1822. NARES, _Glossary_, s.v. CHILD ... The “CHILDREN of the Chapel”
signifies the boys of the Chapel.
1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, p. 64. One table, by a curious
traditionary custom, is called the CHILDREN’S table—the electors
present each choosing one of the junior scholars for their CHILD, and
presenting him with a guinea and a luxurious dinner at this privileged
table.
1891. WRENCH, _Winchester Word-Book_, s.v. CHILD. Each of the ELECTORS
(_q.v._) might choose a Scholar on the foundation to attend upon him
(a nominal duty in recent times) at election time. These were known as
Warden’s CHILD, Warden of New College’s CHILD, &c. Of late the Head
Master always chose for his CHILD the head scholar in Cloisters, and
the Warden the second. Each CHILD received a guinea from the Elector
who appointed him. The Children got off all fagging on DOMUM DAY
(_q.v._); at Election Dinner they sat at the same table with Writers
and Election Grace Singers, where the fare was better than that served
to the scholars generally; and they had wine and dessert afterwards in
CHILD’S-room in the Warden’s house. Warden’s CHILD had during the
following year the duty of applying to the Head Master for every
REMEDY (_q.v._), and half-remedy that came in the ordinary course. In
applying he used the set phrase, “The Præpostors’ duty, and they would
be obliged for a remedy” (or “half-remedy”). Whenever the application
was something more than a mere form, it was made by the Præfect of
Hall, _e.g._ where a leave out day disturbed the ordinary arrangements
of the week.
*Chince* (or *Chinse*), _subs._ (Winchester).—A chance.
[Apparently a corrupted form of the word.]
*Chinner*, _subs._ (Winchester: obsolete).—A grin.
*Chip-entry*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—_See_ quot.
1884. _Stonyhurst Mag._, June, p. 294. The old kitchen was very near
the site of the present one, but a part of it jutted into what is now
the end of the Higher Line Washing-place. Just outside this was a
flight of old oaken steps leading to the refectory. Beyond these
stairs, leading out to the back, there was a very old round-headed
oaken door, which is now in the buttery; it is about three hundred
years old. This was called CHIP-ENTRY.
*Chips*, _subs._ (Wellington).—A kind of grill. [From its
hardness.]
*Choice*, _subs._ (Harrow).—A candidate in course of trial for
an Eleven (House or School), and who has not got his CAP
(_q.v._), FEZ (_q.v._), or FLANNELS (_q.v._).
*Chorister*, _subs._ (Winchester).—_See_ quots.
_c._ 1840. MANSFIELD, _School-Life at Winchester_ (1866), 33. Besides
the Warden, Fellows, masters, and boys, there were twelve
“CHORISTERS,” who must by no means be omitted, as they formed an
important part of the internal economy. I suppose they were called
CHORISTERS because they had not to sing; certainly if ever that was a
part of their duty, it had entirely lapsed. Their office was to wait
on boys, in hall and chambers, till seven o’clock, and especially to
go on errands in the town,—the boys themselves never being allowed to
go there, except when invited by friends on Saints’ days. These little
CHORISTERS wore chocolate-coloured tail-coats and trousers, with metal
buttons; and, on the whole, I think their life must have been a weary
one.... _Ibid._, 189. The CHORISTERS really do sing now, and have not
to run errands in the town for boys, but wait on them in the hall
instead.
1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, p. 22. The Bible-clerk meanwhile
reading aloud a chapter from the Old Testament, the CHORISTERS waited
at table. An antiphonal grace and psalm were sung, after which the
CHORISTERS and college servants took their dinner.
*Chouse*, _subs._ (Eton and Winchester).—A shame; an imposition.
Hence CHOUSER. [A derivative of chouse = trick; swindle:
_see_ quot. 1890.]
1864. _Athenæum._ When an Eton boy says that anything is “a beastly
CHOUSE,” he means that it is a great shame; and when an Eton
peripatetic tradesman is playful enough to call his customer “a little
CHOUSER,” he means that a leaf has been taken out of his own book by
one on whom he has practised.
1883. BRINSLEY RICHARDS, _Seven Years at Eton_. The boy ... was told
that what he had done was an awful CHOUSE.
