Non licet (q.v.).

Hand. To HAND UP, verb. phr. (Winchester).—To give
information against; to betray.

Handball, subs. (Stonyhurst).—(1) The Stonyhurst form of
Fives. Also (2) the ball used in playing; (3) the wall
against which the game is played; and (4) the courts into
which the wall and ground are divided.
1887. Stonyhurst Mag., iii. 18, “Stonyhurst in the Fifties.” On Whit-
Saturday HANDBALL came in. We had on that morning 2-1/2 hours’ school
... and having gone up to the study-place to put away our books were let
out by schools to run for places. In the old playground there stood one of
the present HANDBALLS, one side of it belonging to the Higher Line, and
one to the Lower. Of the Higher Line HANDBALLS [on each side of this
HANDBALL—the wall—were two HANDBALLS or courts] one belonged to
Rhetoric and one to Poetry. Of the Lower Line HANDBALLS one to
Grammar and one to Rudiments. There were besides in both Higher and
Lower Lines, other inferior HANDBALLS in the wall which separated the
playground from the garden, where the rails now stand. They were called
“The Pavilions,” and each contained three courts. Those in the Higher
Line were common property, the Lower Line ones belonged to
Rudiments, Figures, and Elements. Syntax had thus no HANDBALL and
Rudiments had two. In the Higher Line possession of the HANDBALL
always went to the first comers, those who first “touched-in” having it. In
the Lower Line during after-dinner recreation (at least in the large
HANDBALLS) it went by order of Compositions.

Handing-up, subs. (Harrow).—A form of Lynch law
inflicted [up to the second quarter of the century] by
monitors on a boy known to have been guilty of any
highly disgraceful conduct reflecting on the character of
the school—stealing, for example. The monitors
satisfied themselves, after careful inquiry, of the guilt of
the accused, and called him before an assembly of the
Upper School in Butler’s Hall, where he received from
each monitor a certain number of blows with a study

toasting-fork. The punishment was severe, but merciful
to the delinquent as an alternative in some cases to
expulsion if the charge had been brought before the
head-master.—Thornton.

Harder, subs. (Harrow).—Racquets: as opposed to Squash
(q.v.); also a racquet ball. Whence HARDER-COURT = the
racquet court.

Hard-up, adv. (Winchester).—Abashed or out of
countenance; exhausted (as in swimming).

Harlequin, subs. (Winchester).—The wooden centre of a
red indiarubber ball.

Harry-soph, subs. (Cambridge: obsolete).—See Soph.
1795. Gent. Mag., p. 20. A HARRY, or ERRANT SOPH, I understand to be
either a person, four-and-twenty years of age, and of an infirm state of
health, who is permitted to dine with the Fellows, and to wear a plain,
black, full-sleeved gown; or else he is one who, having kept all the terms,
by statute required previous to his law-act, is hoc ipsa facto entitled to
wear the same garment, and thenceforth ranks as bachelor, by courtesy.
1803. Gradus ad Cantabrigiam. Harry soph, or HENRY SOPHISTER;
students who have kept all the terms required for a law act, and hence are
ranked as Bachelors of Law by courtesy. They wear a plain, black, full-
sleeved gown.

Hash, verb (general).—To study hard; TO SWAT (q.v.).

Hasher, subs. 1. (Charterhouse).—A “made” dish.
2. (Charterhouse).—A football sweater—tight-fitting,
with the colours running round in horizontal lines. In
1863 football shirts were introduced in place of HASHERS.

Hat, subs. (Cambridge).—A gentleman commoner. [Who
is permitted to wear a hat instead of the regulation
mortar-board.] Also GOLD HATBAND.
1628. Earle, Microcosmographie, “Young Gentleman of the Universitie”
(ed. Arber, 1868). His companion is ordinarily some stale fellow that has
beene notorious for an ingle to GOLD HATBANDS, whom hee admires at
first, afterwards scornes.
1803. Gradus ad Cantabrigiam. Hat Commoner; the son of a nobleman,
who wears the gown of a Fellow Commoner with a HAT.
1830. Lytton, Paul Clifford, ch. xxxii. I knew intimately all the HATS in
the University.
1841. Lytton, Night and Morning, Bk. I. ch. i. He had certainly nourished
the belief that some one of the HATS or tinsel gowns, i.e. young lords or
fellow.

Hatch, subs. (Winchester).—A flood-gate. [Hatch = a
flood-gate (Bailey); also var. dial. = a garden-gate,
wicket-gate, or half-door.]

Hatch-thoke, subs. (Winchester).—A Founder’s
Commemoration-day. [Thoke = to lie late in bed; an old
custom being to lie in bed till breakfast on such
occasions, names being called at HATCH in Commoners.]

Haul, verb (University).—To summon before the Proctor
for misdemeanour. Whence HAULABLE, adj., used of
those whose society authorities deem undesirable for
the men: e.g. they’re HAULABLE = those caught with them
will be proctorised.
1891. Harry Fludyer at Cambridge, 89. At last they were caught trying to
drive in through the big gate of John’s. Next day they were HAULED and
sent down.
To haul up, verb. phr. (Harrow).—To have a boy up to
House out of school-hours, to say “turned” repetitions.

Haves. See Halves.

He, subs. (Charterhouse).—A cake. Young he = a small
cake; a FISH-HE = fish-cake. See She.

Head, subs. (Tonbridge).—The chief cricket-ground.

Health Walk, subs. (Stonyhurst).—When the weather has
been bad for some time, the boys are freed on the first
fine day for “HEALTH WALKS.” The name seems still to be
surviving, through more often the boys have football
than walks on such occasions.

Heder, subs. (Winchester).—A plunge, feet foremost. Fr.
une chandelle.

Hedgehog, subs. (Christ’s Hospital).—A London
nickname for a Hertford Blue (q.v.). See Appendix.
c. 1800-29. The Blue-Coat Boy [More Gleanings from The Blue], 203.
Another isolated statement of interest (unknown, perhaps, to some), is
that “Hertford boys called the London boys, ‘Jackdaws,’ and those in
London called those at Hertford ‘HEDGEHOGS’;” hedgehog boys and
pigtailed masters!

Heifer, subs. (Charterhouse: obsolete).—A charwoman.

Hell, subs. (Winchester).—A shady nook near Third Pot,
famous for a profusion of violets. [Dial. (Hants) = a
dark, wooded place: originally (Skeat) a hidden place.]

Hell-and-neck boy, subs. phr. (Royal High School, Edin.:
obsolete).—A venturesome boy who had frequently
climbed the Kittle-nine-steps (q.v.).

Hell Hole and “Hell’s Gates,” subs. (Stonyhurst).—The
name of some foundations of an old factory built on the
Hodder.

High (The), subs. (Oxford).—High Street. Cf. The Broad,
the Turl, the Corn, &c.

High, subs. (Christ’s Hospital).—A fruit-pie. See Low.

c. 1890. More Gleanings from The Blue, 92. Those greedy gluttons who
during life had lain in wait for monied comrades, assailing them with
importunate entreaties or even with open violence. Now they outstretched
bony hands in vain for juicy “HIGHS,” which mocked and eluded their
grasp; bottles of ginger-beer and cherries hovered above their skinny lips,
as erst in “cherry-bob,” but never were they granted taste or sip of cool
beverage or dainty morsel.

Higher Line, subs. (Stonyhurst).—The three highest
classes.

High-master, subs. (St. Paul’s and Manchester Grammar).
—The Head-master: at Manchester the term was used in
the earliest statutes of the school (1515). See Sur-
master.

Hills, subs. 1. (Winchester).—St. Catharine’s Hill. Hence,
TO SHIRK HILLS = see quot.

c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life, p. 28. Some of his principal duties were
to take the boys “on to HILLS,” call names there, &c.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester, 214. HILLS—St.
Catherine’s Hill, a green hill about one mile and a half from College,
about five hundred feet high, and near the top surrounded by a deep
trench, the remains of an old Roman camp. The boys had to ascend this
twice a day on whole Holidays and Remedies, once before breakfast, and
again at half-past two. In the summer they also went out in the evening,
but did not ascend Hills, but disported themselves below. These sorties
were called “going on to HILLS,” the evening expedition being called
“Underhills.” Ibid., iii. Ordinary offences of a trifling character, such as
being late for Chapel or “SHIRKING HILLS” [i.e. evading going Hills], were

punished by the infliction of an imposition—generally thirty lines of
Virgil, English and Latin.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 24. Tuesdays and Thursdays were
partial holidays, on which the boys went out to the HILLS twice; once in
the morning, returning at nine to breakfast, and again in the afternoon,
coming off at three. There they played at quoits, football, and something
which seems to have borne a resemblance to cricket.
2. (Cambridge).—The Gogmagog Hills; a common
morning’s ride.—Gradus ad Cantab.

Hiss (The), subs. (Winchester).—The signal given at the
commencement of school hours when a Master was
coming in.—Mansfield (c. 1840).
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester [1866], 104. Just before
school-time a boy was always stationed to watch the arrival of the Master,
of which he had to give notice by emitting a loud HISS, upon which there
was a general rush up to books; the previous uproar dwindled to a calm,
and work began.

Hivite, subs. (St. Bees’).—A student of St. Bees’
(Cumberland).
1865. John Bull, Nov. 11. To be a HIVITE has long been considered a little
worse than a “literate.”... Of the value of some St. Bees’ testimonials we
may form an estimate, &c.

Hobbs, subs. (Tonbridge).—A fad; a mental eccentricity.
See Tachs.

Hobby, subs. (common).—A translation. To RIDE HOBBIES =
to use CRIBS (q.v.).

Hockey-sticks and Fourpennies, subs. phr.
(Charterhouse).—A kind of irregular cricket played at
Old Charterhouse. The bats were huge bludgeons called
hockey-sticks, but without any curve at the end; the
balls were like large fives-balls, and a little smaller than
a regulation cricket-ball; the wickets were usually coats
or jackets; gownboy jackets were much the best,
because they were stiff and easily stood upright; the
pitch was either on the football ground, where there was
no grass, or on a flagged pavement in cloisters.

Hodgsonites (Charterhouse).—See Out-houses.

Hodman (Oxford).—A scholar from Westminster School
admitted to Christ Church College.
1728. Bailey, Eng. Dict., s.v. Hodman.
1847. Halliwell, Arch. Words, s.v.... A nickname for a Canon of Christ
Church.

Hog, subs. (Cambridge: obsolete).—A student of St.
John’s. Also Johnian Hog. See Crackle, Bridge of
Grunts, and Isthmus of Suez.
1690. Diary of Abraham de la Pryme (Surtees Society, No. 54), quoted in
Notes and Queries, 6 S., xi. 328. For us Jonians are called abusively
HOGGS.

1795. Gent. Mag., lxv. 22. The JOHNIAN HOGS were originally remarkable
on account of the squalid figures and low habits of the students, and
especially of the sizars of Saint John’s College. [Another story of how
name originated is given in detail in Gent. Mag. (1795), lxv. 107.]
1889. Whibley, In Cap and Gown, p. 28. An obsolete name for members
of St. John’s College, Cambridge.

Hog Tower, subs. (Stonyhurst).—A coaching room off
Rhetoric school-room. [So called (1) because part of a
tower, and (2) because the Rhetoricians (q.v.) originally
wished to use it for other “more profitable” purposes
than for study.]

Hoi Polloi, subs. phr. (University).—The candidates for
ordinary degrees. [From the Greek.] Cf. Gulf.

Hol, subs. (Harrow).—A holiday. Whence HOL-TAG =
holiday task.

Holiday, subs. (Sherborne: obsolete).—A Saint’s day:
sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

Hollis, subs. (Winchester).—A small pebble. [Said to be
derived from a boy of that name.—Wrench.]

Holy Club (The), subs. (Oxford: obsolete).—A band of
kindred spirits who gathered round John Wesley while
at Lincoln College: in ridicule.

Home-bill, subs. (Charterhouse).—Food supplied by the
butler at breakfast or tea, to supplement the bread-and-
butter supplied by the house master. It consists of eggs,
eggs and bacon, ham, or sausages at breakfast; of
poached eggs, mince, sausages and potatoes, tongue,
ham, brawn, beef, or pork-pie at tea. The price is
usually 4d. for each HOME-BILL; in some houses 6d. is the
charge for the Upper School.

Home-bug, subs. (Harrow).—A home boarder; a day boy.

Honour (Legion of). See Legion.

Honours, subs. (Stonyhurst).—Classes in which extra
classics are read in the three highest Forms.

Hook, intj. (Oxford).—An expression implying doubt.
[Query from the note of interrogation (?) or connected
with “Hookey Walker.”]
1823. Bee, Dict. of the Turf, s.v. Hookey walker—and WITH A HOOK,
usually accompanied by a significant upliftment of the hand and crooking
of the forefinger, implying that what is said is a lie, or is to be taken
contrariwise.
1843. Moncrieff, Scamps of London, i. 1. Bob. Will you have some gin?
Fogg. Gin—yes! Bob (turning away). Ha—ha!—WITH A HOOK ... I wish
you may get it.
1870. Traill, Saturday Songs, p. 22. It’s go and go over the left, It’s go
WITH A HOOK AT THE END.

Horse-box, subs. (The Leys).—A cubicle or recess in
dormitory: about 5 or 6 feet high. Whence TO DO TEN
HORSE-BOXES = to perform “Sinking-and-rising exercise”
on the same.

Hot, subs. (Winchester).—1. A mellay at football. 2. A
crowd. Hence to HOT UP (or DOWN) = to crowd; to mob.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester, 215. In Twenty-two and
Twenty-two (q.v.) when the ball went out of bounds, it was brought in and
placed between the two sides, who all clustered up close round, with their
heads down, each party, by weight and kicking, trying to force the ball
through the other.
1878. Adams, Wykehamica, p. 367. It would be replaced and a fresh HOT
formed.

Hot-end, subs. (Winchester).—A half-burned faggot stick
with one end red-hot.

Hots, subs. 1. (Felsted: obsolete).—Tarts; pastry, &c.
2. (Felsted).—Money: specifically “coppers.”
Whence TRAV-HOTS = travelling money.
1893. Felstedian, Mar., p. 20. I made two brackets in the workshop, they
liked them awfully; I meant to get them something decent, but I hadn’t
got any HOTS.
1893. Felstedian, July, p. 82. All right; it’s only a HOT. Did you hear what
we did in our dormy last night?
1895. Felstedian, April, p. 44. Hots—“Hots” and “half-hots” very
evidently “burn a hole in one’s pocket” if they are left there long enough.

