_While the “Public School Word-Book” was passing through the press a
certain amount of additional matter came to hand. Rather than omit
altogether I have included it in an Appendix._
_May I also say that I shall welcome any suggestions, additions, or
corrections that may be forwarded to me?_
_Communications may be addressed to John S. Farmer, c/o Messrs.
Hirschfeld Bros., 13 Furnival Street, London, E.C._
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration]
THE
PUBLIC SCHOOL WORD-BOOK
*A*, TO GET ONE’S “A,” _verb. phr._ (Harrow).—To pass a certain
standard in the Gymnasium: the next step being to the
Gymnasium Eight. _See_ Appendix.
*Abber*, _subs._ (Harrow).—1. An abstract: on history, &c.; set
as a punishment.
2. An ABSIT (_q.v._): on whole holidays, or under medical
advice.
*Abroad*, _adv._ (Winchester).—Convalescent; out of the
sick-room: _e.g._ “I have been (or come) ABROAD a week.”
_Cf._ CONTINENT.
1534. UDALL, _Roister Doister_, ... I bid him keepe warme at home, For
if he come ABROADE, he shall cough me a mome.
1598. SHAKSPEARE, 2 _Hen. IV._, i. 2. I am glad to see your Lordship
ABROAD. I heard say your Lordship was sicke. I hope your Lordship goes
ABROAD by aduice.
1761. _Letter_ [WRENCH]. I have been exceeding ill ... am not just got
ABROAD again.
*Abs*, _adj._ (Winchester).—Absent: placed against the name when
away from school. [From _absunt_ on Rolls.]
_Verb._ To take (get, or go) away. Formerly (_circa_ 1840)
to ABS a tolly (candle) = to put it out; it now = to take it
away whether lighted or unlighted, the modern NOTION
(_q.v._) for putting it out being to “dump” it. As a neuter
verb ABS is generally used in the imperative: _e.g._ “ABS!”
“Oh, do ABS!” Sometimes, however, a fellow is said TO ABS
quickly, and MESS THINGS (_q.v._) are ABSED, or put away. To
HAVE ONE’S WIND ABSED = to have it taken away by a violent
blow in the stomach.
*Absence*, _subs._ (Eton).—Names-calling. [This takes place at 3
and 6 P.M. on half-holidays; at 11.30, 3, and 6 P.M. on
whole-holidays; at 6 P.M. only in summer half.]
1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, p. 174. And the elevens were made
up, as they best might, out of such adventurous spirits as dared to
“skip” roll-calls and ABSENCE for the purpose. Eton, when the losers,
attributed the fact to the want of their best men in consequence of
these difficulties.
*Absit*, _subs._ (Cambridge).—_See_ quot.
1886. DICKENS’S _Dictionary of the University of Cambridge_, p. 3.
Every undergraduate wishing to leave Cambridge for a whole day, not
including a night, must obtain an ABSIT from his tutor. Permission to
go away for a longer period, either at the end of the term or in the
middle, is called an “exeat,” and no undergraduate should go down
without obtaining his “exeat.”
*Academia*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—_See_ Appendix.
*Academy*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—An exhibition given at the end
of every quarter: the first by RHETORIC (_q.v._), the second
by POETRY (_q.v._), the third by SYNTAX (_q.v._), the last,
called the GREAT ACADEMIES, by all three combined. This last
is the crowning act of the school year, being attended by
many visitors, and is followed by the annual distribution of
prizes. Hence ACADEMY ROOM = the large hall in which the
chief exhibitions, displays, concerts, plays, &c., are held.
[The name may have come from the school at Liège, which was
known as the “Academy”; but more probably it is of much
older date, being derived from the “Academiæ” of the _Ratio
Studiorum Societatis Jesu_.]
*Accidence* (Harrow).—_See_ UPPER SCHOOL.
*Ack* (or *Ick*), _intj._ (Christ’s Hospital).—No! nothing.
_Ex._ “Lend me your book.” “ACK!” Obsolete.
*Action*, _subs._ (King Edward’s, Birm.: obsolete).—A game
in which a number of boys start from one end of the
cloisters and run to the other, trying to avoid being
captured _en route_ by others who seek to intercept
them. The game was also called FOX AND DOWDY. These were
names in use twenty-five years ago. To-day the same game
is called BACCA, because the prisoners must be held long
enough for the captor to say, “one, two, three, caught,
tobacco!”