1890. _Hist. Eng. Dict._ [MURRAY], _s.v._ CHOUSE. “As to the origin of
the Eng. use, Gifford (1814), in a note on the quot. from Ben Jonson,
says, ‘In 1609, Sir Robt. Shirley sent a messenger or CHIAUS to this
country, as his agent from the Grand Signior and the Sophy to transact
some preparatory business.’ The latter ‘CHIAUSED the Turkish and
Persian merchants of £4000,’ and decamped. But no trace of this
incident has yet been found outside of Gifford’s note; it was unknown
to Peter Whalley, a previous editor of Ben Jonson, 1756; also to
Skinner, Henshaw, Dr. Johnson, Todd, and others who discussed the
history of the word. Yet most of these recognised the likeness of
CHOUSE to the Turkish word, which Henshaw even proposed as the etymon
on the ground that the Turkish CHIAUS ‘is little better than a fool.’
Gifford’s note must therefore be taken with reserve.”
*Christians*, _subs. pl._ (Cambridge).—Fellows of Christ’s
College. [Derivation obvious.]
*Christopher* (Eton).—An old inn in Eton Street.
1865. _Etoniana_, 23. On the great festivals ... they had permission
to spend part of the day in a country walk; not without a strong
caution (so similar are the temptations of schoolboys and the
anxieties of masters in all ages) against turning into taverns and
beer-shops by the way. The “Tap” and the CHRISTOPHER had their earlier
prototypes....
*Chuck*, _subs._ (Westminster). _See_ quot.
1864. HOTTEN, _Slang Dict._, s.v. A schoolboy’s treat.
*Chucks!* _intj._ (general).—A signal of a master’s approach. A
French equivalent is _Vesse!_
*Circum.* TO GO CIRCUM, _verb. phr._ (Winchester). _See_ quot.
1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, p. 23 [_temp._ 1570]. At five the
school was dismissed, and the whole resident society—warden, fellows,
masters, and scholars—went in procession round the cloisters and the
whole interior circuit of the college, which was called GOING CIRCUM.
Thus they passed into the hall, where a supper of mutton was
served—one dispar to every three boys.
*Clacken*, _subs._ (Royal High School, Edin.).—A wooden bat
about two feet long with a thin handle and rounded head
(_e.g._ [Illustration] ), flat on both sides, originally
used for the game of _hails_. The game is no longer played
at the school, but survives in the Edin. Academy. [A “Hail”
in Scotland denotes the place from which a ball is driven
off at the commencement of a game. “Clacken” is from
“clack,” the clapper of a mill.]
*Clarian*, _subs._ (Cambridge).—A member of Clare Hall,
Cambridge; also GREYHOUND (_q.v._).
1889. C. WHIBLEY, _Cap and Gown_. E’en stuke-struck CLARIANS strove to
stoop.
*Classicus*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A Junior in each PART
(_q.v._): his duty is to get lessons set, &c.
CLASSICUS-PAPER = CUSE (_q.v._).
*Clean-straw*, _subs._ (Winchester).—Clean sheets. [Before 1540
the beds were bundles of straw on a stone floor. At that
date Dean Fleshmonger put in oaken floors, and provided
proper beds, such as existed in 1871 in Third, and later in
the case of the Præfect of Hall’s unused beds in Sixth. The
term is never used in reference to mattresses of any kind,
straw or other.] The dormitory arrangements are now
thoroughly modernised.
*Clipe*, _verb_ (general).—To tell tales; to “split”; to peach.
*Clodding*, _subs._ (Rugby).—A ceremony of initiation [put
down by Dr. Wooll, _temp._ 1808-28] performed on those who
were promoted into the Fifth. They had to run along the
course of a small gutter which flowed from the cow-sheds
(_see_ BARN-SCHOOL), through a double line of boys, who
pelted them with clods of clay moistened in that not very
delicate stream. Unpopular boys had these clods specially
hardened for their benefit—it was even said with stones
inside. On promotion from the Fourth to the Remove a boy
had to run the gauntlet up and down the big school between
a double line of his fellows, armed with handkerchiefs
tied in “Westminster knots.” He was allowed to protect
himself with books stuffed inside his trousers; but the
punishment was fearful.—COLLINS.
*Cloister-peals*, _subs._ (Winchester).—_See_ PEALS.
*Cloister-roush*, _subs._ (Winchester: obsolete).—_See_ quot.
_c._ 1840. MANSFIELD, _School-Life at Winchester College_, p. 117. We
had some singular customs at the commencement of Cloister time. Senior
part and Cloisters, just before the entrance of the Masters into
School, used to engage in a kind of general tournament; this was
called CLOISTER-ROUSH.
*Cloisters*, _subs._ (Winchester).—The name given to Middle and
Junior Part of Fifth BOOK (_q.v._), when combined together
in CLOISTER-TIME (_q.v._).