Hot-tiger, subs. (Oxford: obsolete).—Hot-spiced ale and
sherry.

Hound, subs. (Cambridge).—See quot.
1879. E. Walford, in Notes and Queries, 5 S., xii. 88. In the Anecdotes of
Bowyer ... we are told that a HOUND of King’s College, Cambridge, is an
undergraduate not on the foundation, nearly the same as a “sizar.”

House-captain, subs. (The Leys).—A boy, not in studies,
responsible for order in House-room.

House-game, subs. (Harrow).—A game—football or
cricket—in which the whole House play.

House-list, subs. (Harrow).—The printed list, in Bill (q.v.)
order, of each House.

House-room, subs. (The Leys).—The Common Room of
boys below VIth who have no studies.

House-singing, subs. (Harrow).—An informal concert at
which school songs are sung collectively: held once a
fortnight except in summer.

House-washing, subs. (Rugby: obsolete).—A sort of
compressed paper-chase, backwards and forwards in a
short distance over Clifton Brook, a tributary of the

Warwickshire Avon. [The name suggests that this was
not a dry process; each House as a rule had a HOUSE-
WASHING in the Easter term.]

Housey, adj. (Christ’s Hospital).—Belonging or peculiar to
the Hospital. The reverse of Towney = of the town.

Housle, verb (Winchester).—To hustle. [Dial.: cf. doust =
dust; fousty = fusty; rousty = rusty, &c.]

Huff, subs. (Winchester).—Strong ale brewed by the
College. [A survival: also HUFF-CAP.]
1579. Fulwell, Art of Flattery. Commonly called HUFCAP, it will make a
man look as though he had seene the devil.
1586. Holinshed, Description of England. These men hale at HUFF-CAP till
they be red as cockes, and little wiser than their combes.
1602. Campion, English Poesy (Bullen, Works, 1889, p. 247). Hunks
detests when HUFFCAP ale he tipples.
1614. Greene, Looking-Glass [Dyce], p. 127. The ale is strong ale, ’tis
HUFCAP; I warrant you, ’twill make a man well.

1640. Taylor, Works. And this is it, of ale-houses and innes, Wine-
marchants, vintners, brewers, who much wins By others losing, I say
more or lesse, Who sale of HUFCAP liquor doe professe.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life, p. 180. Washed down by libations of
HUFF.

1878. Adams, Wykehamica, s.v. Huff, the strong ale brewed by the
College.

Hum, verb (Derby).—To smell.

Hundred (The), subs. 1. (Loretto).—A long straight walk
within the school grounds.
2. (Tonbridge: obsolete).—One of the lower football
grounds. There were Upper, Middle, Lower, Fourth, and
Fifth Hundreds. See Fifty.

Husky, subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—See quot.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life, p. 145. There were two kinds
[Gooseberry fool] HUSKY and non-husky.

ck. See Ack.

Iliad, subs. (Charterhouse).—The regular penalty for late
attendance at chapel and other minor offences.

Imperator, subs. (Stonyhurst).—A name given to the two
first boys in each class.

Impo, subs. (Charterhouse).—An imposition.

Impositor, subs. (Sherborne: obsolete).—A school
Præfect: sixteenth century.

Inferior, subs. (Winchester).—Any member of the school
not a Præfect (q.v.).
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life, p. 28. The Præfect of Hall ... was looked
upon by the INFERIORS with something more than a becoming awe and
reverence.

Inform, verb (Charterhouse).—To sneak; to show up.

Infra-dig, adj. (Winchester).—Scornful; proud: e.g. “He
sported INFRA-DIG duck,” or “I am INFRA-DIG to it.”

Island, The (Rugby).—A mound or “tumulus” in the
Close.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 372. They [the school volunteer
corps] had not only parades, but sham fights—if a fight could be called a
sham from which the combatants retired with broken heads and bloody
noses—attacking and defending the Doctor’s farmyard on the little
ISLAND between what were then the two Closes.

Isthmus-of-Suez, subs. (Cambridge).—The bridge at St.
John’s College, Cambridge, leading from the grounds to
one of the Courts, familiarly known as the “Bridge of
Sighs.” Also The Bridge of Grunts. [From its slight
similarity to the Venetian example. Sues = swine, in
punning reference to the Johnian Hogs (q.v.).] See
Crackle and Hog.
1857. Punch, June 20. A resident Fellowe he was, I wis, He had no cure
of Soules; And across ye BRIDGE OF SUES he’d come From playinge ye
game of bowles.
1885. Cuthbert Bede, in N. and Q., 6 S., xi. 414. Another word is Sues,
for swine. This is applied to the bridge leading from the old courts to the
new, familiarly known as the BRIDGE OF SIGHS from its slight similarity to
the Venetian example, but also known as the ISTHMUS OF SUEZ. This word
Suez was then transformed to Suez, swine, to adapt it to its Johnian
frequenters.

ack. See Black-jack.

Jackdaw, subs. (Christ’s Hospital).—Hertford for a
London Blue (q.v.): obsolete.
c. 1800-29. The Blue-Coat Boy [More Gleanings from The Blue, 203].
Hertford boys called the London boys “JACKDAWS,” and those in London
called those at Hertford “Hedgehogs.”

Jack-o’-Lantern, subs. (Eton and Harrow: obsolete).—A
nocturnal form of “Hare and Hounds.”
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 312. But there was an ancient form
of it [“Hare and Hounds”] at Harrow, so especially attractive as being
pursued at unlawful hours and under unusual difficulties, that it deserves
special mention. It was known also in former days at Eton, and in both
schools went by the name of JACK O’ LANTERN. About seven o’clock on
winter evenings, when it was quite dark, the boys, by sufferance on the
part of the authorities, were let out from their several boarding-houses
into the fields below the school. A stout and active runner started in
advance, carrying a lantern, by the light of which the rest pursued him in
full cry. He showed or concealed his light from time to time, and a great
point of the sport was to entice the hounds into some pool or muddy ditch

(which “Jack” himself has carefully avoided) by showing the light exactly
in a line on the other side.
1885. Thornton, Harrow School, p. 276. Jack-o’-lantern was abolished
by Dr. George Butler, but re-appeared in Dr. Longley’s time as one of
those forbidden pleasures so dear to youth. Always played in the evening,
and originally by sufferance of the authorities, the game in question was
simply a run across country after a lantern carried by a swift-footed boy.
Oftentimes would the luckless hounds be enticed into some slough of
despond, and the performers return in a condition of mud which may find
its equal on a wet football day or a paper-chase forty years later, but yet
present no adequate idea of the confusion caused by the return from JACK-
O’-LANTERN, of thirty or forty boys at night when in ordinary clothes. It is
one of the most distinct evidences that no discipline existed when we read
of such a proscribed saturnalia having occurred after lock-up in Dr.
Longley’s time. But the fact has been communicated to us by Harrow
men whose word is indisputable.

Jambi, subs. (Harrow).—Greek Iambics; an exercise in the
Upper School.

Janny, subs. (Royal High School, Edin.).—A janitor.

Jark, subs. (Oxford).—A safe-conduct pass; a JASKER. [Cf.
Jark = a seal.]
1818. Scott, Heart of Midlothian, xxix. Stay, gentlemen, ... this is a JARK
from Jim Radcliffe.

Jarrehoe, subs. (Wellington).—A man-servant. Cf. Gyp
and Scout.

Jericho, subs. (Oxford).—A low quarter of Oxford.

Jesuit, subs. (Cambridge).—A graduate or undergraduate
of Jesus College.
1771. Smollett, Humphrey Clinker, To Sir W. Phillips, April 20. Direct
your next to me at Bath; and remember me to all our fellow Jesuits.
1856. Hall, College Words and Phrases, p. 270, s.v.

Jib, subs. (Dublin).—A first-year’s man.
1841. Lever, Charles O’Malley, xiv. There [referring to Trinity College
Freshmen] ... are JIBS, whose names are neither known to the proctor nor
the police-office.
To be jibbed, verb. phr. (Christ’s Hospital).—To be
called over the coals; to get into trouble. A Hertford
word, the London equivalent being TWIGGED. Obsolete.

Jiffs, The (Christ’s Hospital). See Appendix.
c. 1890. More Gleanings from The Blue, 92. North is the “Hall
playground” (I use the terrene names); south, the “Library”; east, the
“Ditch”; and west, the “JIFFS.”

Jig, subs. (Winchester).—A clever man: fifty years ago it
meant a swindler. The word has now the meanings (1) a
low joke, (2) a swindle, (3) an object of sport.
1600. Heywood, 2 Edward IV., i. 1. There domineering with his drunken
crew Makes JIGS of us.

1620. Cotgrave, Dictionarie, s.v. Farce ... the JYG at the end of an
enterlude, wherein some pretie knaverie is acted.
1652. Stapylton, Herodion (quoted in Notions). Devising with his mates
to find a JIGG, That he thereby might make himself a king.

Jimmy. All jimmy, adv. phr. (Cambridge).—All nonsense.
[Cf. Jemmy-burty (Cambridge) = an ignis fatuus.]

Jink, subs. (Durham).—A dodge: at football.

Jockey, subs. (Winchester).—(1) To supplant; (2) to
appropriate; (3) to engage: e.g. “He JOCKEYED me UP to
books”; “Who has JOCKEYED my baker”; “This court is
JOCKEYED.” Probably an extended use of the word
borrowed from turf slang. Jockey not = the Commoner
cry claiming exemption, answering to “feign” at other
schools: of which the College “finge” seems a
translation. The opposite of JOCKEY UP = to LOSE DOWN.—
Notions.
1881. Felstedian, Nov. p. 75, “A Day’s Fagging at Winchester.” Here let
me observe that only the præfects have separate basins to wash in; the
juniors use the two stone conduits. As there are seven who are not
præfects, there is rather a rush for them, so I JOCKEY (i.e. secure) one for
the “candlekeeper” by turning on some water and putting his sponge into
it.

John (Westminster).—See College John.

Johnian, subs. (Cambridge).—A student of St. John’s
College: also JOHNIAN PIG or Hog—see Hog. Also as adj.:
e.g. JOHNIAN blazer, JOHNIAN melody, &c.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Hog ... Johnian hogs, an appellation
given to the members of St. John’s College, Cambridge.
1829. Praed, Poems, “The Vicar.” Sit in the Vicar’s seat: you’ll hear The
doctrine of a gentle JOHNIAN.
1841. Westminster Review, xxxv. 236. The JOHNIANS are always known as
pigs. They put up a new organ the other day which was immediately
christened “Baconi Novum Organum.”

Joram, subs. (Winchester).—A tin beer-can, used in
Commoners; a quart pot. [Var. dial. = a large dish or
jug.] In College a Bob (q.v.) was used.

Jordan (Eton).—See Playing-fields.

Jossop, subs. (general).—Syrup; juice; gravy; sauce.

Jubilee, subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—A pleasant time:
e.g. The town was all in a JUBILEE of feasts.—Dryden.
1772. G. A. Stevens, Songs Comic and Satyrical, p. 192. Day by day, and
night by night, Joyful JUBILEES we keep.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester (1866), 216. Jubilee—Any
time when there was nothing to do, either in the way of lessons or
fagging.

June (Eton).—See Fourth of June.

Jungle, The (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—The Seminary wood.
1889. Stonyhurst Mag., iii. 347. The welcome shade of what was
facetiously called THE JUNGLE.

Junior, subs. (Winchester).—All Inferiors except the seven
Candlekeepers (q.v.) and Senior Inferior.
Adj. (Winchester).—Applied to all comparable objects.
Of two neighbouring trees, the bigger is the “senior”:
there are a “senior” and a “JUNIOR” end to a table, a
room, &c. Tight junior = lowest of all.
1891. Wrench, Winchester Word-Book, s.v. Junior.... At about the end of
the fifteenth century senior and JUNIOR superseded major and minor,
before which the two sets of words seem to have been used concurrently.

Junior Hall (Shrewsbury).—See Senior Hall.

Junior Soph. See Soph.

Junket! intj. (Winchester).—An exclamation of self-
congratulation: e.g. “JUNKET” I’ve got a “remi.” Hence to
JUNKET OVER = to exult over. [Junketing = a merry-
making.]
1630. Wadsworth [Wrench]. They made him oft-times go on foot, whilst
they rode about JUNKETTING in his coach.
d. 1745. Swift, Works. Whatever good bits you can pilfer in the day, save
them to JUNKET with your fellow-servants at night.

eelie, subs. (Royal High School, Edin.: obsolete).—
A town boy. Now = “cad.”

Keep. To KEEP CHAPEL, verb. phr. (University).—See quot.
1852.
1850. Household Words, ii. p. 161. “As you have failed to make up your
number of chapels the last two weeks,” such were the very words of the
Dean, “you will, if you please, KEEP every CHAPEL till the end of the
term.”
1852. Bristed, Five Years, &c., 32. The undergraduate is expected to go
to chapel eight times, or, in academic parlance, to KEEP eight CHAPELS a
week.
To keep cave, verb. phr. (Eton).—To watch and give
warning on a tutor’s approach.
1883. Brinsley Richards, Seven Years at Eton, ch. iv. Another had to
mount guard in the passage, or on the staircase, TO KEEP cave.

Kick. To kick over, verb. phr. (Winchester).—To kick a
ball up in the air, when it is rolling along, or lying on
the ground: considered very bad play.—Mansfield (c.
1840). Ibid., 217. Kick-in.—In a game at football the

bounds on each side were kept by a line of Juniors,
whose duty it was to KICK the ball IN again whenever it
passed outside the line. See Kicking-in.

Kicking-in, subs. (Winchester).—See quot., and Kick.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 138. But
football wasn’t all beer and skittles to the Fags. There was an institution
called KICKING-IN, which, while it lasted, was much worse than “watching
out” at cricket, although it had the very great merit of not continuing so
long; for, even on a whole holiday, we seldom had more than two hours
of it.

Kick-off, subs. (Winchester).—Taking the football in hand
and kicking it into the air: this was done after each
Schitt (q.v.), Gowner (q.v.), or Goal (q.v.) by the losing
side, and whenever a ball that had been kicked up in the
air had been caught by one of the other side.—
Mansfield (c. 1840).

Kid, subs. 1. (Winchester).—Cheese.
2. (The Leys).—A boy under fifteen. Hence KID-SIXES =
football for KIDS—six a side.

Kill, verb (Winchester).—To hurt badly.
1800. Edgeworth, Castle Rackrent, “Glossary.” This word [KILL] ...
means not killed, but much hurt. In Ireland, not only cowards but the
brave “die many times before their death.” There “killing is no murder.”