*Ad lib.*, _subs. phr._ (Stonyhurst).—The time when boys are not
bound to study in the STUDY-PLACE (_q.v._).
*Admonishing-money*, _subs._ (Westminster).—_See_ quot.
1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, p. 116. The punishments for
speaking English in hall or school, which have been before alluded to,
were strictly enforced in his [Dr. Busby’s] days in the way of fines,
called ADMONISHING-MONEY, which figure occasionally in his [Lynn’s]
account. The custom was for the second boy of the second election to
act as a sort of monitor for this purpose, and to deliver to any boy
who so offended a “mark” or tally, with the words, _Tu es custos_;
this mark he had to pass in turn to the first whom he could detect in
a similar slip, and the boy with whom the mark remained when hall
broke up incurred a fine. Charles Dryden, son of the poet, thought
himself so hardly used by being made _custos_ three days running (by
some unfairness, as he conceived), that the father wrote a strong
letter on the subject to his old master, Busby, and was very nearly
removing the boy from school.
*Ad portas*, _subs._ (Winchester: obsolete).—A Latin speech
delivered by the Senior College Prefect to the Warden of New
College and the POSERS (_q.v._) under Middle gate at the
commencement of Election week.
1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, p. 61. When the Warden of New
College, Oxford, with two of his Fellows, called the “posers” (or at
one time “supervisors”), arrive at the college, ... they are received
with a Latin oration AD PORTAS by the senior scholar. Two other
speeches are delivered in school just before their arrival: 1.
_Elizabethæ et Jacobi Laudes_ (commonly known as “Elizabeth and
Jacob”), by the Prefect of School; 2. _Fundatoris Laudes_, formerly
assigned to the senior “Founder’s kin” scholar, but now spoken by the
third prefect.
*Adsum*, _intj._ (Charterhouse).—The response made in answer to
names-calling.
1855. THACKERAY, _The Newcomes_, p. 774. At the usual evening hour the
chapel bell began to toll, and Thomas Newcome’s hands outside the bed
feebly beat time. And just as the last bell struck a peculiar sweet
smile shone over his face, and he lifted up his head a little and
quickly said ADSUM, and fell back. It was the word we used at school
when names were called; and lo, he whose heart was as that of a little
child had answered to his name, and stood in the presence of the
Master.
1900. _Daily Telegraph_, 23rd March, 8. 7. As in the old days of
Colonel Newcome, “ADSUM,” or “Always ready,” is still the watch-word
of the Charterhouse, whose authorities have issued a neatly-printed
list of Old Carthusians serving in South Africa, in a cover of the
school colours.
1900. TOD, _Charterhouse_, p. 97. ADSUM is the name of a new
institution.... There was no occasion for it when the school was in
London, and none could pass beyond the school precincts. Colonel
Newcome must have answered ADSUM at prayers only.
*Æger*. _See_ ÆGROTAT.
*Æger-room*, _subs._ (Felsted).—The sick-room. _See_ ÆGROTAT.
*Ægrotat* (or *Æger*), _subs._ (University).—(1) A medical
certificate excusing attendance. (2) The degree taken by
those so excused. READING ÆGROTAT = leave taken (generally
in December) to read for one’s degree. [Lat. _ægrotare_.]
1794. _Gent. Mag._, p. 1085. They [at Cambridge] sported an ÆGROTAT,
and they sported a new coat!
1853. BRADLEY, _Verdant Green_, iv. “That there’s the ‘All, sir,
_that_ is,—where you dines, sir, leastways when you ain’t ‘Æger,’ or
elseweer.” _Ibid._, viii.—“Not very well, Robert, thank you. I—my head
aches, and I’m afraid I shall not be able to get up for chapel.”...
“If you’ll leave it to me, sir, I’ll make it all right for you, _I_
will. Of course you’d like to take out an ÆGER, sir; and I can bring
you your Commons just the same.”
1864. BABBAGE, _Passages from the Life of a Philosopher_, 37. I sent
my servant to the apothecary for a thing called an ÆGROTAT, which I
understood ... meant a certificate that I was indisposed.