1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, p. 24. But the younger commoners
probably seldom came into school, being taught chiefly in the chamber
of the warden or fellow under whose charge they were placed; and in
summer-time the whole of the scholars usually adjourned for lessons
into the adjacent CLOISTERS: a delightful arrangement, from which the
latter portion of the “long-half” is still called CLOISTER-TIME.
*Cloister-time*, _subs._ (Winchester).—Ten or twelve weeks at
the latter end of Long Half, commencing about Whitsunday and
ending at STANDING-UP WEEK (_q.v._).
*Clow*, _subs._ (Winchester).—Pronounced _clō_. A box on the
ear. [Possibly from _clout_. HALLIWELL, _clow_ (Cumberland)
= to scratch. Also _clew_ (Glouc.) = a blow.] Also as
_verb_: it was customary to preface the action by an
injunction to “hold down.”
_c._ 1840. MANSFIELD, _School-Life at Winchester College_, p. 140. The
juniors did not get much fun out of the regular games, as their part
consisted solely in kicking in the ball, and receiving divers kicks
and CLOWS in return for their vigilance. _Ibid._, p. 39. Nor, when
ordered to “hold down” (_i.e._ put your head in a convenient position)
for a CLOW, would the victim dare to ward off the blow.
*Club-keeper*, _subs._ (Harrow).—A Captain of the side in a
game: at cricket or football.
1820-5. WORDSWORTH [_Letter_, 1889]. The old ground which we played
upon was too much upon a slope, and when I was one of the
CLUB-KEEPERS, and head of the eleven, a considerable sum was spent in
endeavouring to improve it, and we succeeded in levelling a sufficient
space for a tolerably good wicket.
*Coach*, _subs._ (formerly University and Public Schools: now
common).—A private tutor; and in a transferred sense one who
trains another in mental or physical acquirements: _e.g._ in
Sanskrit, Shakspeare, cricket, or rowing. Analagous terms
are CRAMMER, FEEDER, and GRINDER. Also as _verb_ = to
prepare for an examination by private instruction; to train:
in general use both by coacher and coachee.
1846. THACKERAY, _Vanity Fair_, ch. v. The superb Cuff himself ...
helped him on with his Latin verses, COACHED him in play-hours.
1850. F. E. SMEDLEY, _Frank Fairleigh_, ch. xxix. p. 240. Besides the
regular college tutor, I secured the assistance of what, in the slang
of the day, we irreverently termed a COACH.
1853. C. BEDE, _Verdant Green_, pt. I., pp. 63-4. “That man is Cram,
the patent safety. He’s the first COACH in Oxford.” “A COACH,” said
our freshman in some wonder. “Oh, I forgot you didn’t know college
slang. I suppose a royal mail is the only gentleman COACH _you_ know
of. Why, in Oxford a COACH means a private tutor, you must know; and
those who can’t afford a COACH, get a cab, _alias_ a crib, _alias_
translation.”
1864. _Eton School-days_, ch. ix. p. 103. Lord Fitzwinton, one of the
smallest and best COACHES—in aquatics—in the school.
1870. _London Figaro_, June 10, “Quadrille Conversation.” It is, we
fear, Quixotic to hope that ladies and gentlemen invited to the same
ball would COACH with the same master.
1871. _Times_, “Report of the Debate in House of Lords on University
Test Bill.” The test proposed would be wholly ineffective; ... while
it would apply to the college tutors, who had little influence over
the young men, it would not affect the COACHES, who had the chief
direction of their studies.
1889. _Pall Mall Gazette_, 29th Nov., p. 1, col. 3. The schoolmaster
is concerned with the education of boys up to eighteen; all beyond
that falls either to the COACH or the professor.
1891. _Harry Fludyer at Cambridge_, 15. Our COACH is always finding
fault with me.
*Coaching*, _subs._ (Rugby: obsolete).—A flogging.
*Coat.* TO GET ONE’S COAT, _verb. phr._ (Harrow).—To be made a
member of the “Sixth Form Game”; the equivalent of the
“Twenty-two” at other schools: cricket.
*Cob*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A hard hit at cricket; a slogger: a
recent introduction. Also as _verb_ (common), to detect; to
catch.
_Verb._ 1. (Stonyhurst).—To purloin oranges, &c., after a DO
(_q.v._): _e.g._ “COB for me,” sometimes whispered by an
envious disappointed one to a fortunate friend as he goes
into the “Do-room.”
2. (Harrow).—In the verbal sense of COB = to detect; to
catch (_see_ subs., _ante_); the practice at Harrow is
almost always to use the word in the passive, with “badly”:
_e.g._ “I was badly COBBED ‘tollying-up’” (_q.v._).
