*Bully*, _subs._ (Eton).—A mellay at football: the equivalent of
the Rugby SCRUMMAGE (_q.v._), and the Winchester HOT
(_q.v._).
*Bunker’s Hill* (Stonyhurst).—A row of cottages outside Hodder
grounds. Originally called Bankhurst, but after a battle
here between the inhabitants and the new-comers a century
ago, its present name was given to it. (See _Stonyhurst
Mag._, ii. 92.)
*Bum-brusher*, _subs._ (general).—A schoolmaster; also an usher.
1704. T. BROWN, _Works_ (1760), ii. 86. [Dionysius] was forced to turn
BUM-BRUSHER.
1788. _New London Magazine_, p. 137. A successor was immediately
called from that great nursery of BUM-BRUSHERS, Appleby School.
1832. _Blackwood’s Mag._, Oct., p. 426. To protract existence ... in
the shape of BUM-BRUSHERS, and so forth, after the fashion of the
exalted emigrés of 1792.
1838. _Comic Almanac_, Dec. [Schoolmaster’s Letter signed] Barnabas
BOM-BRUSH.
*Bum-curtain*, _subs._ (Cambridge).—An academical gown—scant and
short; especially applied to the short black gown worn till
1835 by members of Caius College.
1835. (Quoted in WHIBLEY’S _Three Centuries of Cambridge Wit_ [1889].)
’Tis the College of Caius—’tis the land where the “BUM-CURTAIN” lately
was sported by each jolly chum, But now black and blue are the gowns
that they wear Like the eye of a drunkard returned from a fair.
*Bumf*, _subs._ (general).—Paper. _See_ Appendix.
*Bumf-hunt*, _subs._ (Wellington).—A paper-chase.
*Bumming*, _subs._ (Wellington).—A thrashing.
*Bump*, _subs._ and _verb_ (University).—_See_ BUMPING-RACE.
*Bumping-race*, _subs._ (University).—Eight-oared
inter-Collegiate races, rowed in two divisions of fifteen
and sixteen boats respectively, including a SANDWICH BOAT
(_q.v._), _i.e._ the top boat of the second division, which
rows bottom of the first. The boats in each division start
at a distance apart of 175 feet from stern to stern in the
order at which they left off at the last preceding race, and
any boat which overtakes and BUMPS another (_i.e._ touches
it in any part) before the winning post is reached, changes
places with it for the next race. Hence BUMP-SUPPER = a
supper to commemorate the event.
1849. THACKERAY, _Pendennis_, iii. He listened, and with respect too,
to Mr. Foker’s accounts of what the men did at the University of which
Mr. F. was an ornament, and encountered a long series of stories about
boat-racing, BUMPING, College grass-plats, and milk-punch.
1853. BRADLEY, _Verdant Green_, x. A BUMP-SUPPER—that is, O ye
uninitiated! a supper to commemorate the fact of the boat of one
College having, in the annual races, BUMPED, or touched the boat of
another College immediately in its front, thereby gaining a place
towards the head of the river,—a BUMP-SUPPER was a famous opportunity
for discovering both the rowing and paying capabilities of Freshmen,
who, in the enthusiasm of the moment, would put down their two or
three guineas, and at once propose their names to be enrolled as
members at the next meeting of the club.
1860. _Macmillan’s Magazine_, March, p. 331. The chances of St.
Ambrose’s making a BUMP the first night were weighed.
1865. _Sketches from Cambridge_, p. 7. I can still condescend to give
our boat a stout when it makes a BUMP.
1886-7. DICKENS, _Dictionary of Cambridge_, p. 11. Any boat which
overtakes and BUMPS another ... before the winning post is reached,
changes place with it for the next race.
1891. _Harry Fludyer at Cambridge_, 2. I’m rowing in our first Lent
boat. We ought to make some BUMPS. _Ibid._, 51. We had a grand
BUMP-SUPPER, with lots of speeches.
1900. _Westminster Gaz._, 21st Feb., 8. 3. In the Second Division,
Worcester BUMPED Christ Church II. at the Ferry. Hertford left off at
the head of the division.
*Bunk*, _verb_ (Wellington and Sherborne).—To expel from school.
*Bunky*, _adj._ (Christ’s Hospital).—Awkward; ill-finished.