1870. _Chambers’s Journal_, June 18, p. 395. Dick laughed. “I’ll get
the receipt from him. I often want a good thing for an ÆGER.”
1888. H. SMART, in _Temple Bar_, February, p. 213. “Instead of
applying for leave to my tutor, I had resorted to the old device of
pricking ÆGER.”
1890. _Felstedian_, Feb., p. 2. What’s up ... with Smith? He went ÆGER
before school this afternoon. I expect he’s rather bad; he is not the
fellow to go ÆGER for nothing. I do hate that ÆGER-room.
*After Four.* _See_ FOUR.
*Afternoon-tea*, _subs._ (Royal High School, Edin.).—Detention
after 3 o’clock.
*After Twelve.* _See_ TWELVE.
*-agger*, _inseparable suffix_ (Charterhouse).—As in
COMBINAGGERS, a combination suit of pyjamas.
*Alderman*, _subs._ (Felsted: obsolete).—A qualified swimmer.
[From “The Alders,” a deep pool in the river Chelmer.]
1893. _Felstedian_, June, p. 79. Years ago there existed at Felsted a
class of beings known as “Swimming ALDERMEN.” What they were, and
whence they came, I know not; perhaps some Old Felstedian will be able
to enlighten me on the point. Perhaps the name was given to those who
could swim so many times from the “Alders” to “Duck-pond”; or,
perhaps, the name was derived from the aldermanic proportions of the
swimmer. _Ibid._ (1895, Ap., p. 44). A fourth term, “ALDERMAN,” was
not in the list. It has certainly “been dead lengthy” but was once
prized by its possessors, who had to swim so many times from the “Duck
Pond” to “The Alders” before they could gain the title. Ten lengths of
the new bath would afford a fair test, and ALDERMEN might have some
privilege or other. Its revival would be a good thing, for there has
of late been a tendency to prefer diving to swimming.
*All.* _See_ ALONG; IN; OUT; and ON.
*Allows*, _subs._ (Harrow).—The weekly allowance of 2s., from
which breakages, &c., are stopped.
*Alma Mater*, _subs._ (general).—One’s school, college, or
university.
1853. BRADLEY, _Verdant Green_, ii. 2. A white tie and a pair of very
small bands—the two articles which, with the usual academicals, form
the costume demanded by ALMA MATER of all her children when they take
their places in her schools.
1874. _The Blue_, Aug., _Reminis. of Christ’s Hospital_. In fact, the
musical arrangements of our ALMA MATER were something exceedingly
below _par_.
*Along.* ALL ALONG, _subs. phr._ (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—A kind
of dribbling football practice: indulged in during a short
spell of recreation.
*Alto-cad*, _subs._ (Winchester).—The paid member of the choir
taking alto.
*Amen-chapel*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A long service performed on
the four days set apart for commemorating the Founder, and
on the anniversary of his death.
*Ancient-mariner*, _subs._ (University).—A rowing Don.
*Anstey’s.* _See_ PLANKS.
*Apostles*, _subs._ (University).—_See_ quot.
1803. _Gradus ad Cantab._ The APOSTLES are the clodhoppers of
literature, who have at last scrambled through the Senate House
without being plucked, and have obtained the title of B.A. by a
miracle. The last twelve names on the list of Bachelor of Arts are
thus designated. [The term is now (1900) applied to the last twelve in
the Mathematical TRIPOS (_q.v._)]
*Appii* (The), _subs._ (Durham: obsolete).—The Three Tuns, a
celebrated Durham inn. [From a misunderstanding of Acts
xxviii. 15.]
*Apple-pie Day*, _subs._ (Winchester).—The day on which
SIX-AND-SIX (_q.v._) is played—the Thursday after the first
Tuesday in December. [Because hot apple-pies were served on
GOMERS (_q.v._) in College for dinner.]
*Aquatics*, _subs._ (Eton).—Where boys “in the boats” play
cricket; also the WET-BOB cricket team.
*Archdeacon*, _subs._ (Oxford).—Merton strong ale.
*Armoury, The* (Harrow).—The room under the Old Schools where
rifles, belonging to the Rifle Corps, are kept.
*Arrow*, subs. (Harrow).—A challenge arrow, of silver: given to
the COCK-HOUSE (_q.v._) at shooting.