*Cock*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—An elevation from which, at
football, a GUARDER (_q.v._) kicks balls which “go out”: it
corresponds to the “tee” at golf.
TO BE COCKED UP, _verb. phr._ (Charterhouse).—_See_ quot.
1900. TOD, _Charterhouse_, 85. Fags [at Old Charterhouse] had to fag
in reality at cricket; they got COCKED UP if they cut, and they got
COCKED UP if they missed a catch, or muffed a ball. A stump was always
handy.
*Cock-house*, _subs._ (general). A champion house; as at
cricket, football—anything.
1890. _Great Public Schools_, 95. (Harrow) The various Houses are
divided into “Upper Round” Houses (being those which possess a member
of the School Eleven at the beginning of the term), and “Lower Round”
Houses (being those which possess no member of the School Eleven at
the beginning of the term). The “Upper Round” Houses are drawn
together, and play against each other; and the same course is pursued
with regard to the “Lower Round” Houses. When all these ties are
played off, the winner of the “Upper Round” plays the winner of the
“Lower Round” for COCK-HOUSE. A silver challenge cup is presented to
the COCK-HOUSE of the year.
1898. WARNER in _Harrow School_, 271. Coming back from the holidays a
boy will eagerly discuss with his comrades the prospects of the term.
Have they any chance of being “COCK-HOUSE” in football or cricket—and
no chance is too small on which to build a mighty castle of hope.
*Cockloft, The* (Harrow).—A small room at the top of the Old
Schools; in turn a school-room or the limbo for the
SCHOOL-STOCK (_q.v._) of confiscated books.
*Cocks*, _subs._ (Charterhouse).—The old washing place. [Early
in the century a leaden trough, into which six taps
discharged water, was fixed in a corner of Writing School,
behind a partition which was constructed to hold Gownboys
Library. These taps suggested the term COCKS. Formerly
Gownboys washed at the pump.]
*Cocoa-club*, _subs._ (The Leys).—Afternoon tea, &c., at four in
winter in House rooms or studies.
*Codd*, _subs._ (Charterhouse).—_See_ quot.
1854. THACKERAY, _The Newcomes_. Yonder sit some threescore old
gentlemen, pensioners of the hospital; ... the Cistercian lads called
these old gentlemen CODDS.
*Cog.* TO COG ON, _verb. phr._ (Durham).—To swindle; to cheat:
_e.g._ “TO COG ON marks.” Also TO COCK ON.
*Coke on Littleton*, _subs. phr._ (Eton).—_See_ quot.
1743. DANIEL WRAY, _Letter_ from Cambridge [quoted in _Etoniana_
(1865), 70]. One blowing a chafing-dish with a surplice sleeve,
another warming a little negus or sipping “COKE UPON LITTLETON,”
_i.e._ tent and brandy.
*Coll*, _subs._ (United Services).—The College.
1899. _Public School Mag._, Nov., p. 345. To deal first with the
outward appearance of the COLL.—(COLL, be it noted, not College.)
“That long white barrack by the sea Stares blankly seaward still,”
sings Kipling in one of his very early poems.
*Collections*, _subs._ (Oxford).—College Terminal Examinations.
1853. BRADLEY, _Verdant Green_, II. viii. Witless men were cramming
for COLLECTIONS.
*College-John* (Westminster).—The porter and factotum of
College: invariably so-called, whatever his name may be.
*Colleger*, _subs._ 1. (general).—A square cap; a MORTAR-BOARD
(_q.v._).
2. (Eton).—A boy on the foundation as opposed to an OPPIDAN
(_q.v._).
1899. _Public School Mag._, Nov., p. 367. The discussion continues as
to whether the COLLEGERS should compete for the House Cup. As we have
always said, this seems a ridiculous suggestion. If COLLEGE is on a
separate foundation to the Oppidans, we can see no reason for them to
desire to join in competing for Oppidan events.
1890. _Great Public Schools_, 14. Parents of independent means rejoice
when their sons obtain places on the Foundation at Eton. Admitted
after a severe competitive examination, and specially encouraged in
the habits of industry, the seventy COLLEGERS generally win a large
proportion of the prizes and other distinctions that are offered to
Etonians, and maintain the high reputation of their old school in the
class lists at Oxford and Cambridge.
*College-ware*, _subs._ (Winchester).—Crockery that falls
without breaking.—MANSFIELD.
*Combie*, _subs._ (University).—The “Combination room,” a
parlour in which college dons drink wine after Hall.
