PREFACE (continued 5)

1840. Lytton, Money, ii. 3. I was put to school—sent to college, a SIZAR. Do you know what a SIZAR is? In pride he is a gentleman—in knowledge he is a scholar—and he crawls about, amidst gentlemen and scholars, with the livery of a pauper on his back!

1847. Halliwell, Archaic Words, s.v. Sizer.... A student at Cambridge whose expenses for living are partially provided by the College, originally a servitor, as serving one of the Fellows. Each Fellow of a College had one servitor allotted to him.

1857. Moncrieff, Bashful Man, ii. 4. Collegian. Who’s that fat gentleman that’s just got in? Coachman. That fat gentleman’s a SIZER from Corpus.

Skew, subs. (Harrow).—An entrance examination held on the last Thursday of term. See Dab, and Appendix.

Ski (or Sci), subs. (Westminster).—A plebeian; an outsider: specifically the outer rabble of invaders of the territory of Dean’s yard, belonging of right to the gens togata as Romans. [Said to be an abbreviation of Volsci.]

Skimmer, subs. (Winchester).—A method of entering the water when bathing: by just skimming beneath the surface, and rising again immediately.—Mansfield (c. 1840).

Skimmery, subs. (Oxford).—St. Mary’s Hall.

1853. Bradley, Verdant Green, viii. I swopped the beggar to a SKIMMERY man for regular slap-up sets of the ballet.

1860. G. and P. Wharton, Wits and Beaux of Society, p. 427. After leaving Westminster School he was sent to immortal SKIMMERY (St. Mary’s Hall), Oxford.

Skip, subs. (Dublin).—A College servant: valet, messenger, and waiter combined: the Oxford SCOUT (q.v.), and at Cambridge a GYP (q.v.). Formerly (in general use) = a footman.

1703. Ward, London Spy, Pt. VII. p. 151. As a Courtier’s Footman when he meets his Brother SKIP in the middle of Covent-garden.

1754. Martin, Eng. Dict., s.v. Skip.... A nickname for a footman.

1839. Lever, Harry Lorrequer, ch. xiii. For the uninitiated I have only to add that SKIP is the Trinity College [Dublin] appellation for servant.

1842. Tait’s Mag., Oct., “Rem. College Life.” The SKIP, or according to the Oxford etymology, the man-vulture, is not fit for his calling who cannot time his business so as to be present simultaneously at several places.

1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, ch. xx. His wounded tutor, his many duns, the SKIP and bedmaker who waited upon him.

Skirmish. To skirmish on, verb. phr. (Winchester).—To run home from Hills (q.v.) when it commenced to rain.

Skug (or Scug), subs. (Eton).—See Appendix.

1889. Drage, Cyril, vii. Such a little SKUG, to use a word in use at my tutor’s.

Skull. See Scull.

Sky, verb (Harrow).—(1) To charge any one, or to knock down: at football. Also (2) = to hit or throw anything away.

Skyte, subs. (Shrewsbury).—A day boy. [Σχυθαι]

Slabs, subs. (Durham: obsolete).—A flat cake.

Slack, verb (Durham).—To sell: specifically, to dispose of property to a dealer in second-hand goods. [From the name of a second-hand bookseller in Durham.]

Slave-driver, subs. (Harrow).—A fag-master: exclusively at cricket.

1890. Great Public Schools, p. 95. The upper ground on these days is given up to practice at the nets for the Eleven and the “Sixth Form” game, and to practice in fielding and catching. Boys below the Removes have to fag for them, and these fags are managed by SLAVE-DRIVERS (three or four boys appointed for the purpose).

Sleath’s. See Planks.

Slime, verb (Durham).—To try and cut games. Also = to loaf; to lounge: e.g. SLIMING down town. See App.

Slog, subs. (general).—A large slice.

Verb (Stonyhurst).—At hockey to hit at the ball when the right hand is less than a foot below the left on the stick.

Sloggers, subs. (Cambridge).—The second division of boats; corresponding to the Oxford TORPIDS (q.v.).

Slosher, subs. (Cheltenham).—An assistant in a boarding-house charged with superintending dormitories, evening work, &c.

Slow, adv. (Winchester).—Ignorant of Winchester NOTIONS (q.v.).

Slum, verb (Derby).—To evade; to get out of anything, as work. Also (University), to avoid observation by using by-streets.

Small, adj. (Harrow).—1. Under sixteen years of age: eligible to go in for SMALL events in the sports. See Big.

2. Applied to boarding-houses kept by some of the assistant masters, and strictly limited to seven or eight boys: a comparatively modern arrangement, having been instituted circa 1850.

Small-pill, subs. (The Leys).—A diminutive football; used on “runs.”

Smalls, subs. (Oxford).—The first examination.

1853. Bradley, Verdant Green, II. xi. The little gentleman was going in for his Degree, alias Great-go, alias Greats; and our hero for his first examination in literis humanioribus, alias Responsions, alias Little-go, alias SMALLS.

1863. Reade, Hard Cash.... Cramming for SMALLS.... Julia reminded her that SMALLS was the new word for LITTLE-GO.

Smoke. See Cobbler.

Smoker (or Smoke-shell), subs. (Royal Military Academy).—A chamber-mug.

Smug, subs. (general).—An ill-mannered, ill-dressed, or unpopular student. Also as verb = to keep indoors hard at work; whence also (as subs.) a hard worker.

Smuggler, subs. (Winchester).—A small lead-pencil pointed at both ends.

Snack, subs. (Winchester).—A racket ball: formerly a bat-fives ball. [Snack-balls (Glouc.) = balls made of SNACK (a dried fungus), which are very elastic and bounce well.]

Snap-up, verb (Winchester).—See quot.

c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester (1866), 234. Snapping up for false quantities.—When up at Books, if any boy, when translating, made a false quantity, any other boy (however low down in the Part) who could first correct him was allowed to go up above him. If, however, the SNAPPER-UP was himself wrong, he had to go to the bottom of the Part.

Snicks. To go snicks, verb. phr. (Winchester).—To share.

Snitch, subs. (Christ’s Hospital).—A term of contempt.

Verb (Derby).—To hit in the eye.

Sniw. To offer sniw, verb. phr. (The Leys).—To cheek. [Sniw = Snow.]

Snob, subs. 1. (University).—A townsman.

2. (Marlborough).—Small cricket: as two together, or at tip and run.

Snoke, subs. (Durham: obsolete).—(1) An underhand person: e.g. “He is a great SNOKE”; (2) an untoward circumstance: e.g. “It was a great SNOKE, we lost the match.”

Verb. To inform: of an offence. Not necessarily “to sneak,” because it could be used of a master reporting to the Head-master.

1847. Halliwell, Archaic Words, s.v. Snoke. To ferret out; to pry into. North. Snoke-horne, Townley Myst., p. 68, a sneaking fellow.

Snook, verb (Shrewsbury).—(1) To do the whole of an examination proper. Whence (2) to beat in argument or repartee.

Snooker, subs. (Royal Military Academy).—A newly-joined cadet of the fourth class.

Soap, subs. (Royal Military Academy).—Cheese.

Socius, subs. (Winchester).—A chum; a companion.

Verb (Winchester).—To accompany. [The School precept is Sociati omnes incedunto.]

Sock, subs. 1. (Eton).—Edibles of any kind. Hence TO SOCK = to eat outside regular meals: e.g. “We SOCKED Lyndsay minor three times last week,” i.e. we gave him something to eat outside his regular meals three times last week. Whence SOCK = to give.

1881. Pascoe, Everyday Life in our Public Schools.... The consumption of SOCK, too, in school was considerable, and on occasion very conspicuous.

1883. Brinsley-Richards, Seven Years at Eton.... We Eton fellows, great and small, SOCKED prodigiously. By the way, I do not know whence that term SOCK, as applied to what boys at some schools call “grub,” and others “tick,” is derived; for I question the theory which makes it spring from “suck.” I am rather disposed to accept the story that at the beginning of this century, one of the men, who sold fruits and tarts at the wall, got nicknamed SOCKS, in consequence of his having discarded knee-breeches and stockings in favour of pants and short hose. The man’s nickname might then have spread to his business and to his wares by a process familiar to etymologists, till SOCKING came to mean the purchase of good things not from SOCKS only, but from any other vendor.

1889. Buckland, Eton Fifty Years Ago [Macmillan’s Mag., Nov.]. “My governor has SOCKED me a book.”... A boy has also been heard to ask another to SOCK him a construe of his lesson.

2. (Winchester).—To hit hard: especially at cricket. Also to beat; to defeat: as in a game.

Socker, subs. (general).—Association football. Cf. Rugger. Also Soccer.

1896. Tonbridgian, 339, 1124. Hartley has been playing very well this season, and has also become a great half-back at SOCKER.

1897. Felstedian, Nov., p. 194. In SOCCER, with old Blues up, we ought to be very strong.

Sodality, subs. (Stonyhurst).—Higher Line Sodality and Lower Line Sodality = two confraternities of which boys are members; they meet at fixed times for devotions. A member is called a Sodalist.

Sodger (or Sojer), subs. (Winchester).—The Latin cross (a PERCHER, q.v.) marked against a Præfect’s name when absent.

1880. Music of a Merry Heart, 55. The books went up, and in due time were returned to us after examination, with the most startling faults indicated by a good big cross in the margin, which crosses, for some reason, were known as SODGERS.

Sodom, subs. (Oxford).—Wadham College.

Soft-ball, subs. (Royal Military Academy).—Tennis.

Sog, subs. (Charterhouse and Winchester).—Twenty shillings; a sovereign.

Solo, subs. (Winchester).—A solitary walk—without a SOCIUS (q.v.).

Soph, subs. (Cambridge).—A student of the second or third year; the distinctions are: A first year man = Freshman (q.v.); second year = Junior SOPH; third year = Senior SOPH.