*Arundel Day* (The Leys).—The choir summer holiday.
*Ascension-day.* _See_ ASCENSIO SCHOLARUM.
*Ascensio Scholarum*, _subs. phr._ (Stonyhurst).—The opening
ceremony of the school year. The whole house assembles in
the STUDY-PLACE (_q.v._), and the Prefect of Studies reads
out the new forms, prefixing the formula “_Maneant in_” or
“_Ascendant in_” as the case may be. The day is known as
“Ascension Day.”
1843. _Stonyhurst Mag._, Nov. 1883, p. 232. The _Ascensio Scholarum_
was managed quite otherwise then than now [1843-83].... _Ascension
Day._—The opening day of schools. Mass of the Holy Ghost is said in
the church, after breakfast. The different schools, headed by their
masters, then return to the schoolrooms which they occupied the
preceding scholastic year. Presently the large bell tolls, and then
the Prefect of Studies opens the door of POETRY (_q.v._), and
announces that “RHETORIC (_q.v._) is empty.” The POETS (_q.v._) leave
their room and ascend to Rhetoric, and forthwith become Rhetoricians,
with all their privileges. Then the (late) Poet’s doorkeeper knocks at
SYNTAX’ (_q.v._) door and sings out that “Poetry is empty”; and so on
through the different schools. The little fellows newly arrived have
to wait in the gallery until “LITTLE FIGURES” (_q.v._) is vacant, when
they become Little Figuricians, “Little Figures,” it will be observed,
being what we [1883] call “ELEMENTS” (_q.v._).
*Ash-planting*, _subs._ (Rugby).—_See_ quot.
1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, p. 349. In this room
[Over-School] it was that, in the latter half of the last century, the
punishment of ASH-PLANTING used to take place. It was inflicted by
order and in the presence of a judicial committee of the præposters
(Sixth Form) for some few grave offences against the recognised
internal discipline of the school, _e.g._ personal assault upon one of
their body by a mutinous fag—an offence which would still be severely
punished by the masters, if not by the Sixth themselves. Three
ash-saplings were used; in theory, at least, the two first were to be
broken upon the person of the culprit. The punishment was
severe—perhaps unjustifiably so; but it had the character of being
only inflicted in extreme cases, and with strict justice, and was not
regarded as a cruelty in the school.
*Athens* (Eton).—A bathing-place.
1865. _Etoniana_, p. 162. No boy is now allowed to go into a boat
until he has passed an examination in swimming before a committee of
masters at ATHENS or at Cuckoo Weir.
*Audit-ale* (or *Audit*), _subs._ (Cambridge).—A special brew of
ale, peculiar to Trinity College. [First-made draught on
AUDIT days.]
1837. BARHAM, _Ingoldsby Legends_, “Lay of St. Dunstan.” The “Trinity
AUDIT ALE” is not come-at-able, as I’ve found to my great grief when
dining at that table.
1876. TREVELYAN, _Life of Macaulay_ (1884), ch. iv. p. 127. A glass of
the AUDIT ALE, which reminded him that he was still a Fellow of
Trinity.
1891. _Harry Fludyer at Cambridge_, 55. A lot of Freshmen got together
after Hall (it was a Saints’ day, and they’d been drinking AUDIT) and
went and made hay in Marling’s rooms.
*Aul. præ*, _subs._ (Winchester).—Prefect of Hall. [Abbreviation
of _Præfectus Aulæ_.]
*Ave Maria Lane* (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—A walk in the
playground.
*B*, _subs._ (Harrow).—A standard in Gymnasium the next below
the A (_q.v._). _See_ Appendix.
*Bacca.* _See_ ACTION.
*Bacchus*, _subs._ (Eton).—A copy of verses. _See_ quot.
1865. _Etoniana_, 27. On Shrove-Tuesday verses were written [_c._
1561] in honour or dispraise of Bacchus—“because poets were considered
the clients of Bacchus”—and those composed by the senior boys were
fixed on the inside of the folding-doors of the hall, as was the old
fashion in all schools and colleges. This custom was continued almost
into modern days, and though the subject was changed, the copy of
verses was still called “a BACCHUS.” When Pepys paid a visit to the
school in 1665, he found the subject given out for that year was the
one topic of absorbing interest—the Plague.