*Come.* COME UP! _intj._ (Sherborne).—The order given by the
Captain of the Games, after 3 Roll on a half-holiday, to
start the games at football.
*Come-up*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—A regulation as to the
conditions by which one player might try to take the ball
from another: football.
*Commoner*, _subs._ (general).—A boy not on the foundation.
Whence (Winchester) COMMONERS = the building they lived in.
[Now abolished as a residence and converted into class-rooms
with a handsome library. The old building, which presented
externally (_vide_ MANSFIELD) the appearance of an inferior
workhouse, was successfully altered by Mr. BUTTERFIELD, and
is now, in its architecture, worthy of its purpose and
surroundings.]
1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, p. 26. Of the fellow-commoners,
or COMMONERS, as they are now termed, who have so increased as to form
a supplementary body of scholars doubling in number the College boys
themselves, it will be necessary to give some account. Provision had
been made in the original statutes for the reception and instruction
of independent students to the number of ten, sons of noblemen or of
“special friends” of the College, who, though not claiming the other
advantages of the foundation, might yet wish to avail themselves of
its sound teaching; with a proviso that these should not be in any way
burdensome to the revenues.... In [Dr. Burton’s] time the College rose
rapidly as a place of education for many of the young nobility, and
the accommodations were found insufficient. He built what is now
remembered by Wykehamists of the past generation as “OLD COMMONERS.”
... The number of COMMONERS gradually increased, until in 1820 they
reached 135. “OLD COMMONERS” was pulled down in 1839-41 to make way
for the present building, which was the result of a general Wykehamist
subscription. _Ibid._, 115 [Westminster]. In every public school the
masters were entirely dependent for any income beyond their statutable
salaries on the liberality of the parents of those boys who were
admitted as COMMONERS, or oppidans. _Ibid._, _Etoniana_, 10. [At Eton]
there were two classes of these boys—“_generosorum filii
Commensales_,” and simple “_Commensales_”—corresponding to the
“gentleman-COMMONER” and “COMMONER” of Oxford; the former probably of
higher social rank, paying more for their commons, and dining at a
separate table.
*Commoner-grub*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A dinner formerly given
by COMMONERS (_q.v._) to College after cricket matches.
*Commoners-speaking*, _subs._ (Winchester).—The day on which the
speakers, selected from among the INFERIORS (_q.v._),
declaimed.
*Common Innings*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—A form of
cricket.
*Common-time*, _subs._ (Winchester).—The Short Half, and
beginning of Long up to Easter time.
*Commons*, _subs._ (University).—Rations of bread, butter, and
milk, supplied from the buttery. [When a number of men
breakfast together, the student whose rooms are the
rendezvous tells his scout the names of those _in_-college
men who are coming to breakfast with him. The scout then
collects their COMMONS, which thus forms the substratum of
the entertainment. The other things are of course supplied
by the giver of the breakfast, and are sent in by the
confectioner. As to the knives and forks and crockery, the
scout produces them from his common stock.]
1853. BRADLEY, _Verdant Green_, viii. Of course you’d like to take out
an æger, sir; and I can bring you your COMMONS just the same.
*Compo*, _subs._ (King Edward’s, Birm.).—The championship
competition in the gymnasium, or at fives; place-kicking.
*Compositions*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—Three days coming at the
end of each quarter, during which the composition work of
the various Forms is tested. According to the results is
arranged the “Order of Compositions,” which is accepted as
fixing a boy’s place in his Form for the ensuing quarter.
There is a hill some distance from the College known as
“Composition Hill,” so called because the Poets (_q.v._)
went there for inspiration on composition days. The first
and second boys according to the order of Compositions are
known respectively as “Roman Imperator” and “Carthaginian
Imperator.” The last Compositions of the year used to be
known as the “Great Compositions.” By them the Form medals,
&c., were decided.
*Compound-kish* (or *Hish*), _subs._ (Marlborough).—The rules of
the Latin compound sentence.
*Compul*, _adj._ and _adv._ (Harrow).—That is, “compulsory.”
*Compulsory*, _subs._ (Charterhouse).—_See_ RUNABOUT.
*Con*, _subs._ 1. (Winchester).—A rap on the head with the
knuckles, or with anything hard, such as a cricket ball.
Also as _verb_: to rap with the knuckles. [The derivation
formerly accepted at Winchester was κονδυλον = a knuckle,
but the editors of the _Wykehamist_ suggest its origin in
the North Country _con_, “to fillip,” with which the French
_se cogner_ exactly corresponds.]
2. (general).—That is, “construe.” Hence TO GET A CONSTRUE =
to get some one to translate a piece.