1836. Marryat, Japhet, iii. Sure enough it cured me, but wasn’t I quite
KILT before I was cured.

Kill-me-quick, subs. (The Leys).—A tuck-shop cake.

King Edward’s, Birm.—A curious custom exists here of
inherited nicknames: e.g. Years ago a boy named
Pearson was nicknamed “Jelly”; every Pearson, though
unrelated to the other, for many years afterwards was
nicknamed “Jelly.” A trio of brothers have been
successively named “Tiddley,” others “Topsy,” and
“Bowie.” An elder brother was called “Pussy,” and his
younger brother “Kitten.”

Kings, To get kings, verb. phr. (Eton).—To obtain a
scholarship at King’s Coll., Cambridge. See Ripping.

Kingsman, subs. (Cambridge).—A member of King’s
College.
1852. Bristed, Five Years, 127. He came out the winner, with the
KINGSMAN, and one of our three.

Kip, verb (Royal High School, Edin.).—To play truant.
Common throughout Scotland. [Possibly from “skip.”]

Kish, subs. (Marlborough).—A cushion: in ordinary use
doubled up under the arm for carrying school books, as

well as for sitting on in Form or Hall. As verb = to use a
cushion as a weapon of offence. See Compound-kish.

Kittle-nine-steps, subs. phr. (Royal High School, Edin.:
obsolete).—A pass on the very brink of the Castle rock,
to the north, by which it is just possible for a goat or a
High School boy to turn the corner of the building
where it rises from the edge of the precipice. See Hell-
and-neck-boy.

Klondyke, subs. (The Leys).—A cross-country run to St.
Botolph’s.

Knave, subs. (Christ’s Hospital).—A dunce: at Hertford, a
KNACK.

Knock. To knock in, verb. phr. (Oxford).—1. To return to
College after GATE is closed.
1825. English Spy, i. 155. “Close the oak, Jem,” said Horace Eglantine,
“and take care no one KNOCKS IN before we have knocked down the
contents of your master’s musical mélange.”
1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends, p. 464 [ed. 1862]. That same
afternoon Father Dick, who as soon Would KNOCK IN or “cut chapel,” as
jump o’er the moon, Was missing at vespers—at complines—all night!
And his monks were of course in a deuce of a fright.
1853. Cuthbert Bede, Verdant Green, I. xi. At first, too, he was on such
occasions greatly alarmed at finding the gates of Brazenface closed,
obliging him thereby to KNOCK IN.

1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, p. 458 [ed. 1864]. There’s twelve
striking. I must KNOCK IN. Good night. You’ll be round to breakfast at
nine?
2. To knock out, verb. phr. (Oxford).—To leave college
after hours: of out of college men only. See Knock in.
1861. H. Kingsley, Ravenshoe, vii. Five out-college men had KNOCKED
OUT at a quarter to three, refusing to give any name but the dean’s.

1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, xlv. p. 503 [ed. 1864]. “Hullo!” he
said, getting up; “time for me to KNOCK OUT, or old Copas will be in bed.”
3. To knock up, verb. phr. (Christ’s Hospital).—To gain
a place in class: e.g. I KNOCKED UP, and “I KNOCKED Jones
UP.” The Hertford equivalent is OX UP (q.v.). Both forms
are now obsolete.

Knuckle. To knuckle down, verb. phr. (Winchester).—To
kneel.
1748. Dyche, Dict. (5th ed.). Knuckle-down (verb) to stoop, bend, yield,
comply with, or submit to.

abyrinth (The), subs. (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—A
part of the Garden.

Lag, subs. (Harrow).—The last. The “lag of the school,”
the last boy in Bill-order (q.v.) in the school.
1881. Pascoe, Every-day Life in our Public Schools. Every morning the
LAG junior prepares and brings to hall the list.

Lage, subs. (University: obsolete).—To wash. [Cf. the old
cant term lagge = a bundle of clothes for washing.]

Lamb’s-tails, subs. (The Leys).—A cake sold at the tuck-
shop.

Landies, subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—Gaiters. [From
tradespeople—Landy and Currell—who supplied them.]

Land of Promises, subs. phr. (University).—See quot.

1823. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Land of Promises. The fair expectation
cherished by a steady novice at Oxford.

Land of Sheepishness, subs. phr. (old University).—See
quot.
1823. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Land of Sheepishness. Schoolboy’s
bondage.

Largitate, subs. (The Leys).—Apple-pie. [From the
College grace.]

Lash, verb (Christ’s Hospital).—To envy. Generally in
imperative as a taunt.
1890. The Blue, Oct., “The Queen in the City.” Our lips LASH on learning
that the “general bill of fare” contained 200 tureens of turtle, 200 bottles
of sherbot (what is this?), 50 boiled turkeys, and oysters.

Late-play, subs. (Westminster).—A half-holiday or
holiday beginning at noon. See Early Play.

Launch, verb (general).—See quots.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester (1866), 218. Launch—To
drag a boy out of bed, mattress, bed-clothes, and all.
1865. G. J. Berkeley, My Life, &c., i. 129. I had [at Sandhurst about
1815] to undergo the usual torments of being LAUNCHED, that is, having
my bed reversed while I was asleep; of being thrown on the floor on my
face, with the mattress on my back, and all my friends or foes dancing on
my prostrate body.

Lawful Time, subs. (Winchester).—Recess; playtime.

Leave, subs. (general).—Leave of absence from school; a
holiday.

Leaving-money, subs. (Eton). See quot.
1865. Etoniana, p. 70. The restrictions [temp. Eliz.] by which the masters
were forbidden to take any fees (even from oppidans) was probably
evaded, almost from the first, by the system then universal in all
transactions of giving presents, under which heading the sons of wealthy
parents soon began to pay pretty highly for their education. Traces of this
arrangement remain in the custom still prevailing—not at all to the credit
of the school—of presenting a sum as LEAVING-MONEY to the head-master
and the private tutor. At what time assistant-masters were first appointed
does not appear; but they were no doubt paid, up to a comparatively late
date, entirely from such fees as the parents of those under their tuition
chose to give them.

Lecker, subs. 1. (Oxford).—A lecture.
2. (Harrow).—The electric light.

Legion of Honour, subs. (Cambridge).—The last twelve
in the mathematical TRIPOS (q.v.).
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Pluck.... These unfortunate fellows are
designated by many opprobrious appellations, such as the Twelve
Apostles, the LEGION OF HONOUR, Wise Men of the East, &c.

Lemonade, subs. (Stonyhurst).—A day of high festival,
coming twice a year, at Shrove-tide and at Easter.

Lemon Peel Fight, subs. phr. (Charterhouse: obsolete).—
See quot.
1900. Tod, Charterhouse, 80. On Shrove-Tuesday, according to a custom
dating from 1850 or probably earlier, every boy used to receive half a
lemon with his pancake at dinner. This he reserved to use as a missile in
the fight which was to take place directly afterwards. At Old
Charterhouse, gownboys used to stand against the rest of the school, and
the fight consisted in each side pelting the other with the half lemons. It
lasted for fifteen or twenty minutes, and was begun and ended by a house
bell being rung. During these twenty minutes a good many bruises and
black eyes could be received, for combatants fought at quite close
quarters; and unpopular monitors were sometimes badly damaged. At
New Charterhouse the sides were at first Old Charterhouse v. New. In
1877 they were changed again to Out-houses v. The Rest. This was the
last fight. Grave abuses had crept in. The lemons were no longer simple
lemons, but a sort of bomb-shell, loaded with pebbles or ink, and several
boys were badly hurt. So the Sixth Form in 1878 “totally abolished
LEMON PEEL as a barbarous and obsolete practice.” It required a strong
Sixth Form to do this, for the fight was popular, and their action is one of
the best things that the school has done for itself. Its abolition differs from
the abolition of fighting; the latter became obsolete through the action of
public opinion; LEMON PEEL was abolished by an ukase almost in defiance
of public opinion.

Lent Suppers. See Public-supping.

Let. To let in, verb. phr. (Oxford).—To associate with.

1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, i. He has also been good enough to
recommend to me many tradesmen, ... but, with the highest respect for
friend Perkins (my scout) and his obliging friends, I shall make some
inquiries before LETTING IN with any of them.

Let-out, subs. (Tonbridge).—Any less extensive holiday
than a half holiday.

Levite, subs. (Tonbridge).—A boy leaving the school.

Levy, subs. (Rugby).—See quot.
1856. Hughes, Tom Brown’s School-days, viii. In fact, the solemn
assembly, a LEVY of the school, had been held, at which the captain of the
school had got up, and, after premising that several instances had
occurred of matters having been reported to the masters; that this was
against public morality and School tradition; that a LEVY of the sixth had
been held on the subject, and they had resolved that the practice must be
stopped at once.

Lib, subs. (Charterhouse).—The Library. Whence LIB. COLL.
= a collection of library books.

Licet, adj. and adv. (Winchester).—Allowed; permissible;
befitting a Wykehamist.

Lick. To lick off the Field, verb. phr. (Harrow).—To get
five Bases (q.v.) before the other side scores one, in a
Footer (q.v.) House-match: this closes the game.

Lie. To lie in, verb. phr. (Royal Military Academy).—To
keep one’s room when supposed to be out on leave.

Lincoln Devil (The), subs. (Oxford).—A curious gilded
deformed image (copied from a figure in Lincoln
Cathedral) which decorates the bows of the Lincoln
boat. Replicas are honoured by, and found in the rooms
of, most Lincoln men.

Lines, subs. (general).—The usual punishment—the
copying out of so many lines of Greek or Latin. Hence
TO BE PUT ON LINES (Harrow) = to have to show up so
many lines each half-hour for a certain number of half-
holidays, for being late for chapel, &c.

Links, subs. (Loretto).—A short run or walk before
breakfast: about half a mile. [Formerly always across
Musselburgh Links: now there are various LINKS
according to circumstances.]

Lion, subs. (old University).—See quot.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Lion.... Also the name given by the
gownsmen of Oxford to inhabitants or visitors.

Lions, The (Stonyhurst).—The two pillars in front of the
College.

Little Figures, subs. (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—The old
name for the class of Elements (q.v.).
1895. Stonyhurst Magazine, v. p. 519. I was sent to Stonyhurst, when I
was put into the class of LITTLE FIGURES.

Little Figuricians, subs. phr. (Stonyhurst).—See Little
Figures.

Little-go, subs. (University).—The public examination
which students at the English Universities have to pass
in the second year of residence: also called the
“previous examination” (as preceding the final one for a
degree), and, at Oxford, SMALLS (q.v.).
1841. Thackeray, King of Brentford’s Testament, 86, 7. At college,
though not fast, Yet his LITTLE-GO and great-go He creditably pass’d.
1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, iii. A tutor, don’t you see, old boy? He’s
coaching me, and some other men, for the LITTLE-GO.
1853. Bradley, Verdant Green, vii. “Oh,” said Mr. Charles Larkyns,
“they give you no end of trouble at these places; and they require the
vaccination certificate before you go in for your responsions—the LITTLE-
GO, you know.”

Little Man, subs. (Eton).—See quot., and Appendix.
1866-72. Sketchy Memoirs of Eton, p. 16. He called the footman (or
LITTLE MAN ...) and bade him reach down the obnoxious placard.

Little Refectory, subs. (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—A room in
the old College, sometimes used as a refectory for

smaller boys.

Little-side, subs. (Rugby).—A term applied to all games
organised between houses only. See Big-side.
1856. Hughes, Tom Brown’s School-days, vii. In all the games too he
joined with all his heart, and soon became well versed in all the mysteries
of football, by continual practice at the School-house LITTLE-SIDE, which
played daily.

Lob, subs. (Winchester).—A “yorker”; never, as in
ordinary cricket phraseology, an underhand delivery.

Lobster, intj. (general).—A signal of a master’s approach.
Verb (Winchester).—To cry. [Lowster or louster (South)
= to make a clumsy rattling noise.]

Lockback, subs. (Winchester).—A Holiday or Remedy
(q.v.), on which, from bad weather or any other cause,
the boys did not go on to Hills (q.v.), but remained on
the school side of Seventh Chamber Passage Gate.—
Mansfield (c. 1840).

Lockees, subs. (Westminster).—Lockhouse.

Lockites (Charterhouse).—See Out-houses.

Locks and Keys, intj. (Winchester).—See Peals.

Lock-up, subs. (Harrow).—Locking up—the time by
which all have to be in their Houses for the night; the
hour varies with the season, from 5.30 P.M. to 8.30 P.M.

Log, subs. (general).—The last boy of his “form” or
“house.”

Logie, subs. (Winchester).—Sewage.

Log-pond, subs. (Winchester).—A sewer.

London-cricket, subs. (Stonyhurst).—The modern game:
to distinguish it from Stonyhurst-cricket (q.v.).

Long. The Long (University).—The summer vacation.
1852. Bristed, Five Years in an English University, p. 37. For a month or
six weeks in THE LONG they rambled off to see the sights of Paris.
1863. Reade, Hard Cash, i. 17. “I hope I shall not be [‘ploughed for
smalls’] to vex you and puss ...” “... Puss? that is me [sister Julia]. How
dare he? Did I not forbid all these nicknames and all this Oxfordish, by
proclamation, last LONG.” “Last LONG?” [remonstrates mamma]. “Hem!
last protracted vacation.”
The Longs, subs. (Oxford).—The latrines at Brasenose.
[Built by Lady Long.]

Long-box, subs. (Winchester).—A deal box for holding
bats, stumps, balls, &c.—Mansfield (c. 1840).

Long Chamber, subs. (Eton).—See quot. Long Chamber
still exists, but in a very different condition.
1890. Great Public Schools, 14. To Francis Hodgson, who was elected
Provost in 1840, is primarily due the vast improvement in the condition
of the scholars, or collegers, which was effected in the course of the next
few years.... Long Chamber, a dormitory containing no less than fifty-two
beds, notorious for its filth and discomfort, was considerably curtailed,
and separate rooms were provided for forty-nine boys by the erection of a
new wing.

Long-dispar, subs. (Winchester).—See quot.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life, 84. There were six of these [DISPARS
(q.v.) or portions] to a shoulder, and eight to a leg of mutton, the other
joints being divided in like proportion. All these “dispars” had different
names; the thick slice out of the centre of the leg was called a “middle
cut,” ... the ribs “Racks,” the loin LONG DISPARS.