1870. Goodrich [Webster, Unabridged, s.v. Sophomose]. This word has generally been considered an American barbarism, but it was probably introduced into our country at a very early period from the University of Cambridge, England. Among the cant terms at that University, as given in the “Gradus ad Cantabrigiam,” we find SOPH-MOR as the next distinctive appellation to Freshman. It is added that a writer in the Gentleman’s Magazine thinks Mor an abbreviation of the Greek μωρία, introduced at a time when the “Encomium Moriæ,” the “Praise of Folly,” by Erasmus, was so generally used. The ordinary derivation of the word, from σοφός and μωρός would seem, therefore, to be incorrect. The young SOPHS at Cambridge appear formerly to have received the adjunct mor, μωρός, to their names, either as one they courted for the reason mentioned above, or as one given them in sport for the supposed exhibition of inflated feeling in entering upon their new honours. The term thus implied seems to have passed at a very early period from Cambridge in England to Cambridge in America, as the next distinctive appellation to Freshmen, and thus to have been attached to the second of the four classes in our American colleges, while it has now almost ceased to be known, even as a cant word, at the parent institution in England from whence it came.

Sorry, intj. (Winchester).—“I beg your pardon.” [Not now confined to Winchester.—Wrench.]

Soup-ticket, subs. (King Edward’s, Birm.).—A card issued to a boy set down for Saturday afternoon detention: a DETÉN (q.v.).

Spadge, subs. (Christ’s Hospital).—An affected walk. Also as verb. Formerly merely “to walk.” [Cf. Lat. spatiari; Ger. spatzieren.]

Spange, adj. (Royal Military Academy).—New; elegant; smart: e.g. “to look SPANGE,” “a SPANGE uniform.”

Sparrow’s-hall, subs. (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—The old infirmary. [The head-bailiff was one Sparrow, and here the servants received their wages from him.]

Spec, subs. (Winchester).—Something enjoyable or pleasant; a good thing. On spec = in consequence.

1891. Wrench, Winchester Word-Book, s.v. Spec.... What a SPEC! My pitch-up have turned up, and I’ve got leave-out ON SPEC.

Speecher, subs. (Harrow).—The speech-day: usually the first Thursday in July, when prizes are given. Greek, German, or French plays are acted, and there is also an afternoon concert. The speecher = the Speech-room, built in 1871.

Speedyman, subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—The messenger who brought the news of a vacancy at New College, Oxford. Whence sped to New College = elected to a scholarship.

Speg, adj. (Winchester: obsolete).—Smart.

Spending-house, subs. (Rugby).—A pastry-cook’s: the custom, until Dr. Arnold abolished it, had been for the boys to take their morning and evening buttery commons of bread and cold milk to one of these establishments, and with “extras,” such as tea, coffee, butter, &c., to obtain a more decent meal than was otherwise possible.

1890. Great Public Schools, p. 150. Every boy had a SPENDING-HOUSE, as it was called, at one of the confectioners’ in High Street, where he left his books, bat, fishing-rod, &c.—to save a journey to his boarding-house—and spent his spare cash. It was in the back-yards of these houses that dogs and guns were kept.

Spess, subs. (Felsted).—A specimen: a term of contempt.

1889. Felstedian, July, 66. Others ... calling out ... frightful SPESSES, which word is in our language “specimens”; but as this is too long for their memories, they have shortened it.

Spin, verb (Royal Military Academy).—To reject: as to an examination; to pluck; to plough.

Spink, subs. (Royal Military Academy).—Milk: specifically, condensed milk.

Spinning-house, subs. (University).—The prison of the Vice-Chancellor’s court.

Spital Sermons (Christ’s Hospital).—Once the chief feature of the Easter festivities of this ancient foundation. See Appendix.

1834. Trollope, History of Christ’s Hospital [condensed and annotated by the editor of The Blue]. All Easter festivities connected with the School seem to be concentrated in the SPITAL SERMONS. The great antiquity of those discourses may be judged from the fact, that at the Easter following the foundation and opening of the School [1552], its members were present at St. Mary Spital. At this their first appearance at the Spital the boys appeared in that costume which, with the exception of the hats, still distinguishes them. A custom had long prevailed, according to which some learned person was appointed yearly by the Bishop of London to preach at Paul’s Cross on Good Friday on the Passion; and on the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday following, three others were appointed in like manner to uphold the doctrine of the Resurrection, at the Pulpit Cross in the Spital. On the Sunday following, a fifth preached at Paul’s Cross, passed judgment on the merits of those who had preceded him, and concluded the ceremony with an appropriate exhortation from himself. What this passing of judgment meant, and what purpose it served, is rather hard to decide. It would almost seem as if some prize or reward were offered for the best sermon. The SPITAL SERMONS are certainly the oldest institution of their kind in London, and probably in England. But they have naturally been subject to great changes. At first there were five, two at Paul’s Cross and three at St. Mary Spital. Many alterations followed; for instance, the Great Rebellion put an end for a time both to pulpit and sermons, until the Restoration, when they were revived, that is, the three SPITAL SERMONS proper (for the judge disappears) at St. Bride’s Church, which still stands in Fleet Street. Nothing interrupted them again until 1797, when the preachers once more were removed to Christ’s Church, where the SERMONS, now only two in number, have been regularly delivered, until within the memory of many still in the school [1890] the Corporation reduced their number to a minimum; and now one SPITAL SERMON instead of five is listened to, not at St. Mary Spital, or Paul’s Cross, or St. Bride’s, but at Christ Church, Newgate Street. Though the scene has not changed since 1797, the accompanying ceremony has been sadly mutilated. In my [Mr. Trollope’s] time, instead of the subjects which were wont to be discussed from the Pulpit Cross of St. Mary Spital, discourses were delivered commemorative of the five Sister Hospitals of Christ’s Hospital, St. Thomas’, St. Bartholomew’s, Bridewell, and Bethlehem. This feature has almost entirely disappeared; the reverend preachers now pass by, or casually mention, the original reason for their presence in the handsome pulpit of Christ Church. “On each day the boys of Christ’s Hospital, with the legend ‘He is risen’ attached to their left shoulder, form part of the Civic procession; walking on the first day in the order of their schools, the King’s boys bearing their nautical instruments.” [These King’s boys are, of course, the Mathemats, who seem in earlier days, before the development of the Classical side, and the chances of a University career, to have been the most prominent part of the School.] They assembled on Monday in the Square of the Royal Exchange, and on their return were joined by the Lord Mayor and Civic procession, with the ladies. On Tuesday they proceeded direct to the Mansion House; each boy received a new sixpence, each monitor a shilling, and each Grecian half a guinea. [It appears that Alderman Thomson, whose portrait hangs in the Hall, whose name is engraven on the walls of the Hospital, and to whom we owe the Classical and Mathematical Medals, doubled the donation in every case, and his successors have not returned to the original amount.] The boys were again followed by the Civic authorities, without the ladies, to Christ Church, where a Junior Bishop preached on Monday, and a clergyman selected by the Lord Mayor (usually his chaplain) on Tuesday. But the most interesting feature of all was that on both occasions an anthem composed by one of the Grecians, and set to music by the organist, was sung by the children.

Spite, verb (Winchester).—To hate: to dislike.

c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester (1866), 235. When a boy suffered some injury himself, in order to spite another person; or having in some way injured another, received punishment, he was said to be SPITING GABELL. Dr. Gabell was formerly Head-master, and the extreme inexpediency of attempting to annoy him gave rise to the proverb.

1891. Wrench, Winchester Word-Book, s.v. Spite. The word in Wykehamical usage generally connoted the frame of mind rather than the acts in which it finds expression. But the phrase “to SPITE Gabell” describes the act popularly known as “cutting off your nose to SPITE your face.”

Splice, verb (Winchester).—To throw; to fling: as a missile.

Sport, verb (Winchester).—To spread: as a baulk (or report); to wear: as clothes; to provide: as a feast; to indulge in: as smoking, walking, &c.—a general verb of action. Whence SPORTING ACTION = an affected manner, gesture, or gait, or betrayal of emotion. [Sport (var. dial.) = to show, to exhibit.]

Sportings, subs. (Charterhouse).—Clothes worn at the Exeat (q.v.).

1900. Tod, Charterhouse, p. 102. The splendour of Exeat garb defies description. It is enough to say that the Carthusian’s apparel then is as costly as his purse will buy, and that he calls it SPORTINGS.

Spree, adj. (Winchester).—(1) Conceited; stuck-up: of persons. (2) Smart; stylish; befitting a Wykehamist: of dress, &c. [Spree (Devon) = spruce, gay.]

c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester (1866), 72. At the end of the half year we used to have large entertainments called “SPREE MESSES,” between Toy-time and Chapel, consisting of tea, coffee, muffins, cakes, &c., the funds for which were generally provided by fines inflicted during Toy-time for talking loud, slamming the door, coming in without whistling (to show that it was not a Master entering), improper language, &c. &c. Sometimes a SPREE MESS was given by the boys about to leave at the end of that Half.

1891. Wrench, Winchester Word-Book, s.v. Spree.... As applied to juniors, uppish; inclined to assume airs, or usurp privileges not belonging to juniors. As applied to acts, permissible only to prefects or those of senior standing.

Spreeman, subs. (Winchester).—A Junior who has to fag hard.

1891. Wrench, Winchester Word-Book, s.v. Spreeman. A Commoner Inferior, who, in consideration of his social status or long standing in the School, was invested by Præfects with privileges similar to those enjoyed by Candle-keepers in College.

Squab (or Squob), verb (King Edward’s, Birm.).—To squeeze by. [The foot is placed against a wall or desk, and the back against the victim, who is similarly treated from the opposite side by some one else, or pressed against a wall.] Hence SQUAB-UP = “push,” generally. [Squab (Devon) = to squeeze, to knock, to beat.]

Square. To square round, verb. phr. (Winchester).—To make room: as at a fire, &c.

Squash, subs. 1. (Stonyhurst).—A mellay (at football) of the two sides round the goal-posts. A goal secured in this way is called a “squash-goal.” Also Harrow.