*Conduct*, _subs._ (Eton).—A chaplain.
1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, p. 163. I was stopped on my entry
into school by the “Minos.” The title of “CONDUCT,” by which the
chaplains of Eton College are known, was for many years ludicrously
misprinted by the successive editors of Horace Walpole’s Letters, who
made him talk of “standing funking over against a conduit to be
catechised.”
*Conduit*, _subs._ (Winchester).—(1) In College, a water-tap;
(2) in Commoners, a lavatory.
*Continent*, _adv._ (Winchester).—Ill; on the sick-list: _cf._
ABROAD. [From _continens cameram vel lectum_.] Hence
CONTINENT-ROOM = a sick-chamber.
1605. SHAKSPEARE, _Lear_, i. 2. I pray you have a CONTINENT
forbearance; ... if you do stir abroad, go armed.
_c._ 1840. MANSFIELD, _School-Life at Winchester College_, p. 146.
When a boy felt ill, or inclined to quit school for a period, he had
to get leave CONTINENT, which was done by sending a boy in the morning
first to get leave from his tutor, and then from the Head Master.
1878. ADAMS, _Wykehamica_, p. 224. We suggested the “CONTINENT room”;
and on being required to say what was to become of the sick boys?
replied, that it was notorious that there was never anything the
matter with them!
1881. _Felstedian_, Nov., p. 75, “A Day’s Fagging at Winchester.” I
remember that I have to get “LEAVE CONTINENT” for one of the fellows,
_i.e._ he wants to be “æger for the day” (“continent,” of course =
“keeping indoors,” being confined to “sick house” or the infirmary). I
have to ask leave from the senior præfect in chambers, the præfect of
hall, the second master, and the head-master, whom I waylay going to
chapel.
*Cool* (or *Cool-kick*), _subs._ (Eton).—A kick at football with
no one near. Also as _verb_ = to kick hard.
*Copus*, _subs._ (University).—A wine or beer cup: commonly
imposed as a fine upon those who talked Latin in Hall, or
committed other breaches of etiquette. [Dr. Johnson derives
it from _episcopus_, and if this be correct it is doubtless
the same as BISHOP.]
*Copy*, _subs._ (Harrow).—An asterisk: _e.g._ as placed on the
broadsheet against the name of any boy who comes out top of
his division in any subject; three COPIES secure a prize in
Speech-room. _See_ Appendix.
*Corn* (The), _subs._ (Oxford).—Cornmarket Street.
*Corner*, _intj._ (The Leys).—Look out! Clear the way!
[Originally shouted as a warning by boys cycling about the
buildings on approaching a corner.]
*Corner-monitor*, _subs._ (Harrow).—The monitor in turn at BILL
(_q.v._) to keep line and preserve order generally.
*Corps-board*, _subs._ (Harrow).—The Rifle Corps notice-board.
*Cosh*, _subs._ (King Edward’s, Birm.).—A caning. Also as _verb_
= to cane. A rarer word is TANK (_q.v._).
*Cots*, _subs._ (Christ’s Hospital).—_See_ quot. [A corruption
of “cotton.”]
1810. CHARLES LAMB, _Recollections of Christ’s Hospital_ [1835], p.
24. The COTS, or superior Shoe Strings of the Monitors.
*Coup*, _verb._ 1. (Durham).—To upset: in frequent use on the
river. [North dia. COUP = to empty or overset.]
2. (Stonyhurst).—At BANDY (_q.v._), to lift the ball from
the ground by means of the crook of the stick.
*Course*, _subs._ (Winchester).—Duty: in _rota_. IN COURSE = on
duty. [COURSE-KEEPER (obsolete) = a Commoner who drew up a
table of fagging duties.—WRENCH.]
_c._ 1840. MANSFIELD, _School-Life at Winchester_, 206. COURSE-KEEPER,
an office in the patronage of the Commoner Præfects, the duties of
which were principally connected with the organisation of the fagging
department. He was required to have been three years in the school, to
be of reasonable bodily strength, and in Middle Part. His privileges
were numerous, the principal being that he was allowed to fag. When he
ascended into Senior Part his duties ceased, but his privileges
remained; he was then called EX-COURSE-KEEPER.
*Court, The* (Stonyhurst).—The quadrangle behind the College
Towers; now more commonly called the Quadrangle.
[“Quadrangle” was one of the names which puzzled the
Claimant in the famous Tichborne Trial. _Cf._ _Times_
reports; also _Stonyhurst Magazine_, vol. i. p. 294, and
vol. ii. p. 317.]