Long-fork, subs. (Winchester).—See quot.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life, 80. We had not proper toasting forks,
but pieces of stick called LONG FORKS.

Long-glass, subs. (Eton).—See quot.
1883. Brinsley Richards, Seven Years at Eton, 321. A glass nearly a yard
long, shaped like the horn of a stage-coach guard, and with a hollow
globe instead of a foot. It held a quart of beer, and the ceremony of
drinking out of it constituted an initiation into the higher circle of Etonian

swelldom. There was LONG-GLASS drinking once or twice a week during
the summer half. The invités attended in an upper room of Tap after two,
and each before the long glass was handed to him had a napkin tied round
his neck. It was considered a grand thing to drain the glass without
removing it from the lips, and without spilling any of its contents. This
was difficult, because when the contents of the tubular portion of the
glass had been sucked down, the beer in the globe would remain for a
moment as if congealed there: then if the drinker tilted the glass up a
little, and shook it, the motionless beer would give a gurgle and come
with a sudden rush all over his face. There was a way of holding the long
glass at a certain angle by which catastrophes were avoided. Some boys
could toss off their quart of ale in quite superior style, and I may as well
remark that these clever fellows could do little else.

Long-grass, subs. (Winchester).—All Meads (q.v.) except
the paths and Turf (q.v.).

Long-meads, subs. 1. (Winchester).—A field between
Sick-house (q.v.) and Commoners (q.v.): now thrown
into Meads (q.v.).
2. (Winchester).—“The time after dinner on summer
evenings, when we went on to Underhills.”—
Mansfield (c. 1840).

Long-paper, subs. (Winchester).—Foolscap.

Long Quarter, subs. (Charterhouse).—One of the school
terms: now the shortest of the three, which are Long,
Summer, and Oration Quarter. The Summer is

colloquially known as Cricket-Quarter, and the
oration has been abolished.

Long Room, The (Stonyhurst).—The Museum. [From its
shape.]

Long Wallyford, subs. (Loretto).—The usual run on a wet
short school day: about five miles. See Wallyford and
Faside.

Lord’s (Winchester and Harrow).—See Appendix.

Lorettonian, subs. (Loretto).—Frequently applied to boys
who wear even fewer clothes than usual at Loretto; or
who delight in violating the conventions of the outside
world in sensible ways.

Lose. To lose down (Winchester).—See Jockey.

Loss. Fain loss, intj. (Felsted).—The formula by which a
claim was made to a vacant seat. An obsolete equivalent
was Fain lo; also No loss. See Fain.

Lounge, subs. (Eton and Cambridge).—A treat; a chief
meal. See Appendix.
1864. The Press, Nov. 12. By the way, we miss the Etonian word LOUNGE,
for which there is classic authority. “I don’t care for dinner,” said Harry

Coningsby at his grandfather’s table; “breakfast is my LOUNGE.”

Lout, subs. (Rugby).—Any one of the poorer classes: not
necessarily an awkward, lubberly individual.
1856. Hughes, Tom Brown’s School-days, v. “Hullo tho’,” says East,
pulling up, and taking another look at Tom, “this’ll never do—haven’t
you got a hat?—we never wear caps here. Only the LOUTS wear caps.
Bless you, if you were to go into the quadrangle with that thing on, I——
don’t know what’d happen.”

Lower Club (Eton).—See Playing-fields.

Lower Line, subs. (Stonyhurst).—The four lowest classes.
1890. Felstedian, Feb., p. 2. Well, Johnson ma, happening to meet
Tompkins mi just before first Prep, &c.

Low-man, subs. (Cambridge).—A Junior Optimé as
compared to a Senior Optimé or a Wrangler.

Luff, verb (Derby).—To hit out; to slog: as at cricket.

Lush, subs. (Eton).—A dainty.

Lux, subs. (Christ’s Hospital).—A good thing; a splendid
thing: e.g. My knife is wooston a LUX. A Hertford word
[? luxury]. Obsolete.

Luxer, subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—A handsome fellow.

ad, adj. (Winchester).—Angry; vexed. [Old
English, now dial. in England, but universal in
America. “Originally severely injured” (Skeat).
“Enraged, furious” (Johnson).]

1369. Chaucer, Troilus [Skeat, 1894], line 479. Ne made him thus in
armes for to MADDE.
1593. Shakspeare, Titus And., iii. 1. 104. Had I but seen thy picture in this
plight, It would have MADDED me. Ibid., iii. 1. 223. If the winds rage doth
not the sea wax MAD.
1596. Jonson, Every Man in His Humour, iv. 1. You’d MAD the patient’st
body in the world.
1607. Middleton, Your Five Gallants [De Vere]. They are MAD; she
graced me with one private minute above their fortunes.
1611. Acts xxvi. 11 [Authorised Version].—And being exceeding MAD
against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
1667. Pepys, Diary, iv. 482 [Bickers, 1875]. The king is MAD at her
entertaining Jermin, and she is MAD at Jermin’s going to marry from her,
so they are all MAD; and so the kingdom is governed.
1816. Pickering, Collection of Words, &c., s.v. Mad, in the sense of
“angry,” is considered as a low word in this country, and at the present
day is never used except in very familiar conversation.
1824. R. B. Peake, Americans Abroad, i. 1. I guess—I’m MADDED, but I’ll
bite in my breath a bit—not that I’m sitch a tarnation fool as to believe all

you tell me.
1848. Ruxton, Life in the Far West, p. 167. That nation is MAD.
1871. New Era, April [De Vere]. The Squire’s MAD riz.
1891. N. Gould, Double Event, p. 189. My eye! won’t he be just MAD.

Made-beer, subs. (Winchester).—College swipes bottled
with rice, a few raisins, sugar, and nutmeg to make it
“up.”

Magistrand, subs. (Aberdeen).—A student in arts of the
last (the fourth) year. Cf. Bejan.

Make, verb (Winchester).—1. To appropriate.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life, 46. In the matter of certain articles ...
supplied by the College, we used to put a liberal interpretation on the
eighth commandment, ... and it was considered fair to MAKE them if you
could.
2. To appoint Præfect.

Man, subs. (general).—A student: almost universal in
School phraseology instead of “boy.”
1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. Man (Cambridge). Any undergraduate from fifteen to
thirty. As, a MAN of Emanuel—a young member of Emanuel.
1853. Bradley, Verdant Green, iii. The thought that he was going to be an
Oxford MAN fortunately assisted him in the preservation of that tranquil
dignity and careless ease which he considered to be the necessary
adjuncts of the manly character ... and Mr. Verdant Green was enabled to
say “Good-bye” with a firm voice and undimmed spectacles.

See Wise Men of the East.

Marker, subs. (Cambridge).—A person employed to walk
up and down chapel during a part of the service,
pricking off the names of the students present.
1849. Blackwood’s Mag., May. His name pricked off upon the MARKER’S
roll, No twinge of conscience racks his easy soul.

Master, subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—A title: of rustics,
bargees, &c.

Match, subs. (Stonyhurst).—A division in which the boys
play: e.g. “I’m in the third MATCH.” “This is the second
MATCH ground.” “He’s a first MATCH bowler.”

Math. Ex., subs. (Charterhouse).—A mathematical
exercise.

Mathemat, subs. (Christ’s Hospital).—See quots.
1895. Gleanings from The Blue, 1870-95, 77. It is true that the MATHEMAT
does take the labours of his hands to the Queen, and is proud to do so; but
it is a pity that the reputation of the school should depend upon such
ceremonies as these. [See Appendix.]
1900. Pall Mall Gaz., 20th Mar., 3. 2. One of the things that strike a
stranger is the metal plate upon some shoulders, so it may be as well to
say here that it merely marks the members of the Mathematical School,
which trains boys for the sea, and interested Mr. Samuel Pepys.

Mathy, subs. (Manchester Grammar).—Mathematics.

Matron’s-gift, subs. (Christ’s Hospital).—See quot.
c. 1844. Reminiscences of Christ’s Hospital [Blue, Aug. 1874]. Once
annually the boys were served at supper with what was called the
“MATRON’S GIFT,”—cream cheese; but they never could appreciate this
luxury. It was in vain that the good old matron, with a sister the very
counterpart of herself, walked round the different tables, expatiating in
glowing terms upon the merits of this “beautiful cheese,” as she called it,
and wondering how any one could fail to have a liking for this luxurious
gift.

May, subs. (Cambridge).—Easter Term examinations, &c.
1852. Bristed, Five Years, &c., 70. As the MAY approached I began to
feel nervous.
1891. Harry Fludyer at Cambridge, 104. I suppose you know the Mater
and the girls are coming up here for the MAY week. It’s called the MAY
week, but we always have it early in June now. I believe, some years ago,
it really used to be in May.
1896. Felstedian, June, 95, “Cambridge Letter.” The MAYS were rowed
under very favourable conditions, and produced some grand struggles.

Meads, subs. (Winchester).—The College cricket ground.
Water-meads = the valley of the Itchen.

Medes and Persians, subs. phr. (Winchester).—Jumping
on a MAN (q.v.) when in bed.

Melon, subs. (Royal Military Academy).—A new cadet.

Men. See Wise Men of the East.

Mesopotamia, subs. 1. (Oxford).—See quot.
1886. Pall Mall Gazette, 23rd June, p. 13. Every Oxford man has known
and loved the beauties of the walk called MESOPOTAMIA.
2. (Eton).—See Playing-fields.

Mess, subs. (Winchester).—See quot.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester (1866), 219. Mess—The
Præfects’ tables in Hall were called “Tub, Middle, and Junior MESS”
respectively. The boys who dined at each were also so named. Any
number of boys who habitually breakfasted together were so called with
some distinguishing prefix, such as “Deputy’s MESS.” In Chambers tea
was called MESS; as was also the remains of a joint of meat. Lest the
reader should make a “MESS” of all these different meanings, I will give a
sentence in which they shall all figure: “Look there, Junior MESS has sat
down at Tub MESS, but as they will find nothing left but a MESS, they had
better go down to Chambers, as MESS is ready.”

Middle-briars, subs. (Charterhouse).—A recess in the
middle of cloisters where Eleven meetings used to be
held; now a place in cloisters where names are carved:
becoming obsolete.

Middle-cut, subs. (Winchester).—See quot., and Dispar.

c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life, p. 84. There were ... eight [portions] to a
leg of mutton; ... the thick slice out of the centre of the leg was called a
MIDDLE CUT.

Middle Fire (Westminster).—See Upper Fire.

Middle-green (Charterhouse).—The new cricket-ground
used by “The Maniacs.”

Middle-mess, subs. (Winchester).—See Mess.

Middle Part the Fifth, subs. phr. (Winchester).—
Generally called MIDDLE PART. See Books.

Middle-week, subs. (Rugby).—A half-holiday on every
third Monday. [Modern Rugs (q.v.) say “because it was
never the middle of anything.”]

Milk-hole, subs. (Winchester).—The hole formed by the
ROUSH (q.v.) under POT (q.v.).

Miller (Harrow).—“The Milling Ground”: between the
school-yard and Squash (q.v.) courts. Here all fights had
to be conducted in public. The practice is extinct, and
the ground is now used as a Morris-tube range.

Minister, subs. (Stonyhurst).—The superior responsible
for the matériel: as food, servants, &c.

Minor, subs. (Eton).—A younger brother. Also Mi.
1864. Eton School-days, vii. “Let my MINOR pass, you fellows!”
exclaimed Horsham.
1890. Felstedian, Feb., p. 2. I was born in the month of Tompkins MI.

Mitre, subs. (University).—A hat. See Tufts.

Moab, subs. 1. (University: obsolete).—A hat; specifically,
the turban-shaped hat fashionable among ladies 1858-9.
[From the Scripture phrase, “Moab is my wash-pot”
(Ps. lx. 8).]
1864. Reader, Oct. 22. Moab, a ... hat.... University it is all over. We feel
sure we know the undergraduate who coined the expression; he is now a
solemn don delivering lectures in Cambridge.
1884. Graphic, 20th Sept., p. 307-2. The third, with his varnished boots,
his stiff brown MOAB of the newest fashion, his well-displayed shirt-cuffs.
2. (Winchester).—See quot.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life, 190. On the west side of school court, a
spacious room, nicknamed MOAB, has been erected, with numerous
marble basins, and an unlimited supply of fresh water.
1865. Etoniana, 21. Like Wykeham’s scholars, the Eton boys rose [temp.
Eliz.] at five, said their Latin prayers antiphonally while dressing, then
made their own beds and swept out their chambers. Two by two they then
“went down” to wash, probably at some outdoor conduit or fountain like
the old Winchester MOAB.

1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 45. Independent of very early hours
and somewhat coarse fare, it was not pleasant to have to wash at the old
MOAB, as it was called—an open conduit in the quadrangle, where it was
necessary, on a severe winter morning, for a junior to melt the ice on the
stop-cock with a lighted faggot before any water could be got to flow at
all.

Mob. To mob up, verb. phr. (Charterhouse).—To hustle; TO
BARGE (q.v.); TO BRICK (q.v.).

Mods, subs. (Oxford).—The first public examination for
degrees. [An abbreviation of “Moderations.”]
1887. Chambers’s Journal, 14th May, 310. Mods cannot be attempted
until the end of one year from matriculation, and need not be tackled until
the expiration of two.

Monarch, subs. (Eton).—The ten-oared boat.

Money and Direction Rolls, intj. (Winchester).—See
Peals.

Monitor, subs. 1. (Stonyhurst).—One of the chief
members of the Higher Line Sodality (q.v.),
responsible for the behaviour of the other boys in
Church and Chapel.
2. (general).—A senior scholar entrusted with the
supervision of school work and pastimes. See Præfect.

Monkey. See Fresh-herring, and Appendix.

Monos, subs. (Westminster).—A junior detailed for duty
during regular school hours, who remains on guard at
the door of the college, as a sentinel, to see that no
suspicious characters find their way in. This functionary
is known as MONOS [i.e. Monitor ostii].... An officer of
the same kind ... at Winchester ... bore a similar name,
Ostiarius (q.v.).—Collins.

Mons, subs. (Winchester).—A crowd. Also as verb: e.g.
“Square round there, don’t MONS.”