1876. Collins, The Public Schools [Harrow], p. 312. The gravel cut the leather case of the ball occasionally, as well as the hands and faces of those who scrambled over it in a SQUASH, as that close mêlée is called, which Rugby men know as a “scrummage,” and Etonians as a “rouge.”

1885. Stonyhurst Mag., i. 144. The second law on the Code enacts that “no one may push, pull, charge, or trip another player.” How then is a SQUASH GOAL to be accounted for?

2. (Harrow).—A game of racquets not played with a Harder (q.v.), but with an indiarubber ball, which is also called a SQUASH.

Squashed-flies. See Flies.

Squeaky, adj. (Christ’s Hospital).—High-pitched: of the voice. Cf. Gruff.

1844. Reminis. of Christ’s Hospital [The Blue, Aug. 1874]. The voices, in our own peculiar phraseology, being divided into two classes—those who sang SQUEAKY and those who sang GRUFF. The monitors were constantly on the look-out for boys with SQUEAKY voices, and did any youth make himself at all prominent in this respect, down upon him would pounce the monitor, forthwith to transpose him to the organ gallery, there to submit his musical abilities to a trial by the organist. The latter was an elderly gentleman, inclined at times to be rather irritable.

Squealer, subs. (Wellington).—A small boy.

Squirm (or Squirt), subs. (general).—An obnoxious boy.

Squish, subs. 1. (general).—Marmalade.

2. (Winchester).—Weak tea.

Squo, adj. (Charterhouse).—Squash (q.v.); as in SQUO-court, SQUO-ball, SQUO-bat, &c.

Stally, adj. (Derby).—Strong [? stalwart].

Stamp, subs. (Harrow).—Every one is provided with a “school stamp”; the name is cut on it, and this must be printed on all books, &c. Above the Second Fifth boys keep their own stamp.

Stand. To stand out for College, verb. phr. (Westminster).—To enter for a King’s scholarship. Candidates must be under fifteen years of age, and have been in the school as a town boy for not less than a year preceding.

1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 182. Then if he thinks proper he “STANDS OUT FOR COLLEGE”—or, in the old Latin phraseology, becomes one of the minores candidati. He undergoes a very severe examination, called the “Challenge” [q.v.], the form of which must have been preserved from Queen Elizabeth’s days, and is the last surviving relic of the old scholastic disputations; those tournaments of Latin and logic, in which Queen Bess was wont to reward a successful champion with a purse of gold from her own virgin hand, and her successor, James, distributed liberally the more economical guerdon of royal applause and criticism.

Standing-up Week, subs. phr. (Winchester).—See quot.

c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester (1866), 235. Standing-up week—During the last week of Long Half all the boys, except Sixth Book and Senior Part, had to say a number of lines by heart in eight lessons, which they were supposed to have learned in the course of the previous year; this was called STANDING-UP. Marks were given according to merit, and these marks had a very material effect on the respective positions of the boys in their Parts.

Station. On station, adv. phr. (Westminster).—The attendance, by juniors, on the games in the “Green” in Great Dean’s Yard, or, on a rainy day, in College.

1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 186. The juniors are expected to remain ON STATION in college for the short intervals after breakfast and after dinner, and at other times in the playgrounds (the “Green” in Dean’s Yard or Vincent Square, according to the time of year or the game that happens to be in season); except on decidedly wet days, when STATION is always in college.

Statue (The), subs. (Stonyhurst).—A statue of the Virgin looked after by the boys. They have “Month of May” devotions, and write “May verses” in her honour.

Stay. To stay out, verb. phr. 1. (Eton).—To stay out of school. See quot.

1883. Brinsley-Richards, Seven Years at Eton. Sometimes Blazes had a lazy fit, and put himself on the sick-list for a day. This was called STAY OUT, for the reason that one had to stay in.

1866-72. “Mac,” Sketchy Memories of Eton. Many things at Eton were called by misnomers, in the construction of which the lucus a non lucendo principle came out very strong. Thus, when we stayed in, we said we were STAYING OUT; when “absence” was called, we had to be present; a third of a year was called a half, &c. &c.

2. (Rugby).—To go on the sick-list.

Stedman promo, subs. (Charterhouse).—An unexpected (and probably undeserved) promotion. [Because announced in the lists printed by Mr. R. B. Stedman, the school bookseller at Godalming.]

-ster, inseparable suffix (Winchester).—The termination agent: as Brockster, Mugster, Thokester, Quilster, &c.

Stew, verb (Stonyhurst).—To study. Whence Stew-pot = a hard student.

St. George, subs. (Eton).—See Fourth of June.

1891. Harry Fludyer, 120. Well, about the boat procession. It went off splendid. You know I’m in the St. George, and Forker Major—a great heavy brute—is our captain, and Tipkins is steerer.

Sticking-up, subs. (Winchester).—See quot.

c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester (1866), 236. Sticking-up.—On the last three Fridays of each Half, a boy was selected by appointment of Commoner Præfects and Course-keeper, and placed on the top of Toys (q.v.) in their Hall, and was pelted with Pontos (q.v.) by the rest. The following Peals (q.v.) were chanted previously, one on each day: “Locks and Keys,” “Boots and Leathers,” and “Gomer Hats.”

Stick-ups, subs. (Harrow).—Stand-up, or high collars: as opposed to “turn-downs.” The rules as to collars are very intricate, and differ in various Houses. At Charterhouse STICK-UPS are not permissible until the end of the first year.

Stinks, subs. (general).—Chemistry. Also as a nickname for a lecturer thereon.

Stizzle, verb (Tonbridge).—To cane.

Stodge, subs. (Charterhouse).—The inside of a roll; the crumb of new bread.

Verb (Tonbridge).—To hurt.

Stodger, subs. (Charterhouse and Tonbridge).—A penny bun.

Stone (The), subs. (Christ’s Hospital: obsolete).—The Steward’s table in Hall. To go to the stone = to go up for trial, judgment, and sentence for misconduct.

1844. Reminis. of Christ’s Hospital [The Blue, Aug. 1874]. With respect to misconduct out of school hours, the several monitors were the police, and the Steward the sole judge. When first appointed, the young monitors displayed excessive zeal in the discovery of delinquencies, and would call out with as much severity as it was possible to throw into the voice of a youth of fourteen, “Go to THE STONE, you, sir!” “The stone” was the name given to the Steward’s table in the Hall, where offenders were tried, judgment delivered, and sentence carried out, immediately after meals. The mildest punishment consisted of caning on the open hand (ironically termed “cakes”), and next in severity was flogging with the birch (called “brushing”); and Fate, with a grim sense of humour which we failed to appreciate at the time, decreed that the head beadle in our time, who was appointed to administer the said brushings and cakes, should bear the appropriate name of Honey.

Stonyhurst-cricket (or Football). See Appendix.

Stop. To stop out, verb. phr. (Harrow and Charterhouse).—To absent oneself from school: at Harrow, through indisposition.

Stopping-up, subs. (Stonyhurst).—An extra time of study allowed to elder boys when the rest have gone to bed: e.g. “I am going to STOPPING-UP to-night.”

Strangers’ Place, subs. (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—The guest-rooms. When a boy had friends staying in the College he was said to be “in the STRANGERS’ PLACE.” Cf. Place.

Straw, subs. 1. (Harrow).—A straw hat worn by the whole school all the year round, except on Sundays and at games. The ELEVEN STRAW = a speckled black-and-white straw hat worn by the Cricket Eleven.

2. (Rugby).—For two years after his first term (during which a silk hat or “topper” was de rigueur) a boy wears a black-and-white speckled straw hat with a black ribbon. Each House has its own distinctive ribbon. At the end of his third year a boy could “take” his “white straw,” but he was not expected to do this unless he were a Swell (q.v.).

Also see Clean Straw.

Strawer, subs. (general).—A straw hat.

Stretch, subs. (University).—A walk.

Strive, verb (Christ’s Hospital).—To write with care: see Scrub. E.g. “Copy this!” “Shall I STRIVE, Sir, or ‘scrub’ it down?”

Stub, verb (Felsted).—To kick a football about.

1888. Felstedian, Dec., p. 98. Now these hollow globes [footballs] flying through the air, collide with their sandals, and this colliding they call STUBBING. Ibid. (Nov. 1896, 153). Boys are fined for STUBBING on a forty higher than their own.

1895. Felstedian, June, p. 104. Among plausible etymologies it is attempted to derive STUB from “the sound made by a stubbed football.” ... But the word STUB deserves to be rescued from its fate. I had always imagined it to be an East Anglian word for “kick,” but it is, to the best of my belief, obsolete in England.... A contributor to Notes and Queries, writing on a totally different subject, quoted the following words from a speech by an American judge: “As a barefooted boy I STUBBED my chapped toes over a rough New England farm.” [Stub is commonly dialectical, in the sense of “to grub.”]

Stuckling, subs. (Winchester).—A kind of flat pastry made of the current year’s apples and dried currants.

1847. Halliwell, Archaic Words, s.v. Stuckling. An apple pasty, thin, somewhat half circular in shape, and not made in a dish.

1883. Trollope, What I Remember.... Stuckling was a kind of flat pastry made of chopped apples and currants. And the speciality of it was that the apples must be that year’s apples. They used to be sent up from Devonshire or Cornwall, and sometimes were with difficulty obtained.

1891. Wrench, Winchester Word-Book, s.v. Stuckling. A pudding at Election dinner, made of meat, apple, and carraway.

Study-place, subs. (Stonyhurst).—A study. Cf. Place.

Stuggy, adj. (general).—Thick-set. [Stuggy (Devon) = thick, stout.]

Stumper, subs. (Tonbridge).—Small cricket played with a stump.

Stumps, subs. (Harrow).—Cricket played with a stump and a soft ball.

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

Sub-minister, subs. (Stonyhurst).—The superior responsible for the health of the house. See Minister.

Substance, subs. (Westminster).—See Shadow.

Suck, subs. (University).—A parasite; a toady.