*Courts*, _subs._ (Sherborne).—The school quadrangles: the
earliest known use of the term is at the end of the
sixteenth century.
*Cowshed*, _subs._ (Christ’s Hospital). _See_ Appendix.
_c._ 1890. _More Gleanings from_ THE BLUE, 84. Time was when it was
looked upon as a sacred duty on the first Sunday of each term to
introduce Hertford boys to those three stones in the Ditch which
represent the toffee man, to show them his six little children, his
brush and comb, his windmill, and whatsoever else belonging to him the
imaginative youth can discern in the bare stones under the COWSHED, as
it is called. Those “sermons in stones” belonged essentially to
Sunday.
*Cow-shooter*, _subs._ (Winchester: obsolete).—A “deer-stalker”
hat: worn by Præfects and CANDLE-KEEPERS (_q.v._).
*Coxy*, _adj._ (general).—Stuck up; conceited; impudent. [COXY =
conceited (Warwickshire).—HALLIWELL.]
1856. HUGHES, _Tom Brown’s School-days_, p. 202. He’s the COXIEST
young blackguard in the house—I always told you so. _Ibid._, p. 214.
“Confoundedly COXY those young rascals will get if we don’t mind,” was
the general feeling.
1882. F. ANSTEY, _Vice Versâ_, ch. iv. “Now then, young Bultitude, you
used to be a decent fellow enough last term, though you were COXY. So,
before we go any further—what do you mean by this sort of thing?”
*Coy*, _adv._ (Sherborne).—Shy.
*Crackle* (or *Crackling*), _subs._ (University).—The velvet
bars on the gowns of the JOHNIAN “HOGS” (_q.v._). [From a
resemblance to the scored rind on roast pork.] The covered
bridge between one of the courts and the grounds of John’s
is called the Isthmus of Suez (Latin _sus_, a swine).
1885. CUTHBERT BEDE, in _Notes and Queries_, 6 S., xi. 414. The word
CRACKLE refers to the velvet bars on the students’ gowns.
*Cram*, _subs._ (general).—An adventitious aid to study; a
translation; a crib. As _verb_ = to study at high pressure.
Hence, CRAMMER = a COACH (_q.v._); a GRINDER (_q.v._); and
CRAMMING = studying hard.
1803. _Gradus ad Cantab._, s.v.
1812. Miss EDGEWORTH, _Patronage_, ch. iii. Put him into the hands of
a clever grinder or CRAMMER, and they would soon cram the necessary
portion of Latin and Greek into him.
1825. HONE, _Every-Day Book_, Feb. 22. Shutting my room door ... and
CRAMMING Euc.
1841. _Punch_, vol. i. p. 201, col. 1. Aspirants to honours in law,
physic, or divinity, each know the value of private CRAMMING.
1844. _Puck_, p. 13. Though for Great Go and for Small, I teach Paley,
CRAM and all.
1853. BRADLEY (“C. Bede”), _Verdant Green_, pt. II. p. 68. The
infatuated Mr. Bouncer madly persisted ... in going into the school
clad in his examination coat, and padded over with a host of CRAMS.
1863. CHARLES READE, _Hard Cash_, i. p. 16. “All this term I have been
(‘training’ scratched out and another word put in: c—r oh, I know)
CRAMMING.” “CRAMMING, love?” “Yes, that is Oxfordish for studying.”
1869. SPENCER, _Study of Sociology_, ch. xv. 574 (9th ed.). And here,
by higher culture, I do not mean mere language-learning, and an
extension of the detestable CRAMMING system at present in use.
1872. BESANT AND RICE, _My Little Girl_. The writer of one crushing
article CRAMMED for it, like Mr. Pott’s young man.
1872. _Evening Standard_, Aug. 16. “The Competition Wallah.” The
CRAMMER follows in the wake of competitive examinations as surely as
does the shadow the body.
1872. _Daily News_, Dec. 20. Competitive examinations for the public
service defeated in a great measure the object of their promoters,
which was to place rich and poor on an equality, because success was
made to depend very largely on successful CRAMMING, which meant a
high-priced CRAMMER.
*Crib*, _subs._ (general).—A surreptitious aid to study. Also as
_verb_.
1841. _Punch_, i. 177. CRIBBING his answers from a tiny manual ...
which he hides under his blotting-paper. _Ibid._, 185. He has with a
prudent forethought stuffed his CRIBS inside his double-breasted
waistcoat.
1855. THACKERAY, _Newcomes_, ch. xxii. I wish I had read Greek a
little more at school, ... when we return I think I shall try and read
it with CRIBS.