Montem, subs. (Eton).—An Eton custom up to 1847,
which consisted in the scholars going in procession on
the Whit-Tuesday of every third year to a mound (Lat.
ad montem) near the Bath Road, and exacting a gratuity
from persons present or passing by. The collection was
given to the captain or senior scholar, and helped to
defray his expenses at the University. See Salt, and
Sloane MS. 4839, f. 85.
1890. Brewer, Phrase and Fable, s.v. Salt-hill. The mound at Eton [near
the Bath Road], where the Eton scholars used to collect money from the
visitors on Montem day. The mound is still called Salt Hill, and the
money given was called salt. The word salt is similar to the Latin
sala’rium (salary), the pay given to Roman soldiers and civil officers.
Ibid. Montem.... Sometimes as much as £1000 was thus collected.

Morning-hills, subs. (Winchester).—See quot.

c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life, 52. On holidays and Remedies we were
turned out for a couple of hours on to St. Catherine’s Hill ... once before
breakfast (MORNING HILLS), and again in the afternoon (MIDDLE HILLS).

Mortar-board (or Mortar), subs. (general).—The
trencher-cap worn at certain Public Schools and at the
Universities.
1600. Kemp, Nine Days’ Wonder, “Ded. Ep.” So that methinkes I could
flye to Rome ... with a MORTER on my head.
d. 1635. Bishop Corbet to T. Coryate. No more shall man with MORTAR
on his head Set forward towards Rome.
1647. Fletcher, Fair Maid of the Inn, v. 2. He ... may now travel to Rome
with a MORTAR on’s head.
1857. Cuthbert Bede, Verdant Green, pt. II. ch. iii. “I don’t mind this ’ere
MORTAR-BOARD, sir,” remarked the professor of the noble art of self-
defence, as he pointed to the academical cap which surmounted his head.
1864. Fun, 21st May, p. 96. Anon I saw a gentle youth (no “sub fusc”
undergrad.). “Toga virilis” he had none, no MORTAR-BOARD he had.
1881. Pascoe, Every-day Life, 147. On admission ... a boy provides
himself with a MORTAR or college-cap.
1898. Stonyhurst Mag., Dec., p. 149, “Life at Oxford.” The wearing of a
cap and gown is another novelty for freshmen. At first one is apt to feel
very foolish under a “MORTAR-BOARD” and in the folds of the academic
gown, particularly in the miserable garb assigned to commoners (i.e.
undergraduates without scholarships).

Mouse-digger, subs. (Winchester).—See quot.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life, 150. Plying the MOUSE-DIGGER (a kind of
diminutive pick-axe) in search of mice.

Mud-student, subs. (general).—A student at the
Agricultural College, Cirencester.
1856. Notes and Queries, 2 S., ii. 198. A young friend of mine ... a MUD-
STUDENT.

Muff, verb (Eton).—To fail in an examination; TO BE SPUN
(q.v.) or PLUCKED (q.v.); TO SKIP A COG (q.v.).
1884. Julian Sturgis, in Longmans’ Mag., iii. 617. Freddy and Tommy
and Dicky have all MUFFED for the army. It’s really dreadful!
To muff a catch, verb. phr. (Stonyhurst).—To catch a
ball against the chest, or in any way not clean with both
hands. In cricket, as played at Stonyhurst, such a catch
did not put the batsman out: obsolete.

Mug, verb (Winchester and Sherborne).—(1) To study; to
work hard: e.g. I MUGGED all the morning, and shall
thoke (Winchester) this afternoon. (2) To take pains; to
beautify: e.g. “He has MUGGED his study, and made it
quite cud.” [Cf. mug = to paint the face or “make up.”]
Hence MUGSTER = a hard-working student. See -STER and
Bat-mugger.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life, 122. The præfects would ... set to work
MUGGING.

1881. Felstedian, Nov., p. 74. I remember that the senior præfect is going
to get up to MUG early before chapel.
1890. G. Allen, The Tents of Shem, xxiv. “Miss Knyvett,” and he paused
with his brush upturned, “you’re a sight too clever for me to talk to.”
“Not clever,” Iris corrected; “only well read. I’ve MUGGED it up out of

books, that’s all.” Ibid., ii. Instead of reading her “Odyssey” and her
“Lucretius,” and MUGGING up amusing works on conic sections.

Muse, subs. (Charterhouse).—The Museum.

Mustard-and-Pepper Keeper, subs. phr. (Winchester).—
An appointment in the gift of Præfect of Hall, which
exempted the holder from Watching-out (q.v.) at
cricket, or Kicking-in (q.v.) at football.—Mansfield (c.
1840). Obsolete.

Muttoner, subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—A blow on the
knuckles from a cricket-ball while holding the bat.

Muzz, verb (Westminster).—To read.

ail, subs. (Winchester).—See quot., and Bibling.

c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester (1866), 221. To stand up
under the NAIL—the punishment inflicted on a boy detected in a lie; he
was ordered to stand up on Junior Row, just under the centre sconce,
during the whole of school time. At the close of it he received a Bibler.
Verb. To impress for any kind of fagging; to detect.

Name. To order one’s name, verb. phr. (Winchester:
obsolete).—See quots.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester, 223. Order your name.
An order given to a delinquent by the Head or Second Master, which was
carried out by the boy requesting the Ostiarius to do so, the consequence
of which was, that at the end of school that officer presented to the Master
the victim’s name on a Roll, who forthwith received a Scrubbing. When
the words to the Bible-clerk were added, the business was confided to that
officer, who, with the Ostiarius, officiated at the subsequent ceremony,
which in this case was called a Bibler.
1878. Adams, Wykehamica, xxiii. 429. Order your name, the direction
given to an offender by any of the authorities. The boy so directed, if he
was in College, or if the order was given in school, had to go to the
Ostiarius—or to the Præfect in course, if the offence was committed in
Commoners—and give information of the order, and the reason why it

had been given. The Ostiarius, or the Præfect in course, wrote down the
culprit’s name, together with that of the Master, and the offence, and
carried it up to the Head or Second Master, when due execution was
done.

Native (pron. nahtive), subs. (The Leys).—Originally a
“crib”: now of varied signification. To native a
football = to be tricky with it; as adj. = clever: also
Nativey.

Nescio. To sport a nescio (old University).—See quot.
1823. Grose, Vulg. Tongue [Egan], s.v. Nescio. He sports a nescio; he
pretends not to understand anything. After the senate-house examination
for degrees, the students proceed to the schools to be questioned by the
proctor. According to custom immemorial the answers must be NESCIO.
The following is a translated specimen: Q. What is your name? A. I do
not know. Q. What is the name of this University? A. I do not know. Q.
Who was your father? A. I do not know.

Nestor, subs. (Winchester).—An undersized boy.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester (1866), 221. Nestor—Any
boy who was past eighteen, or was old for his position in the school, or
who was known to be much older than he looked.

New-bug, subs. (general).—A new boy.

New Guinea, subs. (Oxford: obsolete).—See quot.
1823. Grose, Vulg. Tongue [Egan], s.v. New Guinea. First possession of
income.

News, subs. (The Leys).—One division of the “School
House,” with three dormitories—“Upper News,”
“Under News,” “Further News.” See Olds.

New Settlements, subs. (Oxford: obsolete).—See quot.
1823. Grose, Vulg. Tongue [Egan], s.v. New Settlements. Final
reckonings.

Newy, subs. (Winchester).—The CAD (q.v.) paid to look
after the canvas tent in Commoner (q.v.) field.

Nezzar, subs. (Durham: obsolete).—A young lady.

Nick, verb (Durham).—To pray.

Nicks, intj. (Manchester Grammar).—Cave! Look out!
[Said also to be common in Manchester as a warning of
the approach of the police.] See Appendix.

Niff, verb (Derby).—To smell.

Nig, subs. (Christ’s Hospital).—A dodge. Obsolete.

Nigshious, adj. (Christ’s Hospital).—Ingenious: e.g. “a
NIGSHIOUS dodge.” Obsolete.

Nihil-ad-rem, adj. (Winchester).—Vague; unconscious.
Ex. “He sported NIHIL-AD-REM ducks.”

Nine Steps. See Kittle-nine-steps.

Nipper, subs. (Loretto).—Originally a boy of the lowest
Form: since there has been a preparatory House the
term is applied to all the boys there.

Nipperkin, subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—A stone jug
used for serving beer in College between meals. Tea has
long been substituted for beer.
c. 1696. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Nipperkin. Half a pint of Wine, and
but half a Quartern of Brandy, strong waters, &c.
1698-1700. Ward, Lond. Spy, II. (1706), i. 31. By that time we had sipp’d
off our Nipperkin of my Grannums Aqua Mirabilis.
1719. Durfey, Pills to Purge.... Song, Quart-pot, pint-pot, NIPPERKEN, &c.
1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1832. Noctes Ambrosianæ, Sept. William III., who only snoozed over a
NIPPERKIN of Schiedam with a few Dutch favourites.

1882. J. Ashton, Social Life in Reign of Q. Anne, i. 197. [Beer] was of
different qualities, from the “penny NIPPERKIN of Molassas Ale” to “a pint
of Ale cost me five-pence.”
1883. Trollope, What I Remember. It was the duty of the bedmakers to
carry every evening into each chamber a huge NIPPERKIN of beer.

Nob, subs. (Oxford: obsolete).—The Fellow of a College.
[Probably the original application of the colloquial

usage = a person of rank or position; from “nobility.”
Cf. Mob, from mobile vulgus.]
1825. English Spy, i. 136. “We must find you some more tractable
personage; some good-humoured NOB.”

Noggs, subs. (Harrow).—A hereditary name for Custos’
assistant. [From Dickens: the first owner’s name was
Newman—hence Noggs.]

Nomenclature (Harrow).—See Upper School.

Non-attached (or Non-collegiate), adj. (Oxford).—Most
of the students belong to a college or hall, but in 1868
what was at first known as the “NON-ATTACHED,” and is
now designated the “NON-COLLEGIATE” system, was
established. The system, a revival of one that prevailed
in ancient times, is under the control of a body termed
the Delegacy, the chief officer being named the Censor.
Efficient provision is made for tuition, but its members
live in their own lodgings in the city, and are thus able
to suit their own pockets. Supervision is retained over
the lodging-houses in a sanitary and other points of
view, from the fact that they have to be licensed by the
University authorities.

Non-licet, adj. and adv. (Winchester).—Illegal; unbefitting
a Wykehamist. Ex. “Don’t sport NON-LICET notions.”

Nonsense, subs. (Eton).—A small division of the Third
Form. Now abolished.

Northwick (The), subs. (Harrow).—The Northwick rifle:
given by Lord Northwick for the best aggregate of
seven shoots during the season.

Noter, subs. (Harrow).—A note-book.

Notion, subs. (Winchester).—A word, phrase, or usage
peculiar to Winchester College.

Novi, subs. (Tonbridge).—A new boy.

Nurse, subs. (Christ’s Hospital).—A matron.
c. 1800. “Christ’s Hospital Seventy-five Years Ago” (Blue, Nov., 1875).
The NURSES were permitted to flog and punish the boys as they thought
proper, and some of the NURSES were cruel women. One poor fellow in
my ward was labouring under a bodily infirmity. The brute of a nurse
used constantly to flog him with nettles, fresh-gathered from time to time
for the purpose, declaring they had the virtue of strengthening his bodily
frame, &c.! [See Appendix.]

Nursery (The), subs. (King Edward’s, Birm.).—A gallery
at one end of Big School, in which the lowest two
classes are taught.

ak, subs. (University).—An outer door. To sport
one’s oak = to be “not at home,” indicated by
closing the outer door.

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1840. The Collegian’s Guide, 119. In college each set of rooms is
provided with an OAK or outer door, with a spring lock, of which the
master has one key, and the servant another.
1853. Bradley (“Cuthbert Bede”), Verdant Green, iv. This is the HOAK,
this ’ere outer door is, sir, which the gentlemen sports, that is to say,
shuts, sir, when they’re a-readin’. Ibid., viii. Mr. Verdant Green had, for
the first time, SPORTED HIS OAK.
1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, vii. One evening he found himself
as usual at Hardy’s door about eight o’clock. The OAK was open, but he
got no answer when he knocked at the inner door.
1891. Harry Fludyer at Cambridge, 55. He tried to keep them out, but
they broke in his OAK, stripped him, tied him up in his table-cloth, and left
him on the grass plot where the porter found him.

Ob, subs. (Winchester).—A contraction of obit.

Obeum (The), subs. (Cambridge).—A water-closet
building at King’s College. [Attributed by the

undergraduates to the energy of O[scar] B[rowning].]

Off-bat, subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—“Point”: at cricket.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester, 222. Off bat, the station
of one of the field in a cricket match, called by the outer world “Point.”

Officer, subs. (Winchester).—A College Præfect when in
office: as the Præfect of Hall, Chapel, School, or
Library.

-oi, inseparable suffix (Tonbridge).—Indicative of
complaisant disdain: e.g. TO DO THE BLEED-OI (see Bleed)
= to swagger; to appear to be distinguishing oneself.

Oiler, subs. (University).—A cad.

Oips, subs. (Haileybury).—Boys who are not good enough
for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or Below Bigside Elevens play in
the Oips. [An abbreviation of Hoi polloi.]

Old Cars, subs. (Charterhouse).—Old Carthusians:
regarded as a vulgarism.

Old Pig (The).—See Pig.

Old Schools, The (Harrow).—The original school building
erected by John Lyon, together with the “Old Speech-
room,” which, however, is of much later date.

Olds, subs. (The Leys).—A division of the “School
House,” three dormitories—“Upper Olds,” “Under
Olds,” and “Under Under.” See News.

On, adv. and intj. (Winchester: obsolete).—The word to
start given by the Præfect of Hall when the School went
in procession to Hills, Cathedral, &c. Also as in quot.
See Appendix.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life, 222. When any person or thing of
importance was known to be likely to meet the boys when on Hills, the
word was passed that he, she, or it was ON—e.g. Ridsworth ON, snobs ON,
badger ON, &c.
1878. Adams, Wykehamica, xxiii.

On-and-Off, subs. (Tonbridge).—Lemonade.
1894. Tonbridgian, No. 330, 919. The scene is one of the wildest disorder.
The writhing mass, in their efforts to obtain the desired article, tread on
each other’s toes, spill the “OFF AND ON” down one another’s garments,
and knock each other about with their elbows.
1899. Public School Mag., Dec., p. 444. “On and off” signifies home
lemonade, and is so called because of the tap from which it flows.

Ones, subs. (Harrow).—A competition at football, one
player a side: organised by Mr. Bowen. The play is for

five minutes, the ground measures 40 yards by 30 yards,
and the Bases (q.v.) 8 feet.