*Bunny-grub*, _subs._ (Cheltenham).—Green vegetables; GRASS
(_q.v._).
*Burr*, _verb_ (Marlborough).—To tussle or fight in a noisy, but
friendly manner. Also as _subs._
*Butcher.* TO BUTCHER ABOUT, _verb. phr._ (Wellington).—To make
a great noise; to humbug.
*Buttery*, _subs._ (University).—A college kitchen. [See
_Twelfth Night_, i. 3; TAYLOR, _Works_, i. 113.]
1853. BRADLEY, _Verdant Green_, iv. He was bearing a jug of BUTTERY
ale (they are renowned for their ale at Brazenface).
*Buying*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—An opportunity which is
given for the purchase of pastry in the refectory at
“BREAD-AND-BEER” (_q.v._) time.
*Cab*, _subs._ (general).—An adventitious aid to study; a CRIB
(_q.v._); a PONY (_q.v._). [From CABBAGE (_q.v._) =
pilferings.]
1853. BRADLEY (“Cuthbert Bede”), _Adventures of Verdant Green_. Those
who can’t afford a coach get a CAB, _alias_ a crib, _alias_ a
translation.
1876. _Academy_, 4th Nov., p. 448, col. 2. The use of translations,
“cribs,” or CABS as boys call them, must at some time or other engage
the serious attention of schoolmasters.
*Cabbage*, _subs._ (general).—A translation; a CAB (_q.v._).
Also as _verb_ = to use a translation or other adventitious
aid in preparing exercises; to “crib.”
1837. GEN. P. THOMPSON, _Exerc._ (1842), iv. 234. A speech, which ...
had been what schoolboys call CABBAGED, from some of the forms of
oration ... published by way of caricature.
1862. H. MARRYAT, _Year in Sweden_, ii. 387. Steelyards ... sent by
Gustaf Wasa as checks upon country dealers, who CABBAGED, giving short
weight.
*Cacus* (Stonyhurst).—The Library lumber-room.
1888. _Stonyhurst Mag._, July, p. 185. The dust and darkness of CACUS
is destined to give place to the (comparatively) gilded splendour of a
Philosopher’s room. Two new windows are being opened in the wall of
the Elizabethan front over the old Bailey window.... Hitherto CACUS
has been shrouded in utter darkness, ... a receptacle for ... all the
literature, which ... had not been assigned a place in the Library.
*Cad*, _subs._ (general).—A non-school or non-University man: in
contempt. At Cambridge SNOB, the word Thackeray used, has
long been a common term for a townsman; now the undergrad.
says TOWNEE or TOWNER (_q.v._). The German analogue is
PHILISTER.
1831. HONE, _Year-Book_, 670. Preceded by one or two bands of music in
two boats, rowed by CADS.
1856. BRADLEY (“Cuthbert Bede”), _Adventures of Verdant Green_, i. p.
117. And I can chaff a CAD.
1860. _Macmillan’s Mag._, March, p. 327. You don’t think a gentleman
can lick a CAD, unless he is the biggest and strongest of the two.
1873. _Saturday Review_, September, p. 305. At Oxford the population
of the University and city is divided into “Dons, men, and CADS.”
*Café, The* (The Leys).—Head’s House Hall for meals.
*Cake*, _subs._ (Christ’s Hospital).—A stroke with a cane. Also
as _verb_.
1844. _Reminis. of Christ’s Hospital_ [_The Blue_, Aug. 1874]. The
mildest punishment consisted of caning on the open hand (ironically
termed CAKES).
*Caker*, _subs._ (The Leys).—A bicycle. [Originally
“boneshaker”; whence “shaker” and “CAKER.”]
*Calk*, _verb_ (Eton).—To throw. _See_ Appendix, _s.v._ CORK.
*Call*, _subs._ (Eton).—A remission of ABSENCE (_q.v._). “It is
a CALL,” _i.e._ “There is no ABSENCE.”
*Calling-out*, _subs._ (Charterhouse: obsolete).—_See_
PULLING-OUT.
*Calling-over*, _subs._ (Rugby).—Names-calling.