Suction, subs. (Winchester).—Sweetmeats.

Sudden-death, subs. (University).—A crumpet.

Sum, intj. (Winchester).—The response at names-calling; ADSUM (q.v.).

Summer Quarter, subs. (Charterhouse).—See Long Quarter.

Superann, subs. (Charterhouse).—Superannuate.

Superannuate, subs. (Winchester).—See quot.

c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester (1866), 237. Superannuate.—A boy who was obliged to leave at Election, owing to his being past eighteen years of age. Founders (q.v.) were not SUPERANNUATE till they were twenty-five.

Surly Hall (Eton).—A public-house on the right bank of the Thames, some three and a half miles from Windsor. See Fourth of June.

Sur-master, subs. (Manchester Grammar: obsolete).—The second master; the “Usher.” [There is now no second in command.]

Sus, subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—The remains of a Præfect’s tea: a fag’s perquisite.

c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester (1866), 237. Sus.—The Juniors’ tea: generally drunk out of a pint cup when in bed.

Swank, verb (general).—To work hard. [O.E. Swinke = to labour.] Hence SWANKER = a hard worker. See Swink.

... MS. Cott. Vespas, D. vii. f. 3. I SWANK in mi sighing stede, I sal wasche bi al nyghtes mi bede. Ibid., 46. I SWANK criand, haase made. Chekes mine for pine I hade.

Swat. See Swot.

Sweat. See Swot.

Sweater, subs. (Winchester).—A servant.

Sweat-gallery, subs. (Winchester).—Fagging Juniors.

Swell, subs. 1. (Eton and Harrow). See quot.

18[?]. T. R. Oliphant, Eton College.... It is very hard to define exactly what is meant by a SWELL at Eton; but it usually implies a boy who, brought into notice either by athletic prowess or scholarship, or high standing in the school, by this means becomes acquainted with the leading members of the school, and is found on acquaintance to develop considerable social qualities, which make him hand and glove with all the Eton magnates.

2. (Rugby).—The word SWELL (says Mr. Lees Knowles) had an indefinite, but well understood, meaning in the school. A member of the school “twenty,” or “fifteen” as it is now, or a member of the eleven, was, for instance, a SWELL.

Verb (Winchester).—To bathe; to wash.

Swells, subs. (Winchester).—Sunday services; Saints’-days, &c. [When surplices were worn.]

Swift’s. See Planks.

Swill, verb (Shrewsbury).—To take a shower-bath; also (Winchester) to wash by throwing water over the body.

1881. Felstedian, Nov., p. 75, “A Day’s Fagging at Winchester.” Having taken out the washing-stool, I proceed to call the Senior Præfect; when he gets up I have to SWILL him (i.e. pour a can of water over his back in his bath), and then rub him down with a towel.

Swinger, subs. (Charterhouse).—A box on the ears. Cf. Swinge = to lash, to beat. Also SWINGE as verb.

1579. Mariage of Witt and Wisdome. O, the passion of God! so I shalbe SWINGED; So, my bones shalbe bang’d! The poredge pot is stolne: what, Lob, I say, Come away, and be hangd!

1611. Cotgrave, Dict., s.v. Dober. To beat, SWINGE, lamme, bethwacke.

1637. Du Bartas [Nares]. Then often SWINDGING, with his sinnewy train, Somtimes his sides, somtimes the dusty plain.

[..?..] Havelok the Dane [Skeat, E.E.T.S. (1868), 214]. An ofte dede him sore SWINGE, And wit hondes smerte dinge; So that the blod ran of his fleys, That tendre was, and swithe neys.

Swink, verb (Winchester).—To sweat; to work hard. Also as subs. See Swank.

1579. Mariage of Witt and Wisdome. But now I SWINKE and sweate in vaine, My labour hath no end, And moping in my study still, My youthfull yeares I spend.

1590. Spenser, Faërie Queene.... Honour, estate, and all this worlde’s good, For which men SWINCKE and sweat incessantly.

1891. Wrench, Winchester Word-Book, s.v. Swink.... The former [to sweat] is the primary Wykehamical meaning: SWINK and sweat have therefore changed places.

Swipes, subs. 1. (Stonyhurst).—The boy-servant who serves out beer at dinner.

2. (Harrow).—Supper.

To be swiped, verb. phr. (Harrow).—To be birched.

Swish, verb (Eton and Charterhouse).—To flog. Hence SWISHING = a beating.

c. 1889. Illustrated London News. Flogging, or, as it is called at Eton, SWISHING, is to be abolished at that aristocratic seminary.

1891. Harry Fludyer, 47. He complained of us and Tipkins, and I got SWISHED the other day.

Swot (Swat or Sweat), subs. (general).—Lessons; work: specifically, mathematics at Royal Military Academy. Also a hard-working student.

1883. Pascoe, Everyday Life at Our Public Schools.... So much for work or SWOT, as the Harrovian, in common with other boys, somewhat inelegantly terms the more important part of instruction he receives at school.

Verb (general).—To work hard: as at lessons.

In a swot, phr. (Shrewsbury).—In a rage.

Syntax, subs. (Stonyhurst).—The upper Fourth Form.

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

c. 1327. Chester Plays, ii. 27. For south this harde I hym saye, That he woulde rise the thirde daye; Nowe suerlye and he so maye, He hath a wounderous TACHE.

c. 1400. Occleve MS. [Soc. Ant.], 134, f. 279. And to his fadris maneris enclyne, And wikkid TACCHIS and vices eschewe.

[..?..] MS. Cantab, Ff. i. 6, f. 157. It is a TACCHE of a devouryng hounde To resseyve superfluyté and do excesse.

d. 1565. Chaloner, Moriæ Euc., p. 3, b. It is a common TATCHE, naturally gevin to all men, as well as priests, to watche well for theyr owne lucre.

1612. Warner, Albion’s England, Bk. xiii. p. 318. First Jupiter that did usurp his father’s throne, Of whom even his adorers write evil TACHES many an one.

1822. Nares, Glossary, s.v. Tache or Tatch. A blot, spot, stain, or vice; tache, French.

1847. Halliwell, Archaic Words, s.v. Tache.... A quality, or disposition; a trick; enterprise; boldness of design. (A.-N.)

Verb (Tonbridge).—To stare at: mostly confined to one House.

Tack, subs. (Sherborne).—A feast in one’s study.

Tag, subs. (Winchester).—An off-side kick: at football. Also as verb.

c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester (1866), 237. Tag.... When a player has kicked the ball well forward, and has followed it, if it was then kicked back again behind him by the other side, he was then obliged to return to his original position with his own side. If the ball had, in the meantime, been again kicked in front of him, before he regained his position, and he was to kick it, it would be considered unfair, and he would be said TO TAG.

Tails, subs. (Harrow).—The swallow-tailed coats worn by all in the Upper School, and (as “charity-tails”) by all in the Lower School who are considered by the Head of the School to be tall enough to require them.

Tank, verb (King Edward’s, Birm.).—To cane: a rarer word than COSH (q.v.). [Tank (Warwicks.) = a blow.]

Tap (Eton).—See Appendix.

Taps. See Tolly (sense 2).

Tardy, adv. (Winchester).—Late: as “I was TARDY TASK” (q.v.).

1881. Felstedian, Nov., p. 75, “A Day’s Fagging at Winchester.” That done I return to chambers, fling on my gown, which I am obliged to keep off till the last moment as a sign of servitude to shew that I am only a junior, and then scramble in to chapel somehow, very likely late, with an impot in store from my form master, and a licking from the præfect in my chamber for being TARDY, though as likely as not he was himself the cause of it.

Task, subs. (Winchester).—All kinds of composition other than an Essay or Vulgus.

Tatol, subs. (Winchester).—A tutor in Commoners. These came into course in alternate weeks, their duties being to preside at meals, Toys (q.v.) and names-calling, and to go round galleries at 9.15.

Tavern (The), subs. (Oxford).—New Inn Hall. [From its title, “New Inn,” and also because the buttery is open all day, and the members of the Hall can call for what they please at any hour, the same as in a tavern.]

Tawse, subs. (Scots: general).—A leather strap used in Scotland instead of the cane. [Tawse (North) = a piece of tanned leather.]

Team, subs. (University).—The pupils of a private tutor or coach.

Teddy-hall, subs. (Oxford).—St. Edmund’s Hall.

Teejay (or Tege), subs. (Winchester).—A new-comer under the charge of an older scholar, who also instructs him in NOTIONS (q.v.). Also as verb. [That is, Protégé.]

Teek, subs. (Harrow).—Mathematics. See Tique.

Temple, subs. (Winchester).—A niche in Mead’s Wall.

1881. Pascoe, Everyday Life in our Public Schools.... On the last night of term there is a bonfire in Ball Court, and all the TEMPLES or miniature architectural excavations in Mead’s Wall are lighted up with candle-ends.

Ten-o’clock Recreation, subs. phr. (Stonyhurst).—Still keeps its name, though now for some years it comes nearly an hour later.

Tepe, verb (Durham: obsolete).—To smoke: a lane near School was called Tepe Lane.

Terrace, The (Harrow).—The terrace below the chapel, towards the Footer-fields.

Tertian, subs. (Aberdeen).—A student in the third class.

Tetra, subs. (Felsted: obsolete).—A “record”: TO GO BEYOND THE TETRA = to beat the record. [A stuttering pronunciation of, some say, “tremendous,” others, “extraordinary.”] See Appendix.

Thick, subs. (Winchester and Rugby).—A stupid fellow. Also as adj.

1856. Hughes, Tom Brown’s School-days, I. vii. What a THICK I was to come! Here we are, dead beat, and yet I know we’re close to the run in, if we knew the country.

Thicker, subs. (Harrow).—Thucydides: translated in the Upper School.

Third Elevens (or Thirders), subs. (Harrow).—A house Second Eleven (q.v.) playing another house Second Eleven at football.

Third-guarder, subs. (Stonyhurst).—See Guarder.