Oppidan, subs. (Eton).—A boy who boards in the town, as
distinguished from a King’s Scholar.
1865. Etoniana, 31. The Latin-English term OPPIDAN was applied to these
independent scholars at least as early as Fuller’s days. Speaking of the
College, he says, “There be many OPPIDANES there maintained at the cost
of their friends.”
1899. Public School Mag., Nov., p. 367. If there is any need for a test
match between college and the OPPIDANS, we should suggest that they
should play the winning house in the House match, and hope to beat it.

Optime, subs. (Cambridge).—The name given to the
second class in the first portion of the public
examination for honours, called the Mathematical
Tripos, those placed in the first class being known as
Wranglers (q.v.), and those in the third class as Junior
Optimes.

Oration Quarter, subs. (Charterhouse).—See Long
Quarter.

Oratorio, subs. (Sherborne).—The large choir, as
distinguished from the chapel choir.

Order, subs. (general).—Written permission from a tutor
to make purchases: as from tailor, &c. See Name.

Orders, subs. (Durham: obsolete).—A Head-master’s
promise to add a day or two to the holidays: sometimes
obtained, so tradition says, by barricading Big School
against him.

Ostiar, subs. (Sherborne: obsolete).—The Præfect on duty
at the Big School door: seventeenth century.

Ostiarius, subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—See quots.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester, 223. Ostiarius, an office
held by the Præfects in succession. The duties were, to keep order in
school, collect the Vulguses, and prevent the boys from shirking out. It is
also the official title for the Second Master.
1865. Etoniana, 133. A peculiarity in the arrangements at Eton is, that the
school is practically divided into two. The division seems to have been in
force from the very earliest times—the three lower forms having been
then, as now, under the charge of the OSTIARIUS, or, as he is now called,
the lower master, who has the appointment of his own provost-assistants,
and is practically independent of the head-master, and subject only to the
control of the provost.
1866. Wykehamist, No. 1, Oct. We know of nothing more which calls for
notice, except the revival by Dr. Moberly of the OSTIARIUS—an office
which had been discontinued for many years, but was revived by the
Head-master on account of the great increase in the number of the school.
1878. Adams, Wykehamica, xxiii. 429. Ostiarius, the Præfect in charge of
school.

Othello. See Round.

Outer, subs. (Durham).—A cad; a “bounder.”

Out-houses (Charterhouse).—All the boarding-houses
except Sanderites, Verites, and Gownboys. The names
of the eight OUT-HOUSES are Girdlestonites, Lockites,
Weekites, Hodgsonites, Bodeites, Daviesites, Pageites,
and Robinites (the last a contraction of Robinsonites).
Except Bodeites, each house bears the name of its first
master. One house, Uskites—from a supposed similarity
of the surroundings to the valley of the Usk—
disappeared in 1878.

Out-match, subs. (Stonyhurst).—A match played against a
visiting team.

Over-school, subs. (Rugby).—A kind of common sitting-
room in the “new” building of 1755. The boys’ boxes
were kept there, and Ash-planting (q.v.) inflicted. The
present school-house hall was built on the site.

Overtoys-box. See Toys.

Ovid (Harrow).—See Upper School.

Owl, subs. (Cambridge: obsolete).—A member of Sidney
Sussex College.

acking-up, intj. (Winchester).—See Peals.

Pad, subs. (King Edward’s, Birm.).—Writing-paper: e.g.
“a sheet of PAD”; “lend me some PAD.” [The paper for
exercises is generally in the form of writing-pads, from
which a sheet may be separated as wanted.]

Pageites (Charterhouse).—See Out-houses.

Palmer, subs. (Durham: obsolete).—A sly fellow.

Pancake. Tossing the pancake, verb. phr. (Westminster).
—See quot.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, 171. The old Shrove-Tuesday custom
of TOSSING THE PANCAKE, though now peculiar to Westminster, is said to
have been also formerly in use at Eton. The ceremony as at present
performed is this. The cook, preceded by the verger, enters the large
school, in full official costume, with the hot cake in the pan. He tosses it
—or tries to toss it, for it is no easy feat—over the iron bar, which has
been already mentioned as having once held a curtain screening off the

upper school from the lower. If he succeeds he claims a fee of two
guineas. There is a scramble among the boys, who stand on the other side
of the bar, for the PANCAKE, and if any boy can secure it whole, which
seldom happens, he carries it up to the dean, who presents him with a
sovereign. They also claim a right to “book” the performer (i.e. hurl a
shower of books at him) if he fails more than once. This right was
liberally exercised in 1865, when the wrath of the school had culminated
owing to repeated failures in that and the previous year. The exasperated
cook replied to the attack with his only available missile—the frying-pan
—and a serious row was the consequence. The battle is celebrated in a
clever mock-heroic poem, in Greek Homeric verse, attributed to a high
Westminster authority.

Pandie, subs. (Royal High School, Edin.: obsolete).—A
stroke from the leather strap known as the TAWSE (q.v.),
used in Scotland instead of the cane; a PAUMIE (q.v.).
[From the order given in Latin, Pande manum. See
Redgauntlet.]

Pantile, subs. (general).—A flat cake covered with jam.

Panupetaston, subs. (University: obsolete).—A loose
overcoat with wide sleeves.

Paradise, subs. 1. (Oxford).—A grove of trees outside St.
John’s College.
2. (Rugby).—A room in the old school (built in 1755)
on the site of which the school-house hall now stands.
[From its pleasant look-out.]

Part. See Books.

Party Roll, subs. (Winchester).—A list of boys going
home together. See Peals.

Passy, adj. (Christ’s Hospital).—Severe: of a master. [That
is, “passionate.”—Blanch.] See Appendix.
1844. Reminis. of Christ’s Hospital [The Blue, Aug. 1874]. Rightly or
wrongly, it was the general opinion in our time that punishment in school
depended less upon the correctness with which the lessons were said, than
upon the temper of the particular master. Frequently and anxiously the
question was asked, “Is he PASSY this morning?” and the arrival of a new
master created immense excitement. Our first queries were invariably of
his manners and temper—matters of far more importance to us than any
question as to his ability.

Patrol, subs. (Dulwich).—Keeping order in Form rooms
between morning and afternoon school: a duty of school
Præfects.

Paul’s-pigeons, subs. (common).—The scholars of St.
Paul’s School.

Pawmie, subs. (Royal High School, Edin.: obsolete).—A
stroke on the hand from the leather strap known as the
TAWSE (q.v.), used in Scotland instead of the cane: also
PANDIE (q.v.). [Paum = palm of the hand.]

Pavvy, The (Harrow).—The pavilion on the cricket-
ground.

Pax, subs. (Winchester).—A chum; an intimate friend. [Cf.
Scots pack = intimate, familiar.]
1891. Wrench, Word-Book, 30. Possibly the plural of “pack,” which word
has an extended use in reference to friendship ... as adj., subs., and verb.
This seems a more likely origin than the PAX of the Church.
Intj. An injunction to desist or to silence—“Be quiet!”
“Hands off!” Also HAVE PAX! [Almost the pure Latin use
of the word.]

P. D., subs. (Dulwich).—Punishment drill: in Junior
School.

Peal, subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—A custom in
Commoners of singing out comments on Præfects at the
beginning of CLOISTER-TIME (q.v.). Also cheers given on
the last three Sundays of the Half for articles of dress,
&c., connected with going home, such as “Gomer
Hats,” “Party Rolls,” &c.... “The ringing of Chapel bells
is also divided into PEALS.” [Halliwell.—Peals = a
noise or uproar. Cf. Mid. Eng. apel = an old term in
hunting music, consisting of three long moots.]
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 62. The junior
in chamber had a hard time of it; ... while endeavouring to get through his
multifarious duties, he had to keep a sharp ear on the performance of the
chapel bell, and to call out accordingly, “first PEAL!” “second PEAL!”
“bells down!”

1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 22. The scholars at this time were
expected to rise at the sound of “first PEAL” at five o’clock, and were
recommended to say privately a short Latin selection from the Psalms as
soon as they were dressed. Ibid. They then swept out their chambers and
made their beds (consisting in those days of nothing better than bundles
of straw with a coverlet), and SECOND PEAL at half-past five summoned
them to chapel.
1881. Felstedian, Nov., p. 75, “A Day’s Fagging at Winchester.” At 6.30,
I had to get back to call everybody again; and again at 6.40 (five minutes
to second PEAL); at 6.45 (“second PEAL”) when the chapel bell started and
kept on till seven. When the bell stops I wait at the door and call out
“præfect of chapel going in”—i.e. the præfect of the week who calls
names; then “præfect of chapel in” when he reaches the door.
1900. St. James’s Gazette, Mar. 15, “Arnoldiana.”—He [Matthew Arnold]
was the victim of public expression of disapproval—in connection, Mr.
Arnold thinks, with the lively ceremony known as CLOISTER PEALINGS,
when he was placed at the end of the great school, and, amid howls and
jeers, pelted with a rain of “pontos” for some time. [Cloister pealings is
here incorrectly used: see Sticking-up.]

Pec, subs. (Eton: obsolete).—Money. [Lat. pecunia.]

Pempe, subs. (Winchester).—An imaginary object in
search of which a new-comer is sent: the equivalent of
“pigeon’s milk,” or the “squad-umbrella.” [From πεμπε
μω̂ρον προτερον = “Send the fool farther.”]

Penance-table, subs. (Stonyhurst).—A table in the
refectory at which a boy is condemned to sit alone for
bad behaviour during meals. Tradition says, with some
authority, that the present PENANCE-TABLE is the one on

which Cromwell slept when he spent a night at
Stonyhurst. It is hence also called “Cromwell’s Table.”

Penance-walk, subs. (Stonyhurst).—A path in the
playground where malefactors are condemned to tramp
in silence during recreation time. The form of the order
given is: “Take an hour’s PENANCE,” or “Go on PENANCE.”

Pensioner, subs. (Cambridge).—One who pays a “pensio”
or rent for rooms in College. At Oxford a COMMONER
(q.v.).
1780. Mansel [Whibley, Cap and Gown]. A Cambridge
Commencement’s the time When gentlemen come for degrees And with
wild-looking cousins and wives Through a smart mob of PENSIONERS
squeeze.

Pepper, verb (University).—To mark the accents of a
Greek exercise.

Pepper-box, subs. (Eton).—See Appendix.

Percher, subs. (Winchester).—A Latin cross marked
horizontally against the name of an absentee.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester (1866), 225. Percher—A
mark (────┼──) put after a boy’s name on a Roll, which showed that
he had been absent from Chapel or Hills without leave; or that he had not
done his Verse or Prose Task, or Vulgus. It was also often put by a Master
in the margin of gags, or a Verse or Prose Task, to indicate gross errors.

Pets, subs. (Charterhouse).—A set (says Tod) of young
ruffians in Under Long Room whom the editor of The
Verite Chronicle (see Verite) was constrained from self-
interest to place on the free list. Only eight numbers
appeared.

Petties, subs. (Harrow).—According to the Founder’s
regulations, the lowest class—“which have not learned
their accidence, or entered into the English rules of
grammar.”

Phædras (Harrow).—See Upper School.

Phil, subs. (Harrow).—The Philathletic Club. It consists of
members of the school elected for merit in athletics, the
first ten monitors being ex officio.

Philosophers, subs. (Stonyhurst).—The body of students
above the ordinary forms. Also Phils.

Pi, adj. (Winchester).—Virtuous; sanctimonious. Ex. “His
pitch-up are very PI.” See Appendix.
1891. Wrench, Winchester Word-Book, s.v. Pi.... Abbreviation of “pious.”
Ex. “He’s very PI now, he mugs all day. He PI-jawed me for thoking.”

Pie-match, subs. (Rugby).—A match arranged between
teams in one house, or in one form, followed by a

supper, subscribed for by the players, or provided by the
masters.

Pig. See Hog.
The old pig, subs. phr. (Rugby).—See quot.
1856. Hughes, Tom Brown’s School-days, vii. “The OLD PIG came by.”
“The what?” said the doctor. “The Oxford coach, sir,” explained Hall.
“Hah! yes, the Regulator,” said the doctor.

Pigeon-hole, subs. (Winchester).—A small study.

Piggin, subs. (Christ’s Hospital).—See quot.
1798. “Christ’s Hospital Three Quarters of a Century Ago” [Chelmsford
Chronicle (1875), Ap. 16]. Beer we had certainly served out in wooden
vessels of an extraordinary shape, called PIGGINS; about six of them for
four boys to drink out of, but such beer! The PIGGINS were seldom
replenished, for we could not drink it.

Pig-market (The), subs. (Oxford).—A corridor leading to
the Divinity School: properly the Proscholium. [Said to
have been so used in the latter part of the reign of Henry
VIII.]
1837. Ingram, Memorials of Oxford.... The schools built by Abbot
Hokenorton being inadequate to the increasing wants of the University,
they applied to the Abbot of Reading for stone to rebuild them; and in the
year 1532 it appears that considerable sums of money were expended on
them; but they went to decay in the latter part of the reign of Henry VIII.
and during the whole reign of Edward VI. The change of religion having
occasioned a suspension of the usual exercises and scholastic acts in the

University, in the year 1540 only two of these schools were used by
determiners, and within two years after none at all. The whole area
between these schools and the divinity school was subsequently
converted into a garden and PIG-MARKET; and the schools themselves,
being completely abandoned by the masters and scholars, were used by
glovers and laundresses.
1853. Bradley, Verdant Green, iv. Our hero proceeded with his father
along the High Street, and turned round by St. Mary’s, and so up Cat
Street to the Schools, where they made their way to the classic PIG-
MARKET, to wait the arrival of the Vice-Chancellor.

Pill, verb (University).—To talk twaddle or platitudes.

Pin, verb (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—To enjoy: e.g. “I PINNED
my innings”; “this is a PINNING book.”
1887. Stonyhurst Mag., iii. 89. A downright enjoyable PINNABLE game.
To pin a lozen, verb. phr. (Royal High School, Edin.:
obsolete).—To break a window. [Lozen = a pane of
glass.]

Pinch. To pinch in, verb. phr. (Harrow).—See quot.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 315. Dr. Butler ... abolished,
amongst other old customs, certain rites and ceremonies which were used
in celebrating a boy’s remove from one form to the other in the lower part
of the school. No such promotion was considered complete, so far as the
boys were concerned, until the new member had been duly “PINCHED
IN”—remaining a certain fixed time in the play-room, during which all
the fraternity exercised a right of pinching him, limited only by the
tenderness of their dispositions or the strength of their fingers. There were
generally some adepts in this torture, who knew, and taught others, the

tenderest places and the most artistic mode of taking hold, and who
carried this evil knowledge with them from form to form, to be practised
on a succession of victims. The rites of initiation were completed by
tossing in a blanket in the dormitory, and a certain number of bumps
against the ceiling were required to make the ceremony valid.

