3. (Harrow).—One of the House swimming four, upwards of
sixteen. Whence DUCKLING = one under sixteen.
1890. _Great Public Schools_, p. 96. “Ducker” is open all the summer
term, and for two weeks after the boys go back in September. For those
who care for swimming there are inter-House swimming matches; and each
House elects DUCKS (boys over sixteen) and DUCKLINGS (boys under
sixteen) to compete for Cock-House.
*Ducker, The* (Harrow).—The school bathing-place beyond the
Footer Fields: the largest artificial open-air bathing place
in England. Originally the DUCK-PUDDLE. [Probably the first
example of the “-ER” terminations: it is at least forty
years old.]
1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, p. 322. Bathing was always, until
very lately, practised under difficulties at Harrow. The common
bathing-place, known as DUCK-PUDDLE ... was a long piece of muddy
water, varying from four to eight feet in depth. There, after it had
been stirred up by all possible means into more of a puddle than
usual, new boys were formally dipped.... To avoid mixing in the
general wash at DUCK-PUDDLE, many boys used to go out to the Brent at
Perivale, or even as far as Ellestree reservoir, for bathing; and
these were favourite expeditions on the mornings of Saints’ days. But
Dr. Vaughan had the old “puddle” lined with brick, and supplied with
water by a steam-engine, to the great additional comfort of the
bathers.
*Ducks*, _subs._ (Harrow).—Football knickerbockers. [Made of
white “duck.”]
*Dump*, _verb_ (Winchester).—To extinguish: as a candle. _Ex._
DUMP the TOLLY (_q.v._). [_Dump_ (Devon) = to knock heavily;
to stump.]
*Dungeons.* MEET YOU IN THE DUNGEONS, _phr._ (Royal High School,
Edin.).—A challenge to fight. _See_ CALTON, and CAMPUS
MARTIUS.
*Dusthole*, _subs._ (Cambridge: obsolete).—Sidney Sussex
College.
*Early* (or *Late*) *Play*, _subs._ (Westminster).—_See_ quot.
1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, p. 186. Besides the regular
weekly half-holidays, there are others specially granted, known as
EARLY and LATE PLAYS. The latter, given by the head-master at his
discretion, consists in the remission of all school work after eleven
A.M. But an EARLY PLAY—when school is “up” at nine—is a much more
formal indulgence, accorded by very ancient custom only to the
personal request of some visitor of distinction. St. David’s Day
(March 1st) and St. Patrick’s (March 17) have always been holidays of
this class: for the former, the late and the present Sir Watkin Wynn
have always come down to Westminster; and for the latter, the late
Marquess of Lansdowne (as an Irish peer) and Sir Everard Home. The
custom, even now observed on some occasions, was for the visitor’s
arrival at the gate to be formally announced to the head-master by
Monos, who received a “tip” for his services. The master at once “came
down school,” and reappeared through the great door, accompanied by
the hero of the day, who was received by the boys with great
demonstrations of welcome, expressed by the vigorous rapping of books
on the desks. Both knelt down side by side, while the “monitor of
school,” kneeling immediately in front of them, proceeded with the
usual school prayers. The visitor then “begged a play,” which was
granted. The applause was renewed, and acknowledged by a bow, after
which the whole of the boys rushed joyously down school, the masters
following in more grave and stately fashion. The visits of the “King
of North Wales” were doubly popular, since he presented every Welsh
boy with a sovereign—a custom which the present baronet liberally
continues.
*East.* _See_ WISE MEN OF THE EAST.
*Ecky*, _subs._ (Manchester Grammar).—Exercise.
*Egg* (or *Egg-up*), _verb_ (Marlborough).—To show ostentatious
zeal. Whence EGGER (_subs._) and EGGY (_adj._).
*Egg-flip Day*, _subs._ (Winchester).—The Founder’s
Commemoration Day. [Because a favourite beverage at the
festivities succeeding the great annual football match
played on that day between the “first sixes” of Commoners
and College was “Egg-flip.”]
*Eggotty*, _adj._ (Felsted).—Used as follows: A boy seen
carrying an egg or eggs, if addressed by another as
“EGGOTTY,” might, must in fact, almost in honour, throw an
egg at him. If the egg-owner was a good shot he would invite
his friend “call me EGGOTTY.”
*Eight*, _subs._ (Harrow).—The school Shooting EIGHT: also the
Gym. EIGHT.
*Election*, _subs._ (Winchester).—The examination of Præfects
and Senior Part for New College, and of candidates for
admission to Winchester.
_Intj._ (Westminster).—A fag-call.
1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, p. 164. From about 8 to 10 he
[the fag] is supposed to be at work, in a sort of common room assigned
to the juniors collectively, preparing his lessons for next day; but
the call of “ELECTION,” which signifies that the services of one of
the junior election is required by one of the seniors, used to be
frequent enough to be a very serious interruption. It is admitted that
these demands upon a junior’s time have commonly been such that “a boy
tempted to be idle, as most of them are, finds very considerable
difficulty in doing his work.” In order to check these interruptions
as far as possible, a late regulation has made all fagging unlawful
during these evening hours of work.
TO GAIN A YEAR BY ELECTION, _verb. phr._ (Winchester).—A boy
not being a FOUNDER (_q.v._) was obliged to leave at the
Election immediately succeeding his eighteenth birthday; he
whose birthday came shortly after Election, was thus enabled
to stay till he was nearly nineteen, and was so said “to
gain a year.”—MANSFIELD (_c._ 1840).
*Electors*, _subs._ (Winchester).—The Warden and two Fellows of
New College, and the Warden, Sub-Warden, and Head-master of
Winchester, who conducted ELECTION (_q.v._).—MANSFIELD (_c._
1840).
*Elegant Extracts*, _subs._ (Cambridge).—Students who, though
“plucked,” were still given their degrees. A line was drawn
below the poll-list, and those allowed to pass were
nicknamed the ELEGANT EXTRACTS. There was a similar limbo in
the honour-list.
*Elements*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—The first Form.
*End*, _subs._ 1. (Winchester).—A table or division of a table
in College Hall, practically meaning “mess.”—WRENCH.
_c._ 1840. MANSFIELD, _School-Life at Winchester_ (1866), 208. END.—At
dinner-time the INFERIORS (_q.v._) were divided into six companies,
each being presided over by a _Candlekeeper_ (_q.v._). These companies
and the table at which they sat were called ENDS.