Thoke, subs. (Winchester).—Rest; lying in bed. Hence as verb = to lie in bed late. [Prov. Eng. thoky = sluggish.] Whence TO THOKE UPON = to anticipate with pleasure; THOKESTER = an idler.

1847. Halliwell, Archaic Words, s.v. Thokish. Slothful; sluggish. East. In Lincolnshire it is usually THOKY.

1891. Wrench, Winchester Word-Book, s.v. Thoke. I’m THOKING ON next week: what a THOKE it will be, with a Leave-out-day, a Hatch-THOKE, and a half remedy.

1899. Public School Mag., Dec., p. 465. He attributed his success—or, at any rate, his long survival—to the art of “THOKING”—in the vulgar tongue, “slacking”—which he had laboriously acquired during his first years of office.

Thoker, subs. (Winchester).—A thick slice of bread soaked in water and then baked.

Thos’s-hole, subs. (Rugby). See quot.

1856. Hughes, Tom Brown’s School-days, vii. And so Tom and the Tadpole, in night-shirts and trousers, started off downstairs, and through “THOS’S-HOLE,” as the little buttery, where candles and beer and bread and cheese were served out at night, was called, across the School-house court.

1867. Collins, The Public Schools, 367. “Thos” [Thomas Woobridge] the well-remembered old school-house servitor, being mounted on the leading horse.

Three. Come back at three, phr. (Royal High School, Edin.).—The formula to signify detention after school hours.

Threepenny, subs. (general).—A tuck-shop cake of that value.

Throw, verb (University).—To master; to succeed: as in a paper, lesson, examination, examiner, &c.

1891. Harry Fludyer at Cambridge, 98. These blessed exams. are getting awfully close now, but I think I shall floor mine, and Dick’s sure to THROW his examiners down.

Tight, adj. (Winchester).—Fast; hard.

1891. Wrench, Winchester Word-Book, s.v. Tight.... A TIGHT bowler, &c. As superlative adverb now only used in TIGHT junior. Tight-snob, TIGHT-rot, and other such uses are obsolete.

Tin-gloves, subs. (Winchester).—See quot.

c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester (1866), 54. But there were other ordeals that were not quite so harmless. Green was liable to be asked whether he possessed a pair of TIN-GLOVES. As this article does not generally form part of a boy’s outfit, Bully would proceed to furnish him with a pair in the following manner:—Taking a half consumed stick from the fire, he would draw the “red-hot end” down the back of Green’s hand between each of the knuckles to the wrist, and having produced three satisfactory lines of blisters would then make two or three transverse lines across. A scientifically fitted pair of gloves of this description was generally, if not pleasant wear, of great durability.

Tin-tab, subs. (Dulwich).—The carpenter’s shop.

Tip, subs. (Felsted).—1. A false report.

1890. Felstedian, Feb., p. 3. Some one ventured to suggest that it was all a beastly TIP.... Many would just like to get hold of the fellow that started the TIP.

1893. Felstedian, Dec., p. 143. Nor is it credible that he stands in need of those useful and entertaining scraps of general information to which we apply the term “TIPS” in our ordinary conversation.

1895. Felstedian, April, p. 45. Tip.—“Tip” and “tip-spreading,” expressing with that brevity which is the soul of wit, our horror of scandal and scandal-mongering, again defy analysis.

2. (Felsted).—A foolish mistake in translating, &c.

Tipping, adj. (general).—First-rate; jolly.

Tique, subs. (Harrow).—(1) Arithmetic; and (2) mathematics. [From a French master’s peculiar English pronunciation.]

Tish, subs. (Royal Military College).—A partition; a cubicle.

Tit. See ’Varsity-tit.

Titch, subs. (Christ’s Hospital).—A flogging. Also as verb [Onomatopœia]. See Appendix.

Tizzy-poole, subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—A fives ball [costing 6d., and sold by a head porter named Poole.]

Toad, subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—In College a piece of hot toast put into beer.

Toe-fit-tie, subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—See quot.

1881. Felstedian, Nov., p. 84, “A Day’s Fagging at Winchester.” I remember now; it was that brute A—— who “to FITTI”-ed me last night.... For the benefit of the uninitiated let me explain the modus operandi and its etymology: it is nothing more or less than the commencement of a line in the old familiar “As in præsenti perfectum, format in avi,” which we used to learn, “to fit-ti,” in reference to verbs of the third conjugation, transferred from the similarity of sound to the school-boy’s toe; it consisted in tying a running noose on a piece of string, cunningly turning up the bed-clothes at the foot, putting it round the big toe of an unconscious sleeper, running the noose up tight, and pulling till the victim followed the direction of string from the pain, getting farther and farther out of bed and nearer and nearer the floor, till mercifully released.

Togger, subs. (Oxford).—A Torpid (q.v.) boat-race.

1894. Felstedian, Dec., p. 181. Wiltshire will probably row in one of the University TOGGERS next term.

1896. Tonbridgian, No. 339, 1124. Rowland rowed in the TOGGER, fifth on the river.

Toke, verb (The Leys).—To be lazy; to “loaf.”

Told. To be told, verb. phr. (Tonbridge).—To obtain one’s colours in a school team.

Tolly, subs. 1. (general).—A candle. [From tallow.] Cf. Brolly, Yolly, &c.

2. (Stonyhurst).—The flat instrument for administering punishment on the hand: the maximum is “twice nine.” Sometimes called TAPS (q.v.): e.g. “I’ve to get TAPS to-night.”

To tolly up, verb. phr. (Harrow).—To surreptitiously light candles after gas is out.

Tom, subs. (Oxford).—The great bell of Christ Church. [It tolls 101 times each evening at ten minutes past nine o’clock (there being 101 students on the foundation), and marks the time for the closing of the College gates. “Tom” is one of the lions of Oxford. It formerly belonged to Oseney Abbey, and weighs about 17,000 pounds, being more than double the weight of the great bell of St. Paul’s.]

Tommy, subs. (Dublin).—A sham shirt-front. [From the Greek τομή, a section.]

Tonkabout, subs. (Charterhouse).—The hitting up of catches at cricket: said to be a Bodeite (q.v.) term.

Toot (or Tout), verb (Royal High School, Edin.).—To treat to lunch. [Recently introduced by a boy from New Zealand. Originally shout, then tout, whence TOOT. “Shout” = to stand treat.]

To-pan, subs. (Winchester).—See quot., and Boiler.

c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester (1866), 240. Toe-pan.—A large basin of red earthenware placed in each chamber for washing the feet in.

Top-side, subs. (Harrow).—A wing at football: the opposite one to Bottom-side (q.v.).

Torch-race, subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—Formerly, part of the breaking-up ceremony of the winter half-year. On the last morning the boys, after early chapel, rushed out of gates, each bearing a burning birch-broom, up College Street and along the wall of the Close up to the old White Hart Inn, where breakfast was prepared before the chaises started for their various destinations. This curious TORCH-RACE subsequently gave way to a race of the seniors in sedan chairs.

Torpid, subs. (Harrow).—A boy who has not been two years in the school. There is a cup for the Cock-house (q.v.) at torpids in football.

Torpids, subs. (Oxford).—(1) The eight-oared spring races; (2) the boats; and (3) the crews. Also Togger.

1853. Bradley, Verdant Green, II. xii. The Misses Green had the satisfaction to see their brother pulling in one of the fifteen TORPIDS that followed immediately in the wake of the other boats.

1889. Felstedian, Feb., p. 11. After the TORPIDS will come the Clinker Forms—an institution hitherto unknown in Oxford.

1900. Westminster Gazette, 21st Feb., 8. 3. Oxford University TORPIDS. These races were concluded to-day.

Tosh, subs. (general).—A foot-tub; a bath. Also, as verb = to throw water over a person: e.g. “He TOSHED his house beak by mistake, and got three hundred.” Hence Tosh-pond (Royal Military Academy) = the bathing-pond. [That is, “toe-wash.”]

Tosher, subs. (Oxford).—An unattached student.

Tosh-soap, subs. (Charterhouse).—Cheese.

T’other-school, subs. (Winchester).—(1) One’s former school; and (2) any school not a Public School. Also as adj. = NON-LICET (q.v.), or unbecoming: because more or less alien to Winchester.

T’other-un, subs. (Charterhouse).—A private school.

Touch. To touch in, verb. phr. (Stonyhurst).—To reach one’s block: of a batsman when running. See Stonyhurst-cricket. [According to the Rules, “The TOUCHING-IN line is within a bat’s length of the CRICKET-STONE” (q.v.).]

Touchy, adv. (Christ’s Hospital).—Rather: e.g. TOUCHY a lux = rather a good thing.

Tow, subs. (Shrewsbury).—A run in: at hare and hounds.

1881. Pascoe, Everyday Life at our Public Schools.... After that last “all up,” there is a TOW or continuous run of from one to three miles.

Town and Gown, sub. phr. (University).—The townsmen v. the members of the University. [In her young days the position of the University was one of perpetual conflict—with the town, the Jews, the Friars, and the Papal Court.]

1853. Bradley, Verdant Green, II. iii. Town and gown disturbances are of considerable antiquity. Fuller and Matthew Paris give accounts of some which occurred as early as the year 1238. These disputes not unfrequently terminated fatally to some of the combatants. One of the most serious TOWN AND GOWN rows on record took place on the day of St. Scholastica the Virgin, February 10, 1345, when several lives were lost on either side. The University was at that time in the Lincoln diocese; and Grostête, the bishop, placed the townspeople under an interdict, from which they were not released till 1357, and then only on condition that the mayor and sixty of the chief burgesses should on every anniversary of the day of St. Scholastica, attend St. Mary’s Church and offer up mass for the soul of the slain scholars, and should also individually present an offering of one penny at the high altar. They, moreover, paid a yearly fine of 100 marks to the University, with the penalty of an additional fine of the same sum for every omission in attending at St. Mary’s. This continued up to the time of the Reformation, when it gradually fell into abeyance. In the fifteenth year of Elizabeth, however, the University asserted their claim to all arrears. The matter being brought to trial, it was decided that the town should continue the annual fine and penance, though the arrears were forgiven. The fine was yearly paid on the 10th of February up to our own time; the mayor and chief burgesses attended at St. Mary’s and made the offering at the conclusion of the litany, which, on that occasion, was read from the altar. This was at length put an end to by Convocation in the year 1825.