Pintle, subs. (Lancing).—(1) A form of cricket played with
a bat narrowed at both sides, a soft ball, and a stone
wicket in a pit. Also (2) = the bat used in the game.
Hence PINTLE-SLINGER = a fast bowler.

Pitch-up, subs. (Winchester).—One’s home circle; a
group; a crowd; a set of chums. Hence TO PITCH UP WITH =
to associate with.

Place, subs. (Stonyhurst).—A room: generic: as study-
PLACE, shoe-PLACE, tailor’s PLACE, washing-PLACE, Dick’s
PLACE, stranger’s PLACE ( = parlour).

1891. John Gerard, S.J., Stonyhurst College. This evidently comes from
St. Omers, in which district, we are told, the word is still employed in the
same promiscuous way.
To run for a place, verb. phr. (Winchester).—See quot.
1881. Felstedian, Nov., p. 75, “A Day’s Fagging at Winchester.” My next
duty is what is called “running for a PLACE.” There are (or were) six
cricket pitches on “turf,” and any præfect has a right to one of these all
day (a bad arrangement, which I hope is altered now, as fellows with no
idea of cricket could thus keep much better players off all day) provided
he can get a stick with his name on, stuck in the ground by his fag—the
half-dozen out of the fifteen or twenty fags running, who get their
præfect’s sticks stuck in first, claiming the place for him. It was the same

sort of thing, as if the door from the “underground” was opened about
6.30, and some twenty fellows rushed out early in the morning to try and
get pitches.

Plain-ruled, subs. (Harrow).—The paper usually used for
exercises, sixteen lines to a page.

Planks (The), subs. (Rugby).—See quot.
1856. Hughes, Tom Brown’s School-days, viii. The river Avon at Rugby is
... a capital river for bathing, as it has many nice small pools and several
good reaches for swimming, all within about a mile of one another, and at
an easy twenty minutes’ walk from the School. This mile of water is
rented, or used to be rented, for bathing purposes by the Trustees of the
School, for the boys. The footpath to Brownsover crosses the river by THE
PLANKS, a curious old single-plank bridge running for fifty or sixty yards
into the flat meadows on each side of the river—for in the winter there
are frequent floods. Above THE PLANKS were the bathing-places for the
smaller boys; Sleath’s, the first bathing-place, where all new boys had to
begin, until they had proved to the bathing men (three steady individuals,
who were paid to attend daily through the summer to prevent accidents)
that they could swim pretty decently, when they were allowed to go on to
Anstey’s, about one hundred and fifty yards below. Here there was a hole
about six feet deep and twelve feet across, over which the puffing urchins
struggled to the opposite side, and thought no small beer of themselves
for having been out of their depths. Below THE PLANKS came larger and
deeper holes, the first of which was Wratislaw’s, and the last Swift’s, a
famous hole, ten or twelve feet deep in parts, and thirty yards across,
from which there was a fine swimming reach right down to the Mill.
Swift’s was reserved for the sixth and fifth forms, and had a spring-board
and two sets of steps; the others had one set of steps each, and were used
indifferently by all the lower boys, though each house addicted itself
more to one hole than to another. The School-house at this time affected
Wratislaw’s hole, and Tom and East, who had learnt to swim like fishes,

were to be found there as regular as the clock through the summer, always
twice, and often three times a day.

Plant, subs. (Winchester).—A blow with a football. Also
as verb.

Play, subs. (Sherborne: obsolete—otherwise general).—A
holiday, half or whole.
1865. Etoniana, 115. Eton versification was very good indeed ... exercises
... from their excellence, were laid before the provost, by a time-honoured
custom, as a claim for the weekly half-holiday called “PLAY”—a
ceremony which some other public schools have borrowed.
To beg a play (Westminster).—See Early Play and
Westminster Play.

Playing-fields, subs. (Eton).—There are seven separate
grounds—Upper Club, Lower Club, Upper Sixpenny,
Sixpenny, Jordan, Mesopotamia, and the new ground in
“Agars Plough.”
1890. Great Public Schools, 59. Every one knows the Playing-fields.
They are the crowning glory, the eye of Eton ... they are always beautiful.

Pleb, subs. (Westminster).—A tradesman’s son.

Pledge, verb (Winchester).—To give away: e.g. “PLEDGE
me” = “after you”; “PLEDGE you” = “give, pass, or lend
me;” “I’ll PLEDGE it you when I’ve done with it.”

1882. Skeat [Wrench]. Skeat says it comes from a Latin præbium,
connected with præbere, in which case PLEDGE simply means “give.”

Plodge, verb (Durham).—To paddle.

Plough (or Pluck), verb (common).—To reject: as in an
examination.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Pluck.... Signifies to deny a degree to a
candidate at one of the universities, on account of insufficiency. The three
first books of Euclid, and as far as Quadratic Equations in Algebra, will
save a man from being PLUCKED. These unfortunate fellows are
designated by many opprobrious appellations, such as the Twelve
Apostles, the Legion of Honour, Wise Men of the East, &c.
1847. C. Brontë, Jane Eyre, x. He went to college and he got PLUCKED, as
I think they call it.
1853. Bradley, Verdant Green, iii. Verdant read up most desperately for
his matriculation, associating that initiatory examination with the most
dismal visions of PLUCKING, and other college tortures. Ibid., xi. Note.
When the degrees are conferred, the name of each person is read out
before he is presented to the Vice-Chancellor. The proctor then walks
once up and down the room, so that any person who objects to the degree
being granted may signify the same by pulling or PLUCKING the proctor’s
robes. This has been occasionally done by tradesmen, in order to obtain
payment of their “little bills,” but such a proceeding is very rare, and the
proctor’s promenade is usually undisturbed.
1855. Bristed, Eng. Univ., 258. If a man is PLUCKED—that is, does not get
marks enough to pass—his chance of a Fellowship is done for.
1863. Reade, Hard Cash, Prol. Gooseberry pie ... adds to my chance of
being PLOUGHED for SMALLS.
1886. Stubbs, Mediæval and Mod. Hist., 386. I trust that I have never
PLUCKED a candidate ... without giving him every opportunity of setting

himself right.
1895. Pocock, Rules of the Game, i. I knew one of that lot at Corpus; in
fact, we were crammed by the same tutor for “smalls,” and both got
PLOUGHED.

Pluck. See Plough.

Plug, subs. (common).—A translation; a CRIB (q.v.).
1853. Bradley (“Cuthbert Bede”), Verdant Green.... Getting up his
subjects by the aid of those royal roads to knowledge, variously known as
cribs, crams, PLUGS, abstracts, analyses, or epitomes.

Poacher, subs. (Stonyhurst).—At football a player
stationed near an enemy’s goals to trouble his SECOND-
GUARDERS (q.v.). They are not allowed to go within the
“Second-guarder’s” or POACHING line.

Pœna, subs. (general).—An imposition.

Poet, subs. (Stonyhurst).—See Poetry.

Poetry, subs. (Stonyhurst).—The Fifth Form. [From the
former chief study of the Form: originally The
Humanities. Cf. Regulæ Professoris Humanitatis in the
Ratio Studiorum Societatis Jesu.]

Poet’s-walk, subs. (Eton).—A river-walk in the playing-
fields. Poet’s-walk = the tea those playing in Upper
Club have on half-holidays by the river.

Pog, subs. (Felsted).—The face. See Appendix.
1895. Felstedian, April, p. 44. We won the game by one goal, three
rouges—points to its origin. “Pog” may have meant a “melancholy” face
originally, and in time come to denote any Felstedian’s visage, grave or
gay.
1897. Felstedian, May, p. 87. I ... prayed that he wasn’t going to drag in
“Cheese” or “POG,” or any similar atrocities.

Pojam, subs. (Harrow).—A poem: set as an exercise.

Poker, subs. (Oxford).—A BEDEL (q.v.) carrying a silver
mace before the Vice-Chancellor.
1841. Rime of the New-Made Baccalere. Around, around, all, all around,
On seats with velvet lined, Sat Heads of Houses in a row, And Deans and
College Dons below, With a POKER or two behind.
1853. Bradley (“Cuthbert Bede”), Verdant Green, vii. A sort of young
procession—the Vice-Chancellor, with his and Yeoman-bedels. The silver
maces carried by the latter gentlemen, made them by far the most showy
part of the procession.... Ibid. Tom is the bell that you hear at nine each
night; the Vice has to see that he is in proper condition, and, as you have
seen, goes out with his POKERS for that purpose.
1865. Cornhill Mag., Feb., 225. The heads of houses and university
officers attend [St. Mary’s, Oxford] in their robes, and form a stately
procession to and from the church. The Vice-Chancellor is escorted by his
mace-bearers, familiarly called POKERS, to and from his residence.

Poll, subs. (Cambridge).—The ordinary examination for
the B.A. degree, as distinguished from the “Honours”
examination. Also a student who takes the “Pass”
degree without “Honours.” Hence POLL-DEGREE and POLL-
MAN. To go out in the poll = to take an ordinary degree.

1855. Bristed, Eng. Univ., 62. Several declared that they would GO OUT IN
THE POLL.

1884. Jas. Payn, in Cornhill, April, 370. I took my degree, however—a
first-class POLL; which my good folks at home believed to be an
honourable distinction.
1889. Academy, Mar. 2. It is related of some Cambridge POLL-MAN that he
was once so ill-advised as to desert a private tutor.
Verb (Christ’s Hospital).—To maltreat; to make impure.
[That is, “pollute.”]

Ponto, subs. (general).—New bread kneaded into a ball.
1900. St. James’s Gazette, Mar. 15, “Arnoldiana.” He [Matthew Arnold]
was placed at the end of the great school, and, amid howls and jeers,
pelted with a rain of PONTOS for some time. The PONTO, though a soft
missile, being but the inside of a new roll, was probably sufficient in
quantity.

Pony, subs. (general).—A translation; a CRIB (q.v.)—any
adventitious aid to study. Also as verb.
1832. Tour through College, 30. Their lexicons, PONIES, and textbooks
were strewed round their lamps on the table.
1856. Hall, College Words, s.v. Pony. So called, it may be, from the
fleetness and ease with which a skilful rider is enabled to pass over places
which to a common plodder may present obstacles.

Poon, verb (Winchester).—To prop up a piece of furniture
with a wedge under the leg.—Wrench.

Pop, subs. (Eton).—A club at Eton. Chiefly confined to
Oppidans (q.v.), though Collegers (q.v.) are sometimes
elected.
1865. Etoniana, 207. “The Eton Society,” for reading and debates, has
had a longer and more successful existence than the magazines. It is
better known by its sobriquet of “POP,” supposed to be a contraction of
Popina, the rooms where it was held for many years having been over a
cookshop or confectioner’s. It was first instituted in 1811, when Charles
Fox Townshend (who was the elder brother of the late Marquess, and died
young) was the first president, and it has gone on ever since with
considerable popularity and success. The preparation of the speeches
leads to a certain amount of historical reading for the purpose; but the
chief attraction of “POP” lies in its being a sort of social club, where
papers and reviews are taken in; and, as the numbers are strictly limited
(originally twenty-two, since increased to twenty-eight), to be elected into
the society gives a boy a certain degree of prestige in the school. In
summer the debates are almost nominal, out-door attractions being too
strong; but in winter they sometimes last for several hours, and are kept
up with great spirit. The members are almost exclusively oppidans, this
being one of the points where the jealousy between them and the
collegers comes out very distinctly. A few of the latter are admitted, but
only when they have some special claim to popularity.

Portionist. See Postmaster.

Poser, subs. (Winchester and Eton).—An examiner:
formerly a bishop’s examining chaplain—at Eton for
King’s College, and at Winchester for New College

Scholarships and Exhibitions. Also APPOSER, OPPOSER, and
OPPOSITOR. [Posen = to examine.—Prompt. Parv., 144.]

1574. Queen Elizabeth, Endorsement on Recommendation of Candidates
for College Election, May 8. To our trustie and welbeloved the wardens
of the new Colledges in Oxford and nere Winchester and other of them
and to the OPPOSITORS and others having interest in the election of
Scollers.
1603. Bacon, Discourse [1887]. Let his questions not be troublesome, for
that is fit for a POSER.
1662. Fuller, Worthies, Norfolk, ii. 462. The University [Cambridge] ...
appointed Doctor Cranmer ... to be POSER-GENERAL of all Candidates in
Divinity.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 61. The election-day, both for
Winchester and New College, is on the Tuesday next after the 7th of July
(St. Thomas Beckett), when the warden of New College, Oxford, with
two of his fellows, called the POSERS (or at one time supervisors), arrive at
the college, where they are received with a Latin oration “ad portas” by
the senior scholar.

Post, subs. (University).—See quot.
1855. Bristed, Eng. Univ., 74. Fifty marks will prevent one from being
POSTED, but there are always two or three too stupid as well as idle to save
their POST. These drones are POSTED separately, as “not worthy to be
classed,” and privately slanged afterwards by the master and seniors.
Should a man be POSTED twice in succession, he is generally
recommended to try the air of some small college, or devote his energies
to some other walk of life.
Verb. 1. (University).—To reject: as in an examination;
to PLUCK (q.v.); TO PLOUGH (q.v.).
2. (Eton).—To put down for doing badly in COLLECTIONS
(q.v.), the penalty being either a holiday-PŒNA (q.v.), or a

SWISHING (q.v.).

3. (University).—To put up a man’s name as not having
paid for food supplied by the College: supplies are then
stopped until the account is settled.

Postmaster, subs. (Oxford).—An Exhibitioner of Merton
College. Also PORTIONIST (q.v.).
1853. Bradley (“Cuthbert Bede”), Verdant Green, vii. Each college does
its own postal department; and at Merton there are fourteen POSTMASTERS,
for they get no end of letters there. “Oh, yes! I remember Mr. Larkyns ...
telling us that the son of one of his old friends had been a POSTMASTER of
Merton; but I fancied that he had said it had something to do with a
scholarship.” “Ah, you see, it’s a long while since the governor was here,
and his memory fails him,” remarked Mr. Charles Larkyns, very
unfilially.
1886. Oxford Guide [S. J. & C.]. The POSTMASTERS anciently performed
the duties of choristers, and their payment for this duty was six shillings
and fourpence per annum.