*Back.* To BACK UP, _verb_ (Winchester).—To call out: _e.g._
“Why didn’t you BACK UP? I should have come.” [In College
various times are BACKED-UP by Junior in Chambers, such as
“Three quarters!” “Hour!” “Bells go single!” “Bells down!”]
*Back Alley* (The Leys: obsolete).—A passage dividing “Upper”
and “Lower” Quadrangle: now done away with.
*Backings-up*, _subs._ (Winchester).—Half-burned fagot-ends.
[BACKING (prov. in Linc., Leices., and North country) =
slack; small-coal; turf.]
*Backs*, _subs._ (Cambridge).—A favourite walk with
undergraduates.
1891. _Harry Fludyer at Cambridge_, 23. I’m in training now for the
Lent races, and have to be out for a walk in the BACKS before
breakfast every morning.
*Badger*, _subs._ (Wellington).—A member of the Second XV. at
football. [A “badge” is bestowed when permission is given to
play in this team.]
*Bag*, _subs._ (Westminster).—Milk.
*Bags* (or *Bags I*), _intj._ (common).—Used to assert a claim
to some article or privilege. Analogous school slang is
FAINS or FAIN IT (_q.v._) for demanding a truce during the
progress of a game, and which is always granted by the
opposing party. In other schools PIKE I or PRIOR PIKE serve
to lay claim to anything, or for asserting priority. Also
BAR: _e.g._ “He wanted me to do so and so, but I BARRED
not.” _Cf._ FAIN.
*Bags’-stile*, _subs._ (Rugby).—_See_ quot.
1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, 363. On the Dunchurch Road there
was a stile long known as BAGS’ STILE; here a certain set of boys, of
whom Lyttelton was one [_c._ 1793], used to sit and “chaff” the
passing “bagsmen”—for the commercial travellers to Rugby then rode
with actual saddle-bags; and this practice led to terrible fights
occasionally with the aggrieved riders.
*Bake*, _verb_ (Winchester).—To rest; to sit or lie at ease.
Hence BAKER (_q.v._); BAKESTER (obsolete) = a sluggard;
BAKING-LEAVE (_q.v._); BAKING-PLACE (_q.v._); BAKER-LAYER
(_q.v._). [North. Dial. _beak_ = to bask in the heat.
JAMIESON, _beik_, _beke_, _beek_ = to bask.]
1360. _Ywaine_ [RITSON, _E. M. R._]. And ligges BEKEAND in his bed.
_d._ 1395. _Barbour MS._ Ane Inglis man, that lay BEKAND Hym be a fyr.
1577. KENDALL [WRENCH]. At home we take our ease And BEAKE ourselves
in rest.
1648. SYMMONS, _Vindication of Chas. I._ Wherefore if that Pope of
Rome when he lay BEAKING himself in the midst of his luxuries, had
cause to cry out, _Heu quantum patimur pro Christo_.
_d._ 1758. RAMSAY, _Works_. She and her cat sit BEEKING in her yard.
*Baker*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A cushion; also anything used
to sit or kneel upon, as a blotting-book, &c. [BAKERS were
of two kinds: that used in “College” was of large size,
oblong in shape, and green in colour. The other, used in
“Commoners,” was thin, narrow, much smaller, and of red
colour.] Hence BAKER-LAYER (obsolete) = a Junior who used
to take a Prefect’s green BAKER in and out of Hall at
meal-times.
*Baker-layer.* _See_ BAKER.
*Baking-leave*, _subs._ (Winchester: obsolete).—1. Permission to
BAKE (_q.v._) in a study in Commoners, or in a SCOB (_q.v._)
place in College. 2. Leave to sit in another’s TOYS
(_q.v._).
*Baking-place*, _subs._ (Winchester).—Any place in which to BAKE
(_q.v._), or in connection with which BAKING-LEAVE (_q.v._)
was given.
*Balbus*, _subs._ (University).—A Latin prose composition. [From
the frequency with which BALBUS is quoted in ARNOLD’S
well-known text-book, _Latin Prose Composition_.]
1870. _Quarterly Review._ BALBUS was in constant use.
*Ball.* CALL THE BALL! _phr._ (Stonyhurst).—The “Foul!” of
Association Football.