1899. Heywood, Guide to Oxford. The TOWN AND GOWN rows, as occasions for displays of physical force, lasted until quite recent times, as readers of Verdant Green and Tom Brown at Oxford will know. Nowadays, however, they are happily unknown.

Townee (or Towner), subs. (general).—See Cad.

Towney (Christ’s Hospital).—See Housey.

1887. The Blue, Nov. Thus, a little farther on, mention is made of the time when a boy leaves the School. The consequent change of dress might be vulgarly expressed by “exchanging HOUSEYS FOR TOWNEYS,” but our author is before all things refined. “The boy is at liberty to exchange the garb of the house for one more congenial to modern taste.”

Town-lout, subs. (Rugby).—A scholar residing in the town with his parents.

Toys, subs. (Winchester).—A bureau—desk and book-case combined. Whence TOY-TIME (or TOYS) = evening preparation (in College) and (in Commoners) all time so spent.

1440. Prompt. Parv. Teye, of a cofyr or forcer.

1881. Pascoe, Everyday Life in our Public Schools. The clock striking seven each junior retires to his TOYS or bureau for an hour and a half, during what is known as TOYTIME, when the work of the next morning and the week’s composition have to be prepared.

1891. Wrench, Winchester Word-Book, s.v. Toys.... The expression TOY-TIME suggests that the “s” has been added. If TOYS has not descended from this word [teye], it must have been transferred from the contents of the toys, and mean simply one’s belongings.

Trades, subs. (Christ’s Hospital).—See quot. and Public-supping.

1900. Daily Telegraph, 16th March, “London Day by Day.” After the boys had concluded their simple repast of tea and bread-and-butter, they formed up two-and-two, and bowed to the Lord Mayor, the different wards being headed by the TRADES, as the boys who carry the candlesticks, the bread-basket, table-cloth, and cutlery are termed.

Travelling-scholarship (or Fellowship), subs. (University).—Rustication (q.v.).

Treacle-bolly, subs. (Marlborough). A walk by the Kennett close to the College. [So called from the cottage of a miller so nick-named.]

Tree of Knowledge, The (Charterhouse).—The tree under which books, &c., are piled in the interval between second school and dinner (say 12.30 to 1.15), while run-about in winter and cricket-nets or position drill in summer is engaged in.

Treer, subs. (Durham: obsolete).—A boy who avoids organised games, but plays a private game with one or two friends. [Presumably because played by the trees at the side of the ground.]

Trek, verb (Durham).—To run.

Trencher, subs. 1. (Winchester).—A square wooden platter: in use in College.

2. (general).—A college cap; a Mortar-board (q.v.).

Trial, subs. (Harrow).—An examination. Whence Trials = the examinations at the end of the summer and winter terms.

Tribune, subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—A large pew in ante-chapel: reserved for ladies.

Tripos, subs. (Cambridge).—A word dating from the sixteenth century, and used successively in a number of different senses. At first it was applied to the stool on which the champion of the University sat at the disputations held at the admission of Bachelors of Arts to their degree; then it was transferred to the Bachelor himself; still later to the humorous, or, in some cases, scurrilous, speech with which “Mr. Tripos” opened the proceedings, and to the verses of the Bachelors at the Acts. The honours-lists were printed (about 1847-8) on the backs of these verses, and so tripos came to mean an honour-list, and, last of all, the examination itself. Until the year 1824 there was only one tripos, the Mathematical; and up to 1850 only those who had obtained honours in mathematics were admitted to the Classical examination. The degree was not given for that examination till a few years later.

1877. Wordsworth, Scholæ Academicæ, 20. Such interest as is now attached to them belongs rather to the verses than to the list of the several TRIPOSES (for the name has now at last come to signify degree examinations) which have been circulated already severally.

1891. Harry Fludyer at Cambridge, 9. I’m seriously thinking of chucking my TRIPOS and taking up the History Special.

Trotter, subs. (University).—A tailor’s assistant who goes on round for orders.

Truck-house, subs. (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—The Recreation rooms.

1882. Stonyhurst Mag., i. 12, “Rummagings amongst our Records.” Grammar and Great Figures on their Declamation day ... were exempted from studies and allowed something of a collation in the TRUCK-HOUSE.

Tub, subs. 1. (University).—A boat broad in the beam, used by novices. Hence TUBBING = boating; to GET TUBBED = to be taught to row.

1853. Bradley, Verdant Green.... So to the river he next day went, and made his first essay in a TUB.

1889. Morning Advertiser. If “up” at the University, we will probably pass our time between “grinding hard” and TUBBING on the river.

1898. Stonyhurst Mag., Dec., p. 149, “Life at Oxford.” Rowing is naturally a great attraction to many freshmen, and every College is always on the look-out for new oarsmen. What one does is to get “TUBBED,” that is, one is taught to row by members of the College eight in boats that are too TUB-like to be easily capsized.

2. (Winchester).—A chest in Hall into which Dispars (q.v.) not taken by the boys were put.

c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester (1866), 79. In front of the screen stood “TUB,” from which the Præfect of that Ilk took his title; it was a strong painted oak chest, with a lid, about two feet high.... As will be seen, it was simply impossible for the Juniors to be up to time, the consequence of which was that more than half the dinners were not taken; these were thrown into “TUB” at the end of Hall, whence they were ultimately taken away by some poor women, and I always understood (though I am not certain that such was the case) that the “Præfect of TUB” got a certain sum for each “Dispar” not taken, and so had a direct interest in managing that as many as possible should go without their dinner. I will now explain the absence of the Juniors; immediately the Præfects were seated, the whole Hall resounded with shouts of “Junior—Junior—Junior,” rising in savageness of tone, as the supply became exhausted; in five minutes all the Juniors were darting wildly about in all directions, executing orders received from their lords and masters; some to Colson’s hatch for salt, or down in the cellar for beer, back to school for something forgotten, into chambers for a pint cup, down to the kitchen for gravy, &c. &c.

1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 23. Until the last few years the “præfect of TUB” (whose duty it was to examine the quality of the meat sent in by the college butcher, and after dinner to see to the proper collection and distribution of the remains) retained his title.

Tub-mess, subs. (Winchester).—The table at which the Senior Præfects sat in Hall.—Mansfield (c. 1840).

Tuck, subs. (general).—Edibles of all kinds, but particularly pastry. Hence TUCK-SHOP = a pastry-cook’s.

Tuck-parcel, subs. (Charterhouse).—A hamper from home: the word is now becoming obsolete.

1856. Hughes, Tom Brown’s School-days, I. vi. Come along down to Sally Harrowell’s; that’s our school-house TUCK-SHOP. She bakes such shining murphies. Ibid. The slogger looks rather sodden, as if he didn’t take much exercise and ate too much TUCK.

Tug, subs. (Eton).—A Colleger; a scholar on the foundation. Whence TUGGERY = College.

1881. Pascoe, Everyday Life in our Public Schools.... The long looked-for St. Andrew’s Day arrives, when the great match of collegers, or, as the small oppidan would term it, TUGS, and oppidans is to be played.

1883. Brinsley-Richards, Seven Years at Eton.... My interlocutor was a red-headed freckled little boy of eleven, who had come from Aberdeen “to try for TUGGERY,” that is, to try and pass in to the foundation as a King’s Scholar.

1890. Great Public Schools, 52. The Collegers did not always fare as bravely as they do now, either at board or bed. Terrible tales of their manner of life may be read.... Perhaps the recollections of that time caused the disrespect, almost bordering on contempt, with which the Oppidans used for many years to regard the Togati, or gown-wearing boys. [Note.—I suppose there is not much doubt that the nickname of TUG by which the Collegers used to go among the rest of the school, was derived from the toga they wore.]

Adj. (Winchester) = stale; ordinary; vapid; common. Whence TUGS = stale news; TUG-CLOTHES = everyday clothes; TUG-JAW = wearisome talk.

Tui, subs. (Winchester).—Tuition.

Tumbies, subs. (University).—Ablutions.

Tund, verb (Winchester).—To thrash. Whence TUNDING = a thrashing. [Lat. tundere.]

1881. Pascoe, Everyday Life in Our Public Schools.... I never heard of any case in Eton like the TUNDING which, some years ago, brought our mother-school into disagreeable notice.

1883. Trollope, What I Remember.... It was the prefect of hall who ordered the infliction of a public TUNDING.... The following simple and truthful statement of what a public TUNDING was may enable those who take an interest in the matter to form some reasonable opinion whether the infliction of such punishment were a good or a bad thing.... Some dozen or so of boys, who had the best capacities for the performance, were appointed by him for the purpose, and the whole assembly stood around the daïs, while the hymn Te de profundis was sung. When all were thus assembled, and before the singers commenced, the culprit who had been sentenced to a TUNDING stepped out, pulled off his gown, and received from the hands of one deputed by the “prefect of hall,” and armed with a tough, pliant, ground-ash stick, a severe beating.

c. 1890. Punch [Confession by a Wykehamist]. I like to be TUNDED twice a day, And swished three times a week.

Turf, subs. 1. (Winchester).—The pitch: at cricket. The field is “long grass.”

2. (Felsted).—The cricket-field.

1881. Felstedian, Nov., p. 75. There are (or were) six cricket pitches on TURF.

Verb. 1. (Derby).—To send to bed at bed-time: used of Præpostors.

2. (Marlborough).—To chastise.

Turl (The), subs. (Oxford).—Turl Street. [Formerly a narrow opening through the city wall into the High Street.]