1856. HUGHES, _Tom Brown’s School-days_, v. The master of the week
came down in cap and gown to CALLING-OVER, and the whole school of
three hundred boys swept into the big school to answer to their names.
*Calton.* SEE YOU ON THE CALTON, _phr._ (Royal High School,
Edin.).—A challenge to fight. [The Calton Hill lies at the
back of the school; it and THE DUNGEONS (_q.v._) are the two
fighting grounds.]
*Calves*, _subs._ (Winchester).—Pronounced _Caves_. _See_
HALVES.
*Calx*, _subs._ (Eton).—The goal line at football. [From a Latin
sense of CALX = a goal, anciently marked with lime or
chalk.] At Eton CALX is a space so marked off at each end of
WALL; GOOD CALX is the end at which there is a door for a
goal; BAD CALX the end where part of an elm-tree serves the
purpose.
1864. _Daily Telegraph_, Dec. 1. The Collegers were over-weighted ...
and the Oppidans managed to get the ball down into their CALX several
times.
*Campus Martius*, _subs._ (Royal High School, Edin.).—Until
recently the name by which the battle-ground in THE DUNGEONS
(_q.v._) was known; now dying out. Formerly the scene of
encounters between different classes.
*Canals, The* (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—The two ponds in front of
the College.
*Candle-keepers*, _subs._ (Winchester).—The seven seniors in
College by election who are not Præfects. They enjoy most of
the privileges of Præfects without their powers.
_c._ 1840. MANSFIELD, _School-Life at Winchester College_, p. 30. The
Seven CANDLE-KEEPERS (why so called I have no idea, nor have I ever
heard any interpretation of the appellation). These were the seven
inferiors who had been longest in the school, quite independently of
their position in it; they were generally old and tough. Of these, the
senior had almost as much power as a Præfect; he had a “valet” in
chambers, one or two “breakfast fags,” and the power of fagging the
twenty juniors when in school or in meads. The junior CANDLE-KEEPER
was called the “Deputy,” and had also some slight privileges besides
that of having a valet and breakfast fag, which was common to all of
them.
1878. ADAMS, _Wykehamica_, p. 418. _See_ Appendix.
1881. _Felstedian_, Nov., p. 75, “A Day’s Fagging at Winchester.” The
CANDLE-KEEPERS are the next in chambers to the præfects; generally
fellows who have not much brains, but from having been a long time in
the school, having a certain number of “juniors,” and are excused
fagging and have certain minor privileges approaching those of a
præfect.
*Candlestick*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A humorous corruption of
the word “candidate.”
_c._ 1840. MANSFIELD, _School-Life at Winchester College_, p. 175.
Each of these [the Electors] had in turn the privilege of nominating a
boy for admission into Winchester till all vacancies were filled, of
which there were generally about twelve, but always many more
“Candidates” (or CANDLESTICKS, as they were often called).
1878. H. C. ADAMS, _Wykehamica_, p. 418. CANDLESTICK, merely a
facetious version of “candidate.”
*Cannager-canoodle*, _subs._ (Oxford).—A Canadian canoe.
1893. _Felstedian_, June, p. 718, “Oxford Correspondence.” The Char
has been daily gay with bright yellow “CANAGGER-CANOODLES,” and
pink-and-green Japanese parasols and wobbling punts with their
sleeping occupants.
*Cannibal*, _subs._ (Cambridge).—In a BUMPING-RACE (_q.v._) a
College may be represented by more than one boat. The best
talent is put into the first, but it has sometimes happened
that the crew of the second have got so well together that
it has disappointed the prophets and bumped the first of its
own College. In this case it is termed A CANNIBAL, it having
eaten up its own kind, and a fine is exacted from it by the
University Boat Club.
*Canoodle*, _verb_ (Oxford).—To paddle or propel a canoe.
1879. E. H. MARSHALL, in _Notes and Queries_, 5 S., xi. 375. When I
was an undergraduate at Oxford, to CANOODLE was the slang expression
for paddling one’s own canoe on the bosom of the Cherwell or the Isis.
*Cantab*, _subs._ (Cambridge).—A student at Cambridge
University. [An abbreviation of “CANTABRIGIAN.”]
1750. COVENTRY, _Pompey Litt._, II. x. (1785), p. 18, col. 1. The
young CANTAB ... had come up to London.