PREFACE (continued 2)

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 II^nd Class. [Formerly it used to be a custom for the II^nd class to pursue the I^st 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.).

Dab, 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 III^rd Class: formerly used as was CATS (q.v.) of the II^nd 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.

Early (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.

Fag, 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.