Turn. To turn up, verb. phr. (Marlborough).—To chastise: with cane, stick, or fives-bat.

To be turned, verb. phr. (Harrow and Dulwich).—To be ploughed in a vive voce translation lesson.

Twank, verb (Durham).—To cane. See Lam and Yark. [Twank (East) = to give a smart slap with the flat of the hand.]

Tweaker, subs. (Felsted: obsolete).—A catapult.

Twelve. After Twelve, subs. phr. (Eton).—From noon till two P.M.

1861. Whyte-Melville, Good for Nothing, p. 39. I used to visit him regularly in the dear old college from the AFTER TWELVE.

1864. Eton School-days, vi. I tell you plainly, if you are not in Sixpenny AFTER TWELVE, I will do my best to give you a hiding wherever I meet you.

1883. Brinsley-Richards, Seven Years at Eton. Croppie, who abominated all laws and delighted in transgressions, resolved to go to the fair, and without difficulty he persuaded the Pug and me to join him. One day AFTER TWELVE the three of us passed over Windsor Bridge in the same condition as the “bold adventurers” alluded to in Gray’s Ode.

The Twelve, subs. (Harrow).—See quot., and Appendix.

1899. Public School Mag., Dec., p. 446. The working system of the school has lately been slightly altered. Above the two sixth forms there has been placed a Head-master’s “TWELVE,” with the object of training the first TWELVE on the classical side for ’Varsity life. They are only in school about three hours a day, but have to get through a tough amount of work at their leisure.

Twelve Apostles, subs. 1. (Cambridge).—The last twelve in the Mathematical Tripos.

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Pluck.... These unfortunate fellows are designated by many opprobrious appellations, such as the TWELVE APOSTLES, the Legion of Honour, Wise Men of the East, &c.

2. (Stonyhurst).—The twelve first Stonyhurst boys.

1887. Stonyhurst Mag., iii. 90. Stonyhurst boys of all past times since the coming of the original “TWELVE APOSTLES” ... will have noticed once a year, about Eastertide, a curious notice ... giving warning of an approaching meeting of the Court Leet.

Twenty (The), subs. (Rugby).—The Sixth Form.

Twenty-two and Twenty-two, subs. phr. (Winchester: obsolete).—Football: twenty-two a side.

Twig (The), subs. (Marlborough: obsolete).—The Head-master. [In whose authority rested the use of the birch.]

Twilight, subs. (general).—Toilet.

Twist (or Twoster), subs. (Winchester).—A stick spirally marked by a creeper having grown round it.

Ulula, subs. (Manchester Grammar).—The school magazine. [The Owl is the school crest, as it was that of the founder, Hugh Oldham, Bishop of Exeter.]

Under Fire (Westminster).—See Upper Fire.

Under-green (Charterhouse).—Formerly the present big or match football ground: now the Under’s cricket-ground.

Under School (Harrow).—See Upper School.

Under Selectæ (Harrow).—See Upper School.

Union, subs. (University).—An undergrad’s debating society.

1891. Harry Fludyer at Cambridge, 15. I think I shall speak at the UNION soon.... I tried on Tuesday last, but I couldn’t catch the President’s eye.

Univ, subs. (Oxford).—University College.

Up, adv. (Harrow).—In school. To be up to any one at second school = to go to any one for work at 10 or 11 o’clock.

Upper Club (Eton).—See Playing-fields.

Upper (Middle, or Under) Fire, subs. (Westminster).—The three fire-places, under former arrangements, in the present dormitory.

Upper School, subs. (Harrow).—In 1770 (the first year of the printed Bills (q.v.) of the school) the school comprised the monitors—their numbers varied from four to ten—the Fifth Form, the Shell, and the Fourth and Third Forms: these ranked as the UPPER SCHOOL. The UNDER SCHOOL was divided in a very peculiar fashion; there was first the “Scan and Prove” class, then the “Ovid,” the “Phædrus,” the “Upper Selectæ,” “Under Selectæ,” “Nomenclature,” “Grammar,” and “Accidence.”... At present there are, besides the monitors (fifteen in number), an Upper and Lower Sixth, three separate divisions of the Fifth, two “Removes,” three “Shells,” and three Fourths. On the Modern Side are one Sixth, three Fifths, one “Remove,” three Shells, and three Fourths.

Upper Selectæ (Harrow).—See Upper School.

Upper Sixpenny (Eton).—See Playing-fields.

Uskites (Charterhouse).—See Out-houses.

Vac, subs. (University).—Vacation.

1891. Harry Fludyer at Cambridge, 2. I can’t make out why the Pater is always so crusty about Rover. He told me every day last VAC he wouldn’t have his house over-run with dogs.

Valet, subs. (Winchester).—Every Præfect had a Junior in Chambers who acted in this capacity, made his tea or coffee, carried his things through from Chambers to School and back again, and looked after him in general.—Mansfield (c. 1840).

Varmint, adj. (old University).—Good; spruce.

Varmint-man, subs. (Cambridge: obsolete). See quots.

1803. Gradus ad Cantab. A VARMINT-MAN spurns a scholarship, would consider it a degradation to be a Fellow.

1827. Alma Mater.... The handsome man, my friend and pupil, was naturally enough a bit of a swell, or VARMINT-MAN.

’Varsity, subs. (Oxford and Cambridge).—The accepted corruption of University.

’Varsity-tit (or Tit), subs. (Durham).—A student of Durham University: in contempt.

Varying, subs. (Winchester).—A VULGUS (q.v.) done UP TO BOOKS (q.v.).

Vaseline, subs. (Royal Military Academy).—Butter.

Vaughan, The (Harrow).—The school library: named after Dr. Vaughan.

Verites (Charterhouse).—A boarding-house. [A corruption of Oliverites, after Dr. Oliver Walford, 1838-55.]

Vessel, subs. (Winchester).—The eighth of a sheet of LONG-PAPER (q.v.).—[Halliwell.] Ital. vassiola.

Vex, adv. (Christ’s Hospital).—“So much the worse for”: e.g. “Vex for you.” Cf. Chaff.

Vic, intj. (Felsted).—An exclamation giving warning of a master’s approach; the equivalent of cave, which is not used at Felsted. Also TO KEEP VIC.

Vice (The), subs. (University).—The Vice-Chancellor.

Vile-child, subs. (Eton).—See quot., and Appendix.

1866-72. Sketchy Memories of Eton.... Being called a VILE-CHILD, the which I subsequently learnt was a very frequent term of mild reproach, and had no particular reference to the age of the individual to whom it was addressed. As a proof of this I may add that, being at Eton for the Winchester Match in 1883, I (moi-qui-vous-parle, height 6 feet 2 inches, and weight 14 stone 7 lbs.) was called a VILE-CHILD for being on a committee to oppose a certain obnoxious Indian Bill! I wasn’t sorry when tea was over, although many most pleasant evenings did I afterwards spend in that room.

Vocab, subs. (Charterhouse).—A vocabulary.

Vol, adj. (Harrow).—Voluntary: e.g. Vol-gym.

Voluntary, subs. (Winchester).—A copy of verses written occasionally by some of the boys in Sixth Book and Senior Part ex proprio motu.—Mansfield (c. 1840).

Vulgus, subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—A Latin epigram: four or six lines long. Hence VULGUS-BOOK = a CRIB (q.v.).

1883. Trollope, What I Remember.... The mention of a VULGUS requires some explanation. Every inferior, i.e. non-prefect, in the school was required every night to produce a copy of verses of from two to six lines on a given theme—four or six lines for the upper classes, two for the lowest. This was independent of a weekly verse task of greater length, and was called a VULGUS, I suppose, because everybody—the VULGUS—had to do it.

1856. Hughes, Tom Brown’s School-days, II. iii. The VULGUS (commonly supposed to have been established by William of Wykeham at Winchester, and imported to Rugby by Arnold more for the sake of the lines which were learnt by heart with it than for its own intrinsic value, as I’ve always understood), ... is a short exercise in Greek or Latin verse, on a given subject, the minimum number of lines being fixed for each form.... At Rugby VULGUS and lines were the first lesson every other day in the week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays; and ... it is obvious ... that the master of each Form had to set one hundred and fourteen subjects every year.... Now, human nature being prone to repeat itself, it will not be wondered that the masters gave the same subjects sometimes over again after a certain lapse of time. To meet and rebuke this bad habit of the masters, the school-boy mind, with its accustomed ingenuity, had invented an elaborate system of tradition. Almost every boy kept his own VULGUS written out in a book ... duly handed down from boy to boy, till ... popular boys, in whose hands bequeathed VULGUS-BOOKS have accumulated, are prepared with three or four VULGUSES on any subject in heaven or earth, or in “more worlds than one,” which an unfortunate master can pitch upon.... The only objection to the traditionary method of doing your VULGUSES was, the risk that the successions might have become confused, and so that you and another follower of traditions should show up the same identical VULGUS some fine morning; in which case, when it happened, considerable grief was the result.

Waffle, verb (Durham).—To talk nonsense. [North dial. waffle = to wave, to fluctuate; waffler (Camb.) = a person who is very weak; waffy (Linc.) = insipid.]

Walking-days, subs. (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—Several days allowed to a new boy during which he was initiated into the ways of the house by an old boy.

Wall, subs. (Eton).—See quot.

1890. Great Public Schools, 26. There are, as is well known, two [football] games played at Eton—one at the WALL, the other in the FIELD. The first is only played by a very limited number of boys, for there is but one WALL; the game is of a mysterious and intricate nature, and the uninitiated spectator cannot as a rule even see how a point (called a Shy) is obtained. Indeed were it not for the time-honoured match between Collegers and Oppidans on St. Andrew’s Day, the game would probably become obsolete.... The Eton FIELD game has, in the opinion of the writer [the Rev. Sydney R. James], merits, as a game for boys, superior to those of any other kind of football. In it speed and skilful dribbling and accurate kicking have their due success, but strength and dogged perseverance and pluck are not left out in the cold.

Verb (Oxford).—To confine to College.

