*Mess*, _subs._ (Winchester).—_See_ quot.
_c._ 1840. MANSFIELD, _School-Life at Winchester_ (1866), 219.
MESS—The Præfects’ tables in Hall were called “Tub, Middle, and Junior
MESS” respectively. The boys who dined at each were also so named. Any
number of boys who habitually breakfasted together were so called with
some distinguishing prefix, such as “Deputy’s MESS.” In Chambers tea
was called MESS; as was also the remains of a joint of meat. Lest the
reader should make a “MESS” of all these different meanings, I will
give a sentence in which they shall all figure: “Look there, Junior
MESS has sat down at Tub MESS, but as they will find nothing left but
a MESS, they had better go down to Chambers, as MESS is ready.”
*Middle-briars*, _subs._ (Charterhouse).—A recess in the middle
of cloisters where Eleven meetings used to be held; now a
place in cloisters where names are carved: becoming
obsolete.
*Middle-cut*, _subs._ (Winchester).—_See_ quot., and DISPAR.
_c._ 1840. MANSFIELD, _School-Life_, p. 84. There were ... eight
[portions] to a leg of mutton; ... the thick slice out of the centre
of the leg was called a MIDDLE CUT.
*Middle Fire* (Westminster).—_See_ UPPER FIRE.
*Middle-green* (Charterhouse).—The new cricket-ground used by
“The Maniacs.”
*Middle-mess*, _subs._ (Winchester).—_See_ MESS.
*Middle Part the Fifth*, _subs. phr._ (Winchester).—Generally
called MIDDLE PART. _See_ BOOKS.
*Middle-week*, _subs._ (Rugby).—A half-holiday on every third
Monday. [MODERN RUGS (_q.v._) say “because it was never the
middle of anything.”]
*Milk-hole*, _subs._ (Winchester).—The hole formed by the ROUSH
(_q.v._) under POT (_q.v._).
*Miller* (Harrow).—“The Milling Ground”: between the school-yard
and SQUASH (_q.v._) courts. Here all fights had to be
conducted in public. The practice is extinct, and the ground
is now used as a Morris-tube range.
*Minister*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—The superior responsible for
the _matériel_: as food, servants, &c.
*Minor*, _subs._ (Eton).—A younger brother. Also MI.
1864. _Eton School-days_, vii. “Let my MINOR pass, you fellows!”
exclaimed Horsham.
1890. _Felstedian_, Feb., p. 2. I was born in the month of Tompkins
MI.
*Mitre*, _subs._ (University).—A hat. _See_ TUFTS.
*Moab*, _subs._ 1. (University: obsolete).—A hat; specifically,
the turban-shaped hat fashionable among ladies 1858-9. [From
the Scripture phrase, “MOAB is my wash-pot” (Ps. lx. 8).]
1864. _Reader_, Oct. 22. MOAB, a ... hat.... University it is all
over. We feel sure we know the undergraduate who coined the
expression; he is now a solemn don delivering lectures in Cambridge.
1884. _Graphic_, 20th Sept., p. 307-2. The third, with his varnished
boots, his stiff brown MOAB of the newest fashion, his well-displayed
shirt-cuffs.