*Balls*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A Junior in College collects
footballs from the lockers in school and takes them through
at 6 o’clock to the Ball-keeper in Commoners to be blown or
repaired. The Ball-keeper is an Inferior who, for service in
looking after cricket and foot-balls, is exempted from
KICKING-IN (_q.v._) and WATCHING-OUT (_q.v._).
*Bally*, _subs._ (Sherborne: obsolete).—Ball court, the old name
for the Fives’ courts; there was a game, evidently like
fives, played at Sherborne against the north transept of the
church as early as 1585. The word has long ago passed out of
use.
*Banco*, _subs._ (Charterhouse).—Evening preparation at HOUSE
under the superintendence of a monitor; the Winchester
TOY-TIME (_q.v._).
1900. TOD, _Charterhouse_, 81. At old Charterhouse monitors had
unlimited powers.... They were seldom interfered with by any master;
for instance, the visit of a house master to BANCO was intensely
resented. There was a “boule” in the Sixth Form of 1872, as to what a
monitor should do who was thus insulted. Should he at once put his cap
on, and take no notice of the master? or would it be more dignified to
walk straight out of the room? _Ibid._, 84. The chief duties of a
monitor now are to keep BANCO, and to see that order is preserved in
the cubicles, and in his house generally. BANCO is the time from 7.30
to 8.55 every week-day evening except Saturday, and from 8.15 to 8.55
on Sundays, when the Under School sit in Long Room and prepare their
work for the next day. The keeping of BANCO is a fine exercise in
discipline for the monitor, and a very convenient arrangement for the
house master. It is a tradition that a monitor helps every Under
School boy with his work during BANCO if he can. _Ibid._, 95. The term
BANCO was suggested by H. W. Phillott, afterwards Canon of Hereford
... in 1832, or a little later.
*Bandy*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst: nearly obsolete).—The Stonyhurst
form of Hockey: prominent in the Tichborne trial, when the
Claimant at first thought it a nickname, and afterwards a
part of the College buildings.
1823. NARES, _Glossary_, s.v. BANDY-BALL. A Yorkshire game, played
with a crooked bat and a ball. It is the same as the Scottish game of
golf. See STOWE’S _Survey_, ed. 1720, i. 251.
1847. HALLIWELL, _Archaic Words_, s.v. BANDY. A game played with
sticks called BANDIES, bent and round at one end, and a small wooden
ball, which each party endeavours to drive to opposite fixed points.
Northbrooke, in 1577, mentions it as a favourite game in Devonshire.
It is sometimes called BANDY-BALL, and an early drawing of the game is
copied in STRUTT’S _Sports and Pastimes_, p. 102.
*Bangy* (or *Bangay*), _subs._ (Winchester).—Brown sugar. Also
as _adj._ = brown. Hence BANGAY BAGS (or BANGIES) =
brown-coloured trousers. WRENCH says the strong objection to
these in former times probably arose from Tony Lumpkin
coming to school in corduroys. [Suggested derivations are:
(1) from _Bangalore_, a coarse-sugar growing country; (2)
_bhang_ = hemp; (3) _banjy_ (Essex) = dull, gloomy.] A brown
gate formerly leading from Grass Court into Sick House Meads
was known as the BANGY GATE. The term is now often applied
to the gate by Racquet Court into Kingsgate Street.
*Bar.* TO BAR OUT, _verb. phr._ (Royal High School, Edin.:
obsolete).—To lock or barricade the doors to exclude the
masters. This custom has been practically extinct since the
day that Bailie John Macmorrane was shot by a pupil, William
Sinclair, son of the Chancellor of Caithness, while
endeavouring to get the door battered down (Sept. 15, 1595).
*Barbar*, _subs._ (Durham).—A candidate for scholarship from
another school. [That is, “barbarian” = foreigner.]
*Barber*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A thick fagot or bough; one was
included in each bundle. Also any large piece of wood.
_Verb_ (University).—To work off impositions by deputy.
[Tradition relates that a learned barber was at one time
frequently employed as a scapegoat in working off this
species of punishment inflicted on peccant students.] Also
TO BARBERISE.
1853. BRADLEY (“Cuthbert Bede”), _Verdant Green_, xii. As for
impositions, why ... ’Aint there coves to BARBERISE ’em for you?