Wallyford, subs. (Loretto).—The usual run on a wet whole school-day: about 3-1/2 miles. See Long Wallyford.

Wanker, subs. (Felsted).—A bloater. [From “stinker”—“stwanker”—“wanker.”]

1892. Felstedian, Oct., 105. My name it is “WANKER”; a leaner or lanker, Salter or ranker, fish never swam. Ibid., June 1897, p. 100. He sniffs. “’Eugh, WANKERS again.”

Warden, subs. (Winchester).—See quot.

c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester (1866), 27. The chief of the whole establishment is the WARDEN, who has nothing to do with the teaching of the boys; he admits and when necessary expels them, confers on them the dignity of “Præfect,” listens to their complaints, and, in fact, in all matters appertaining to the management of the school and the society is omnipotent.

Wash, subs. (Derby).—School tea or coffee. See Rock.

Washing-drawer, subs. (Winchester).—In College, a box to hold toilet requisites.

Washing-stool, subs. (Winchester).—In College, a Præfect’s table.

1881. Felstedian, Nov., p. 74, “A Day’s Fagging at Winchester.” I remember that the Senior Præfect is going to get up to mug early before chapel, and I have to call him and take his WASHING-STOOL (a rough wooden table generally used for putting washing basins on, which, when covered with a cloth, serves as a writing-table) out into Chamber Court.... Here let me observe that only the præfects have separate basins to wash in; the juniors use the two stone conduits.

Watch, subs. (Westminster).—A junior who has to remain in College during play-hours to answer inquiries, receive messages, and so forth, performing, in fact, the duties of a servant.

Watch. To watch out, verb. phr. (Winchester).—To field: at cricket.

Water, subs. (Westminster).—Boating.

1881. Pascoe, Everyday Life in Our Public Schools. Boating, or WATER, as it is called at Westminster, is in a very flourishing condition.

Weekites (Charterhouse).—See Out-houses.

Westminster Customs. See Cap; Challenge; Early; Play; Monos; Pancake; Shadow; Silver-pence and Westminster Play. Besides these are others worthy of mention:—

1. The College Waistcoat.—A remarkable and original service was, up to the date of the Public Schools Commission, exacted of a Westminster junior. He was supposed to be a treasury of small conveniences for his seniors’ use in and out of school. He wore a college waistcoat of peculiar pattern, in the pockets of which he had to carry about and produce immediately on legal demand—the items are recorded in the published evidence—two penknives, two pieces of india-rubber, two pencils, two pieces of sealing-wax, two pieces of pen-string, two dips (q.v.), two dip-corks, two wedges, two pieces of gutta-percha (for putting on the points of foils), and any number of pens. Besides, he had to carry a portfolio containing a sufficiency of “quarterns” of paper.

2. Latin Formulæ.—Quaint old Latin formulæ continued in use at Westminster, unchanged since its earliest foundation. While the school is at morning lesson, the monitor ostii (see Monos) watches the clock, and at half-past eleven comes to the monitor of school and announces the time. The monitor goes to the head-master’s desk, makes his bow, and says, “Sesqui est undecima.” At a quarter to twelve he makes the further announcement, “Instat duodecima.” When twelve o’clock has struck he says again, “Sonuit duodecima;” at a quarter-past twelve, “Prima quarta acta est;” at half-past, “Sesqui est duodecima,” at which welcome words books are shut, and the whole school is dismissed. The same formalities, with the necessary variations, are repeated during afternoon lessons. Before dinner the Captain calls out two boys of the Second Election, one to say grace—“Age gratias”—and the other to repeat the proper responses—“Agite responsa;” and when dinner is over, before grace again, he pays even the juniors the compliment of asking whether they have had enough—“Satisne edistis et bibistis?” to which the compulsory answer is made—in old times too often by hungry lips—“Satis edimus et bibimus.” Every night at ten o’clock the monitor of chamber gives the order for the juniors to put out the lights and go to bed—“Extinctis lucernis intrate lectos.” It is only within the last generation or two that the rule of speaking Latin exclusively, both by boys and masters, during school hours has fallen into abeyance.

Westminster Play.—A Latin comedy, presented annually in the dormitory of St. Peter’s College, a custom dating from Queen Elizabeth’s days. The performances take place just before the Christmas holidays, the play being repeated three times. The cast is strictly confined to the forty scholars on the foundation. At the close of last presentation a Cap (q.v.) is collected, the surplus of which, after paying expenses, is divided among the performers.

Wet-bob, subs. (Eton).—A rowing man. See Dry-bob.

1839. C. T. Buckland, Eton Fifty Years Ago [1889, Macmillan’s, Nov.]. 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.

Whale, subs. 1. (Cheltenham).—Codfish.

2. (Royal Military Academy).—A sardine.

Whiter, subs. (Harrow).—A white waistcoat: this may be worn by those who have been three years in the school.

Whole, subs. (Harrow).—A whole holiday, or whole schoolday.

Wicker, subs. (Felsted: obsolete).—A hamper: as of provisions.

Wicket-cricket, subs. (Stonyhurst).—Cricket played with a stick or “wicket.”

Wilderness (The), subs. (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—The Dark Walk; a part of the garden. Cf. Gerard, Stonyhurst, p. 179.

Wilderness (Charterhouse).—A playing ground at Old Charterhouse before Thomas Sutton bought the estate: now a belt of trees to the south of Under-green (q.v.).

Wine, subs. (University).—A wine-party. Also as verb.

1853. Bradley, Verdant Green, vii. Now I’m going to WINE with Smalls to-night.

Wise Men of the East, subs. phr. (Cambridge).—The last twelve in the Mathematical Tripos (q.v.).

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Pluck.... These unfortunate individuals were designated by many opprobrious appellations, such as the Twelve Apostles, the Legion of Honour, WISE MEN OF THE EAST, &c.

Wooston, adv. (Christ’s Hospital).—Very: e.g. Wooston a jolly fellow; a WOOSTON jolly fellow; I am WOOSTON, chaffy. [That is, “whore son.”—Guillemard.]

Work, subs. (Winchester).—Pain. Also as verb = to hurt.

14[?]. Townley Mysteries, “Processus Noe.” My bonys are so stark No wonder if they WARK For I am full old.

14[?]. Alexander [Ashmol.], line 531. So sare WERKIS hire the wame. Ibid., line 539. Of WERKE well ne I wede (am mad).

1469. Malory, Morte d’Arthur. But I may not stonde, myn hede WERCHES soo.

1750. Collier, Works. I gran an I thrutcht, till my arms WARTCHD agen.

1860. R. Brierly, Ab. in London. I shaked his hond till my arm WARTCHT, then he shaked mine till his arm WARTCHT.

1891. Wrench, Winchester Word-Book, s.v. Work. The use of REMEDY (q.v.) for a holiday seems to imply that WORK is a painful disease.

Worms, subs. (Winchester).—A trenched line on the turf: used as goal at football. See quot.

1881. Pascoe, Life in Our Public Schools. Across the two ends of the ground a small trench is dug, about four inches wide and two deep, and a goal is obtained when the ball is fairly kicked across the trench (Wiccamicé WORMS).

Wrangler, subs. (Cambridge).—The name given to those who are placed in the first class in the first or elementary portion of the public examination for honours in pure and mixed mathematics, commonly called the Mathematical Tripos, those placed in the second class being known as Senior Optimes, and those in the third class as Junior Optimes. Up to and including the year 1882, the student who took absolutely the first place in the Mathematical Tripos used to be termed Senior Wrangler; those who came next to him being second, third, fourth, &c., wranglers. Since then the title has been given to the student who takes the first place in Part I. of the Mathematical Tripos. The name is derived from the public disputations, in which candidates for degrees were formerly required to exhibit their powers.

1870. The Blue, March. We were rejoiced to hear of the University success of a late Grecian—G. A. Greenhill, who was announced as Second WRANGLER in the late Mathematical Tripos at Cambridge. Further on in the month we heard of his being bracketed with Mr. Pendlebury (the Senior WRANGLER) as Smith’s Prizeman, a thing seldom heard of at Cambridge, and never before has any Blue attained that high honour.

Wratislaw’s. See Planks.

Writer, subs. (Winchester).—A Junior acting as secretary to a College officer.

Wuggins, subs. (Oxford).—Worcester College; Botany-bay (q.v.).

Yarder, subs. (Harrow).—Cricket played in the school yard: in the summer term.

To get yards, verb. phr. (Harrow).—To get a catch at football and be allowed a free kick, not running more than can be covered in three running strides. Hence TO GIVE YARDS = to give such a catch; TO STEP YARDS = to cover the distance in “kicking off yards” in three strides; TO KNOCK DOWN YARDS = to prevent another from “taking yards.” [Originally three yards.]

Yards (The), subs. 1. (Durham).—The list of members, originally of the First Game, but now of the Second Game—at football or cricket. [Formerly in the cricket season only a patch of ground thirty yards square was mowed. Those who had the privilege of playing on this were said to be “on the YARDS.”]

2. (Royal High School, Edin.).—The gravel-covered playground.

Yark, verb (Durham).—To cane. See Twank and Lam. [Yark (North) = to strike, to beat.]

Yellow-hammer, subs. (Christ’s Hospital).—A Blue (q.v.) in disgrace for gross misconduct and under discipline. See quot.

1844. Reminis. of Christ’s Hospital [The Blue, August 1874]. In the case of a hardened offender, or of gross misdemeanour, a system of degradation was adopted, by causing the culprit to wear his coat turned inside out, and as the body of the coat had a yellow lining, the metamorphosis was remarkably striking, and (unkindest cut of all!) the subjects of this hideous transformation—these involuntary turn-coats—were by their schoolfellows nicknamed YELLOW-HAMMERS.

Yolly, subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—A post-chaise. [That is, “Yellow,” that having been generally a favourite colour for these vehicles.]

-y, inseparable suffix (Manchester Grammar).—See Mathy, Chemmy, Gymmy, &c.