_Verb._ 1. (general).—To do menial work for a schoolfellow
in a higher Form. Hence FAGGER, FAG-MASTER, FAGGING, and
FAGGERY.
1853. DE QUINCEY, _Autob. Sketches_, i. 210. FAGGERY was an abuse too
venerable and sacred to be touched by profane hands.
1873. _Pall Mall Gazette_, 17th May. The Winchester “tunding” system,
with all its faults, is hardly less objectionable than the FAGGING
system pursued in the Scotch endowed hospitals.
1881. _Felstedian_, Nov., p. 75. As I was smaller and weaker than most
of the FAGS running, I hardly ever managed to get a place, and it was
absurd to expect me to do so. I had been “spanked” two or three times
already for failing, but I don’t know that I was more successful for
that. I know I cordially detested that branch of FAGGING.
1884. _Temple Bar_, August, p. 514. He must have completely marred his
chance of happiness at the school when he refused to FAG and took
countless thrashings, snivelling.
1891. _Harry Fludyer at Cambridge_, 46. My new FAG-MASTER, Forker
Major, is a beast.
2. (Stonyhurst).—To field: at cricket. The ordinary meaning
either as _subs._ or _verb_ does not exist at Stonyhurst.
*Fag-book*, _subs._ (Charterhouse).—Formerly a book given by a
monitor on leaving to each of his fags: it is now usual to
give a bat or a racket.
*Fain lo!* (or *Loss*), _intj._ (Felsted).—A phrase used to
retain a seat, &c., temporarily vacated. Also LO.
*Fains* (*Fainits!* or *Fain it*), _intj._ (general).—A call for
truce during the progress of a game without which priority
of place would be lost; generally understood to be demanded
“in bounds,” or when out of danger. [Thought to be a
corruption of “fend.”]
_Verb_ (also FEND, FAIN, FAINITS, &c.).—A cry of warning, or
of prohibition: as to prevent any change in the existing
conditions of a game; _e.g._ at marbles, FEN-PLACINGS =
no alteration in position of marbles is permissible;
FEN-CLEARANCES = removal of obstacles is forbidden. [FEND =
_M.E. defend_ in sense of “to forbid.”] FAIN, and FAIN I,
are corruptions. At Winchester, FINGY YOU, or FINGY THAT,
are analagous; but at Christ’s Hospital FIN = “I won’t
have.”
_Ante_ 1815. E. C. HARRINGTON, in _N. and Q._, 5 S., vii. 98.
Respecting the word FEN ... I can testify to the use of the term by
school-boys prior to the battle of Waterloo ... meaning that we
protested against an exceptional action.
1852. DICKENS, _Bleak House_. “I’m fly,” says Jo. “But FEN larks, you
know.”
1877. _Notes and Queries_, 5 S., vii. 178. A comical application was,
I remember well, “FEN live lumber!” which, if pronounced in time,
would disable your opponent from moving a bystander out of the way of
his shot.
*Fardel*, _subs._ (Winchester: obsolete).—A division of Sixth
Book for New College Election. [A.S. _ferthe_ = the fourth,
and _del_, a part or portion.]
1200. _Orminn._ The FEORRTHE DALE was bitahht (delivered) to Pilate.
1283. _William of Palerne._ Non might sen other the FERTHE DEL of a
furlong.
*Faside*, _subs._ (Loretto).—To Faside Castle, and back:
altogether about five miles. Boys who have been watching
football matches have always to do this in wet weather; and,
in bad weather, a WALLYFORD (_q.v._). Whence FASIDE AND
THREE TREES = a combined walk and run about seven miles on a
short school-day not wet, when ground is unsuitable for
games. [Why THREE TREES is unknown.] _See_ GRIND-DAYS.
*Fat-flab*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A cut off the fat part of a
breast of mutton. _See_ DISPAR.
*Feeder-cric*, _subs._ (Christ’s Hospital: obsolete).—The game
usually known as “rounders.” _See_ Appendix.
1874. _The Blue_, Mar. In the country we shall have real unlimited
cricket in the place of rounders, FEEDER-CRIC, and the scanty
bi-weekly game in the suburbs.
*Fellow-commoner*, _subs._ (general).—_See_ quots., and
COMMONER.
1794. _Gent. Mag._, p. 1084. One [student at Cambridge] was a _Harry
Soph_; another a FELLOW-COMMONER and _senior Soph_, and occasionally
jocularly called an _empty bottle_, whilst _è contrà_, a bottle
decanted, was, from time to time, denominated a FELLOW-COMMONER.
1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, p. 26. Thomas Middleton petitions
King Charles, on his restoration, to grant his royal letters to the
Winchester electors in favour of his son’s admittance “as a child in
Winchester College, where he has now spent three years as
FELLOW-COMMONER.”
1891. _Harry Fludyer at Cambridge_, 38. She said she had heard from
her cousin, who is, I think, a FELLOW-COMMONER, or something of that
sort, at Downing College, that Harry is one of the most popular men at
Cambridge.
*Feoffee*, _subs._ (Manchester Grammar: obsolete).—The original
name for the trustees in whose hands the foundation
estate was placed by Hugh Bexwycke. [A.S. _feo_ = fee or
inheritance.]
*Ferk.* _See_ *Firk*.
*Ferula*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—_See_ TOLLY.
*Festive*, _adj._ (Charterhouse).—Said of a boy who has not
learned his duty to his superiors and seniors.
*Fez*, _subs._ (Harrow).—The equivalent of the CAP (_q.v._) for
cricket: the FEZ being given to the House Eleven for
distinction at football.
*Field*, _verb_. 1. (Winchester).—To take care of; to support:
in swimming.