*Barge*, _subs._ (Sherborne).—Small cricket: played, with a
stump for bat, against a wall.
_Verb_ (Charterhouse).—To hustle; TO MOB UP (_q.v._); TO
BRICK (_q.v._).
*Barn, The* (Charterhouse).—A temporary wooden building,
constructed in 1876 to meet deficiencies in class-room
accommodation. It stood on the site now occupied by the
Museum. It disappeared in 1884.
*Barnet*, _intj._ (Christ’s Hospital: obsolete).—Nonsense!
Humbug!
*Barn-school*, _subs._ (Rugby).—_See_ quot.
1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, 367. Dr. James found there [Rugby
in 1777] 52 boys; in five years he had raised them to 165. The one
large schoolroom was no longer sufficient ... a new building was
added.... Even the new schools overflowed, for the members rose in
time to near 300; and the head-master was obliged to migrate into a
barn adjoining the Dunchurch Road.... There for more than twenty years
successive head-masters taught the two senior forms.... Connecting
these buildings with the three schools adjoining the old manor-house
was a line of cow-sheds, which served as a shelter in rainy
weather.... Such was the Rugby of 1809; for it was not till long
afterwards that barn and cow-sheds disappeared, though the present
school buildings were begun in that year.
*Barracks*, _subs._ (Loretto).—A Form occasionally interpolated
between NIPPERS (_q.v._) and Fourth. [In the Sixties a
master at Loretto was known as the Captain, and when the
first overflow from the school-house took place, the
house in which a few boys slept, and over which he was
master, was called the Garrison. The adjoining house was
afterwards occupied and was called the BARRACKS. Whence the
interpolated Form, which for a time had for its schoolroom a
room at that house, getting the name of the Barracks Form.
The name clung to it when moved to one of the regular
schoolrooms.]
*Barter*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A half volley at cricket. Also
as _verb_. [From Warden Barter, who was famous in the
cricket-field for dealing with such balls.]
1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, 65. None showed more enthusiastic
interest in these [Public School Cricket] matches than the late
excellent Warden, Robert Speckott Barter.... He seldom missed a match
at Lord’s from the time he played in the school eleven himself. He was
a tremendous hitter in his day; and the remarkable punishment which he
dealt out to the ball, when he was lucky enough to catch it on the
“half-volley,” has given to a long hit of this character at Winchester
(and even elsewhere) the name of a BARTER.
*Bartlemytide*, _subs._ (general: old).—The summer holiday.
*Base*, _subs._ (Harrow).—A goal: at football.
*Basinite*, _subs._ (Charterhouse: obsolete).—A hot-water fag:
he had to get hot water and towels ready for a monitor when
he descended to wash in COCKS (_q.v._).
*Bat-mugger*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A wooden instrument used in
oiling cricket-bats.
*Battal*, _subs._ (Harrow and Charterhouse).—Battalion drill for
the Rifle Corps: usually (at Harrow) in the evening. [The
second is the syllable accentuated.]
*Battler*, _subs._ (general).—A student. _See_ BATTLINGS.
*Battlings* (or *Battels*), _subs._ (general).—An allowance, in
money or kind; apparently originally intended to supplement
the meagre fare of fast-days. _Cf._ quots. Hence TO BATTEL =
to take provisions from the buttery.
1607. WENTWORTH SMITH, _Puritan_ [MALONE, _Suppl._, ii. 543]. Eat my
commons with a good stomach, and BATTLED with discretion.
1611. COTGRAVE, _Dict._... To BATTLE (as scholars do in Oxford), être
debiteur au collège pour ses vivres. _Ibid._, Mot usé seulement des
jeunes écoliers de l’université d’Oxford.
16 [?]. _Account rendered to Arch. of York_ [_William of Wykeham and
His Colleges_]. Item for BATTLINGS on fasting days with the lent. 0.
9. 8. [_i.e._, 9s. 8d.]
1678. PHILLIPS, _Dict._, s.v. BATTEL. In the University of Oxford is
taken for to run on to exceedings above the ordinary stint of the
appointed Commons.