Post-mortem, subs. (Cambridge).—The examination after
failure.
1844. Puck, 13. And now tho’ I’ve passed the POST-MORTEM at last.

Post-past, subs. (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—Dessert: at St.
Omers.
1882. Stonyhurst Mag., i. 112. The dessert called POST-PAST was always
the best sort of apples or pears, and biscuits, or else walnuts.

Post te, phr. (Charterhouse).—The most useful (says Tod)
of all the old Charterhouse expressions. For example,
POST TE MATH. EX. = “Will you have the kindness to permit
me to glance over your mathematical exercise?” Or one
can give a POST TE of anything; e.g. to give a friend a POST
TE of a book is to give him the right of its perusal when
you have done with it. The word is also used in a subtle
and sarcastic sense; e.g. POST TE hat or POST TE chum
signifies disapproval of the hat or friend of which or
whom the remark was made.

Pot, subs. (Winchester).—A canal lock. Whence POT-CAD =
a workman at the saw-mills; POT-GATES = lock-gates; POT-
HOUSER = a jump into the canal from the roof of a house
called POT-HOUSE.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester (1866), 226. POT—A canal
lock; the one just under Hills was generally meant when the word was
used.

Pot-house (The), subs. (Cambridge).—St. Peter’s College:
formerly Peterhouse.
1891. Harry Fludyer at Cambridge, 85. He asked me what it was.... I
hadn’t a notion, so I made a shot and said “POT-HOUSE.” He said, “I
suppose you mean St. Peter’s College.”

Potted-fug, subs. (Rugby).—Potted-meat.

Præfect. See Prefect.

Præpositor, subs. (Sherborne: obsolete).—A School
Præfect (q.v.): seventeenth century.

Præpostor, subs. (Rugby).—A Præfect (q.v.).
1856. Hughes, Tom Brown’s School-days, v. The master mounted into the
high desk by the door, and one of the PRÆPOSTORS of the week stood by
him on the steps, the other three marching up and down the middle of the
school with their canes, calling out “Silence, silence!”... Then the
PRÆPOSTOR who stands by the master calls out the names, beginning with
the sixth form; and as he calls, each boy answers “here” to his name, and
walks out.

Prayer-book (Harrow).—See Upper School.

Precipice. See Fresh-herring.

Prefect, subs. (general).—A superior or senior member of
a school superintending in or out of school hours
according to office and school: as in studies,
preparation, games, &c. See quots., Præpositor,
Præpostor, &c.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester (1866), 226. Præfects—
The eighteen Senior boys in College, and the twelve senior in
Commoners. The ten senior of those in College were said to be in “Full
power,” and took the office of Bible-Clerk in rotation; they all had the
power of fagging the Juniors, but those not in full power were supposed
not to have the right of fagging on the School side of Seventh Chamber
Passage; practically, however, they always did. One of the Senior
PRÆFECTS was called PRÆFECT of Hall, and was responsible in a great
measure for the conduct of the boys out of school. His duties and

privileges were numerous. There was also a “PRÆFECT of Tub,” who was
supposed to see that the dinner was properly distributed; a “PRÆFECT of
School,” who had the care of that building; and two “PRÆFECTS of
Chapel,” who during alternate weeks called names in Chapel. There were
fees attached to all these offices; and all the PRÆFECTS had a certain
number of boys allotted to them as Pupils, each of whom paid one guinea
each half.
1881. Felstedian, Nov., p. 75. Here let me observe that only the PRÆFECTS
have separate basins to wash in; the juniors use the two stone conduits.
1891. Wrench, Winchester Word-Book, s.v. Præfects.... The number of
Præfects was eighteen in College, three to each Chamber ... in
Commoners first eight, with four senior-inferiors, who were like Præfects
in half-power, and later twelve.... The word Præpostor was also used
concurrently, it would appear, till the last century, when it disappeared,
except in the formula demanding a remedy, in which it survives. What the
relations of the two words were to each other it is not easy to determine....
Præpostor occurs in the College Register, and is still used in asking for
Remedies. Both seem, therefore, to be official words. At Eton Præpostor
survives, though they are stated to have begun with officers bearing other
titles. They have also retained major, minor, minimus, which we have
discarded for senior, secundus, junior. The “Præfect of Tub”—“qui
nomen ducit ab olla”—who presided over meals, and whose perquisites
are said to have been most lucrative—amounting to the value of £80 per
annum—and the “Præfect of Cloisters” are obsolete offices.
1900. MS. Notes (Rev. A. Goodier, Stonyhurst). Præfects ... These are
four in number.

Prep, subs. 1. (Dulwich).—Evening preparation. Cf.
Banco, Toy-time, &c.
2. (Felsted).—A place of preparation.
1890. Felstedian, Feb., p. 2. Johnson ma happened to be in PREP in good
time, so he managed to get in a moment’s conversation with Jones.

Preparatory, subs. (Stonyhurst).—The preparatory Form
at Hodder: originally Abecedarii.

Pricking Æger. See Æger.

Private-business, subs. (Eton).—Extra work with the
tutor.

Privee, subs. (Charterhouse).—A private conversation. See
Boule.

Privs, subs. (Harrow).—Special privileges in the House:
granted to either Sixth Form or Three-yearers (q.v.).
These take different forms in different houses. To FIND
(q.v.) and to TOLLY-UP are PRIVS: so is the right to wear a
coat that is not regulation school dress after LOCK-UP
(q.v.).

Pro, subs. (Oxford).—A proproctor, or second in command
in the proctorial police. The two proctors appoint a
certain number of proproctors each.
1823. Hints for Oxford, 10. They (Freshmen) cap the PRO’S too in the
street, speak to people without being introduced, and are guilty of a
thousand gaucheries.
1869. W. Bradwood, The O.V.H., x. The proctor (more strictly a PRO)
backed out of the room with wholesale apologies.

Proctorized, adj. and adv. (University).—Stopped by a
proctor and told to call on him.
1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, i. 12. So gets PROCTORIZED in his
old age.
1885. Punch, May 16, p. 233. Proctorised again last night! Coming
home from jolly wine-party at John’s.

Progger, subs. (University).—A proctor.
1898. Stonyhurst Mag., Dec., p. 149, “Life at Oxford.” But a Proctor, or
—by the common practice—“PROGGER,” soon teaches the unwary that the
wisest course is to wear it at the stated times, however objectionable it
may be.

Progging, subs. (University).—See Proctorized.
1898. Stonyhurst Mag., Dec., p. 149, “Life at Oxford.” A “PROGGING”
may form part of another article. At present I have passed all due bounds.

Proggins, subs. (University).—A proctor.

Promo, subs. (Charterhouse).—Promotion.

Prompter, subs. (Merchant Taylors’).—A member of the
Second Form.

Proof, subs. (Oxford).—The best ale at Magdalen College.

Pros, subs. (Cambridge).—A W.C.

Prose, subs. (Winchester).—A lecture. Also as verb.

Prose-task, subs. (Winchester).—A piece of Latin prose
composition, which all the boys had to do once a week.
—Mansfield (c. 1840).

Provincial’s-day. See Day.

Pruff, adj. (Winchester).—Sturdy; insensible to pain.
1610. Shakspeare, Cor., i. 4. Now put your shields before your hearts,
and fight With hearts more PROOF than shields.
1881. Pascoe, Public Schools.... But deprive a Wykehamist of words in
constant use, such as “quill,” meaning to curry favour with; PRUFF,
signifying sturdy, or proof against pain; “spree,” upstart, impudent; “cud,”
pretty, and many more, and his vocabulary becomes limited.

Public-supping, subs. (Christ’s Hospital).—See quots.
1870. The Blue, Mar. It is, we believe, certain that T.R.H. the Prince and
Princess Teck will grace one of the Lent PUBLIC SUPPERS with their
distinguished presence.
1900. Daily Telegraph, Mar. 16, “London Day by Day.” That quaint and
historic old custom known as the “public supping” of the children was
celebrated last evening at Christ’s Hospital, Newgate Street, in the
presence of the Lord Mayor, Alderman Vaughan Morgan (treasurer of the
school), and other civic and educational dignitaries.

1900. Pall Mall Gazette, 20th Mar., 3. 2, “A Lenten Supper.” Attention is
directed to this festival this year for two reasons—one, that it is a very
ancient custom; the other, that this is nearly the last year in which it will
be held; for it is clear that when the school has changed its site, its dress,
and certain of its officers and masters, it will not care to carry on this
quaint old ceremony. And indeed, were the Hospital to hold such revelry
at Horsham there would be few to come as guests, if the name of guest
can be assigned to one who plays a part so passive as that of seeing other
people eat.... The scene of the supping is the Great Hall.... Six hundred
boys and more appear as nothing; they are all seated.... At each table sits a
matron, according to their wards (of which there are fifteen), and attached
to each ward is a matron, who used to be called nurse. Beside the tables
are the monitors, responsible for order—biggish boys—not “Grecians,”
for Grecians do not appear at the Lent suppers, except to read or pray or
sing, having already eaten in their wards. The first performance, probably,
is to light the candles on the tables; each ward has four candles, and all
are lighted at almost the same moment. The hall is lighted from the roof
by gas, so the candlesticks are little more than ornaments. They are of
oak, old, and well-weighted at the base, and can count their age by
centuries.... Their quaintness is concealed by artificial flowers, which the
boys pay for and the matrons arrange, the result more suggestive of
suburban bonnets than antiquity and quaintness. Ask a boy Why? he will
probably reply that “it always has been done.” Change has come; it used
to be held on Sundays during Lent instead of Thursday as to-day, and up
to absolutely recent years there were six suppers instead of four. These
festivals interfere somewhat with school work, and those who are
officially compelled to attend find sameness, even in a public supper, in
the course of thirty years or so. As the clock strikes seven there is a rap,
the boys stand up, the organ bursts into “God save the Queen,” and up the
hall marches the Lord Mayor, preceded by the chief beadle of the
Hospital, clad in gorgeous raiment and a mace suggestive of a fish-slice.
Behind comes the treasurer of the Hospital, another alderman, and
various governors, each bearing a green stick to mark his office. These sit
in reserved seats at the far end of the hall, the Lord Mayor in the chair,
while on his right hand by the wall are masters and on his left some
“officers.” The ceremony—a strange mixture of a religious service, a

meal, and a feudal relic—begun with the reading of a passage from the
Sermon on the Mount by a Grecian standing in a pulpit, whence he
proceeded to read special prayers written for the school by Bishop
Compton, ending with the Lord’s Prayer, after which a hymn and “grace”
and then the supper, during which the Lord Mayor, with a select few,
made the grand tour of the hall. Such a supper was soon over, and it was
not long before the boys had gathered up the plates and bowls and cloths
and knives, and then came grace and an anthem well sung by a well-
trained choir. This was followed by the feudal feature in the evening: the
whole school, with the exception of the Grecians, “bows round,” i.e. the
boys walk up two and two, marshalled by two beadles, who stand near,
and drawing near the chair, then bow the head in reverence to an
Authority. Most boys have a “trade,” and in this procession each one
carries a symbol of that “trade.” The matron’s special boy carries a
bonnet-candle in each hand, the knife-boy carries his knife-basket, and
the cloth-boy takes his cloth neatly rolled beneath his wing, while, last of
all, the bread-boy hoists the tall bread-basket shoulder-high and “bows
round” with it, never failing to raise a laugh as well as a basket. When all
have bowed, the boy-marshalling beadles bow also, and the revels are
ended. It is believed that the original purpose of these suppers was to
rouse interest in the outside public and possibly raise money from their
pockets; at all events, collection boxes used to be placed about the hall on
those occasions.

Puddex. See Dex.

Puke, verb (Winchester).—To vomit. [A survival.]

Puker, subs. (Shrewsbury).—A good-for-nothing.

Pulling-out, subs. (Charterhouse: obsolete).—Pulling-out
took place on Good Fridays. A line was marked from a
corner of green to cloisters. On one side of this line
stood the first and second forms, i.e. the Uppers, on the
other side of it the Unders. The Unders had the right of
calling on any unpopular Upper to run the gauntlet
between two rows of Unders from cloister doors to a
point near the chapel. They armed themselves with
implements of all kinds, such as sticks, or stones
fastened into stockings, with which to inflict
punishment upon the Uppers. The latter naturally
resisted; hence there were fierce fights and dangerous
rushes. During the PULLING-OUT of 1824, a little fellow
called Howard, a younger son of the Earl of Suffolk,
was entangled in one of these rushes, dragged along the
ground for some distance, with a mass of boys upon
him, and received injuries from which he died soon
after. This was the end of PULLING-OUT, but the custom
was as old as the school.—Mozley. Also Calling-out.

Pulpiteers, subs. (Winchester).—See quot.
1891. Wrench, Word-Book, s.v. Pulpiteers. An arrangement during
Cloister-time of Sixth Book and Senior Part V. going up to books
together.... Middle and Junior Part taken together were called Cloisters.

Pun, subs. (Harrow).—Punishment. Also as verb. Hence
PUN-PAPER = specially ruled paper for PUNS and
impositions.
To pun out, verb. phr. (Christ’s Hospital).—To inform
against. Ex. “I’ll PUN OUT”; “I’ll PUN you OUT.”

Exclusively a London term: at Hertford the word is
simply TO PUN, or TO PUN OF.

Punny, subs. (Manchester Grammar).—Punishment
School or Drill: also known as P.S. and P.D.: both cause
detention for three-quarters of an hour after school.

Punt, verb (Rugby).—To kick the ball (at football) before
it touches the ground.

Punt-about, subs. (Rugby).—The practice-ball: at football.
Also a practice game.
1856. Hughes, Tom Brown’s School-days, I. v. He hadn’t long to wonder,
however, for next minute East cried out, “Hurra! here’s the PUNT-ABOUT,
—come along and try your hand at a kick.” The PUNT-ABOUT is the
practice-ball, which is just brought out and kicked about anyhow from
one boy to another before callings-over and dinner, and at other odd
times.

Puny, subs. (old Oxford).—A Freshman: also a student at
the Inns of Court.
15 [?]. Christmas Prince at St. John’s College, i. Others to make sporte
withall, of this last sorte were they whom they call freshmenn, PUNIES of
the first yeare.
15 [?]. Ulysses upon Ajax, B. 8. A very worme of wit, a PUNEY of Oxford,
shall make you more hatefull than Battalus the hungrye fidler.
1593. Nashe, Christ’s Teares [Works (Grosart), iv. 228]. Sharing halfe
with the Baudes their Hostesses, and laughing at the PUNIES they have
lurched [robbed].