1856. T. HUGHES, _Tom Brown’s School-days_, pt. II. ch. vi. Tom, I
want you to give up using vulgus books and CRIBS. _Ibid._, ii. 3. Two
highly moral lines ... which he CRIBBED entire from one of his books.
1889. _Globe_, 12th Oct., p. 1, col. 4. Always, it seems likely, there
will be men “going up” for examinations; and every now and again, no
doubt, there will be among them a wily “Heathen Pass-ee” like him of
whom Mr. Hilton speaks—who had CRIBS up his sleeve, and notes on his
cuff.
*Crick, The* (Rugby). _See_ quot.
1890. _Great Public Schools_, 182. THE CRICK is the most celebrated of
all school runs. Everybody, I fancy, in the running world has heard of
it. On a day at the end of the Christmas term—generally on the first
Thursday in December—you may see all the School assembled at the “Quad
gates.”... THE CRICK is only run once a year. Its course is along
roads and footpaths to Crick village, and then back by Hillmorton, the
finish being a length of about a third of a mile along the Hillmorton
Road. It is a race pure and simple; and is in this respect a race
against time.... The length of the race is supposed to be about eleven
or twelve miles, and the time in which it is run is generally between
an hour and twenty minutes and an hour and a half.
*Cricket-bill*, _subs._ (Harrow).—A “call-over” on the
cricket-ground. All fall into line, down which a master goes
noting the number of those absent as stated by the SHEPHERDS
(_q.v._).
*Cricket-Quarter*, _subs._ (Charterhouse).—_See_ LONG QUARTER.
*Croc*, _subs._ (Cheltenham).—A ladies’ school when walking out.
*Crocketts*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A kind of bastard cricket,
sometimes called “small CROCKETTS.” A stump was used and a
fives ball, with a bat of plain deal about two inches broad,
or a broomstick. TO GET CROCKETTS = to fail to score; to get
a “duck’s egg.” _Cf._ BOOKS.
_c._ 1840. MANSFIELD, _School-Life at Winchester College_, p. 122. The
more noisily disposed would indulge in ... playing Hicockolorum, or
CROCKETTS.
*Cropple*, _verb_ (Winchester).—To pluck; to plough—UP TO Books.
[_Wykehamicé_ for _cripple_.]
*Cross.* TO BE CROSSED, _verb. phr._—For not paying term bills
to the bursar (treasurer), or for cutting chapels, or
lectures, or other offences, an undergrad. can be CROSSED at
the buttery, or kitchen, or both, _i.e._ a CROSS is put
against his name by the Don, who wishes to see him, or to
punish him.
1853. BRADLEY (“Cuthbert Bede”), _Verdant Green_, pt. II. ch. x.
Sir!—You will translate all your lectures; have your name CROSSED on
the buttery and kitchen books; and be confined to chapel, hall, and
college.
*Crow*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—A master. [From the black gown
with “wings.”]
*Crown* (Charterhouse).—The school tuck-shop.
1900. TOD, _Charterhouse_, 96. At Old Charterhouse the word CROWN,
with a sort of coronet above it, was painted in large white letters on
a wall near the racket courts. The story is that the Crown Inn once
stood just outside this wall.... When the inn was pulled down, Lord
Ellenborough, then a boy in the school, painted a crown on a wall near
the place where the inn had stood. Years after, on his return from
India, being touched to find his boyish work still in existence, he
expressed a hope that it might never be allowed to vanish; so it has
been painted again from time to time, and Merchant Taylors’ still keep
it fresh. This “CROWN” was not near the tuck-shop, which was a grimy
cellar under the old school, with the face of a disused clock for a
signboard, and the superscription, “NO TICK HERE.” But it was thought
fit that the memory of this old word should be kept up somehow and
somewhere at the new school, so a large theatrical-looking crown was
suspended, like a tavern sign, outside the school tuck-shop in the
pavilion. In this way the name and memory of this bit of antiquity are
preserved.
*Crow Wood* (Stonyhurst).—A wood in the Park.
1884. _Stonyhurst Mag._, June, p. 294. The churn was in the latter
days [1834] turned by a wheel worked by water supplied from the CROW
WOOD.
*Crug*, _subs._ 1. (Christ’s Hospital).—At Hertford, a crust; in
the London school, crust and crumb alike.
1820. LAMB, _Elia_ (_Christ’s Hospital_) [_Works_ (1852), 322]. He had
his tea and hot rolls in a morning, while we were battening upon our
quarter of a penny loaf—our CRUG.