1744. SALMON, _Present State of Univ._, i. 423. Undergraduates
consisting of Noblemen, Gentlemen-Commoners, Commoners, Scholars of
the Foundation, Exhibitioners, BATTLERS, and Servitors.... The
Commoners, I presume, are so called from their Commoning together, and
having a certain portion of Meat and Drink provided for them,
denominated Commons.... The BATTLERS are entitled to no Commons, but
purchase their Meat and Drink of the Cook and Butler.
1786-1805. TOOKE, _Purley_, 390, _s.v._ BATTEL, a term used at Eton
for the small portion of food which, in addition to the College
allowance, the Collegers receive from the Dames.
_c._ 1840. MANSFIELD, _School-Life at Winchester College_, p. 184. The
expense was defrayed by the boys subscribing the last three BATTLINGS
(_i.e._ the weekly shilling allowed each boy). This was rather an
illusory coin, for we seldom actually fingered it, as some one of the
College servants generally had a kind of prescriptive right to a
benefit; and whenever Saturday arrived, Præfect of Hall’s valet was
sure to come round to ask the boys if they would give their BATTLING
to Rat Williams, or Dungy, or Pulver, or Long John, or some other
equally deserving individual.
1853. BRADLEY, _Verdant Green_, II. vii. [Note]. BATTELS are the
accounts of the expenses of each student. It is stated in Todd’s
_Johnson_ that this singular word is derived from the Saxon verb,
meaning “to count or reckon.” But it is stated in the _Gentleman’s
Magazine_ for 1792, that the word may probably be derived from the
Low-German word _bettahlen_, “to pay,” whence may come our English
word _tale_ or _score_.
1864. _Household Words_, p. 188. The business of the latter was to
call us of a morning to distribute amongst us our BATTLINGS, or
pocket-money.
1880. TROLLOPE, _Autobiogr._, i. 13. Every boy had a shilling a week
pocket-money, which we called BATTELS. [This is probably a
misprint—the Winchester term, as that used at other schools, is
BATTLING. It was advanced out of the pocket of the Second Master.]
1886-87. DICKENS, _Dictionary of Oxford and Cambridge_, p. 16. BATTELS
is properly a designation of the food obtained from the College
Buttery. An account of this, and of the account due to the Kitchen, is
sent in to every undergraduate weekly, hence these bills also are
known as BATTELS, and the name, further, is extended to the total
amount of the term’s expenses furnished by the College. In some
Colleges it is made essential to the keeping of an undergraduates’
term that he should BATTEL, _i.e._ obtain food in College on a certain
number of days each week.
1889. MURRAY, _Hist. Eng. Dict._, s.v. BATTELS. Much depends on the
original sense at Oxford: if this was ‘food, provisions,’ it is
natural to connect it with “BATTLE,” to feed, or receive
nourishment.... It appears that the word has apparently undergone
progressive extensions of application, owing partly to changes in the
internal economy of the colleges. Some Oxford men of a previous
generation state that it was understood by them to apply to the
buttery accounts alone, or even to the provisions ordered from the
buttery, as distinct from the “commons” supplied from the kitchen; but
this latter use is disavowed by others, ... but whether the BATTELS
were originally the provisions themselves, or the sums due on account
of them, must at present be left undecided.
*Baulk*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A false report. This is SPORTED
(_q.v._), not spread.
*Beak*, _subs._ (Harrow).—A master. FORM-BEAK = Form-master.
*Beanfielder*, _subs._ (Felsted: obsolete).—A long hit: at
cricket.
*Bearded Cad*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A porter employed by the
College to convey luggage from the railway station to the
school. [The term originated in an extremely hirsute
individual, who, at one time, acted in the capacity.]
*Beards!* _intj._ (The Leys: obsolete).—An ejaculation of
surprise.
*Beast*, _subs._ (Cambridge).—A student who, having left
school, goes up to Cambridge to study before entering the
university. [Because (so it is stated) he is neither man
nor boy.]
*Bedmaker* (or *Bedder*) _subs._ 1. (Cambridge).—A charwoman; a
servant who makes beds and does other necessary domestic
duties for residents in College.
1891. _Harry Fludyer at Cambridge_, 6. Remember me most kindly to Mrs.
Bloggins. I shall never forget how good she was when we were at
Cambridge last term.... These BEDMAKERS are kind souls after all.