*Tipping*, _adj._ (general).—First-rate; jolly.
*Tique*, _subs._ (Harrow).—(1) Arithmetic; and (2) mathematics.
[From a French master’s peculiar English pronunciation.]
*Tish*, _subs._ (Royal Military College).—A partition; a
cubicle.
*Tit.* _See_ ’VARSITY-TIT.
*Titch*, _subs._ (Christ’s Hospital).—A flogging. Also as _verb_
[Onomatopœia]. _See_ Appendix.
*Tizzy-poole*, _subs._ (Winchester: obsolete).—A fives ball
[costing 6d., and sold by a head porter named Poole.]
*Toad*, _subs._ (Winchester: obsolete).—In College a piece of
hot toast put into beer.
*Toe-fit-tie*, _subs._ (Winchester: obsolete).—_See_ quot.
1881. _Felstedian_, Nov., p. 84, “A Day’s Fagging at Winchester.” I
remember now; it was that brute A—— who “to FITTI”-ed me last
night.... For the benefit of the uninitiated let me explain the _modus
operandi_ and its etymology: it is nothing more or less than the
commencement of a line in the old familiar “_As in præsenti perfectum,
format in avi_,” which we used to learn, “_to fit-ti_,” in reference
to verbs of the third conjugation, transferred from the similarity of
sound to the school-boy’s toe; it consisted in tying a running noose
on a piece of string, cunningly turning up the bed-clothes at the
foot, putting it round the big toe of an unconscious sleeper, running
the noose up tight, and pulling till the victim followed the direction
of string from the pain, getting farther and farther out of bed and
nearer and nearer the floor, till mercifully released.
*Togger*, _subs._ (Oxford).—A TORPID (_q.v._) boat-race.
1894. _Felstedian_, Dec., p. 181. Wiltshire will probably row in one
of the University TOGGERS next term.
1896. _Tonbridgian_, No. 339, 1124. Rowland rowed in the TOGGER, fifth
on the river.
*Toke*, _verb_ (The Leys).—To be lazy; to “loaf.”
*Told.* TO BE TOLD, _verb. phr._ (Tonbridge).—To obtain one’s
colours in a school team.
*Tolly*, _subs._ 1. (general).—A candle. [From _tallow_.] _Cf._
BROLLY, YOLLY, &c.
2. (Stonyhurst).—The flat instrument for administering
punishment on the hand: the maximum is “twice nine.”
Sometimes called TAPS (_q.v._): _e.g._ “I’ve to get TAPS
to-night.”
TO TOLLY UP, _verb. phr._ (Harrow).—To surreptitiously light
candles after gas is out.
*Tom*, _subs._ (Oxford).—The great bell of Christ Church. [It
tolls 101 times each evening at ten minutes past nine
o’clock (there being 101 students on the foundation), and
marks the time for the closing of the College gates. “TOM”
is one of the lions of Oxford. It formerly belonged to
Oseney Abbey, and weighs about 17,000 pounds, being more
than double the weight of the great bell of St. Paul’s.]
*Tommy*, _subs._ (Dublin).—A sham shirt-front. [From the Greek
τομή, a section.]
*Tonkabout*, _subs._ (Charterhouse).—The hitting up of catches
at cricket: said to be a BODEITE (_q.v._) term.
*Toot* (or *Tout*), _verb_ (Royal High School, Edin.).—To treat
to lunch. [Recently introduced by a boy from New Zealand.
Originally shout, then tout, whence TOOT. “Shout” = to stand
treat.]
*To-pan*, _subs._ (Winchester).—_See_ quot., and BOILER.
_c._ 1840. MANSFIELD, _School-Life at Winchester_ (1866), 240.
TOE-PAN.—A large basin of red earthenware placed in each chamber for
washing the feet in.
*Top-side*, _subs._ (Harrow).—A wing at football: the opposite
one to BOTTOM-SIDE (_q.v._).
*Torch-race*, _subs._ (Winchester: obsolete).—Formerly, part of
the breaking-up ceremony of the winter half-year. On the
last morning the boys, after early chapel, rushed out of
gates, each bearing a burning birch-broom, up College Street
and along the wall of the Close up to the old White Hart
Inn, where breakfast was prepared before the chaises started
for their various destinations. This curious TORCH-RACE
subsequently gave way to a race of the seniors in sedan
chairs.
*Torpid*, _subs._ (Harrow).—A boy who has not been two years in
the school. There is a cup for the COCK-HOUSE (_q.v._) at
torpids in football.
*Torpids*, _subs._ (Oxford).—(1) The eight-oared spring races;
(2) the boats; and (3) the crews. Also TOGGER.
1853. BRADLEY, _Verdant Green_, II. xii. The Misses Green had the
satisfaction to see their brother pulling in one of the fifteen
TORPIDS that followed immediately in the wake of the other boats.
1889. _Felstedian_, Feb., p. 11. After the TORPIDS will come the
Clinker Forms—an institution hitherto unknown in Oxford.
1900. _Westminster Gazette_, 21st Feb., 8. 3. Oxford University
TORPIDS. These races were concluded to-day.
*Tosh*, _subs._ (general).—A foot-tub; a bath. Also, as _verb_ =
to throw water over a person: _e.g._ “He TOSHED his house
beak by mistake, and got three hundred.” Hence TOSH-POND
(Royal Military Academy) = the bathing-pond. [That is,
“toe-wash.”]
*Tosher*, _subs._ (Oxford).—An unattached student.
*Tosh-soap*, _subs._ (Charterhouse).—Cheese.
*T’other-school*, _subs._ (Winchester).—(1) One’s former school;
and (2) any school not a Public School. Also as _adj._ =
NON-LICET (_q.v._), or unbecoming: because more or less
alien to Winchester.
*T’other-un*, _subs._ (Charterhouse).—A private school.
*Touch.* TO TOUCH IN, _verb. phr._ (Stonyhurst).—To reach one’s
block: of a batsman when running. _See_ STONYHURST-CRICKET.
[According to the Rules, “The TOUCHING-IN line is within a
bat’s length of the CRICKET-STONE” (_q.v._).]
*Touchy*, _adv._ (Christ’s Hospital).—Rather: _e.g._ TOUCHY a
lux = rather a good thing.
*Tow*, _subs._ (Shrewsbury).—A run in: at hare and hounds.
1881. PASCOE, _Everyday Life at our Public Schools_.... After that
last “all up,” there is a TOW or continuous run of from one to three
miles.
*Town and Gown*, _sub. phr._ (University).—The townsmen _v._ the
members of the University. [In her young days the position
of the University was one of perpetual conflict—with the
town, the Jews, the Friars, and the Papal Court.]
1853. BRADLEY, _Verdant Green_, II. iii. TOWN AND GOWN disturbances
are of considerable antiquity. Fuller and Matthew Paris give accounts
of some which occurred as early as the year 1238. These disputes not
unfrequently terminated fatally to some of the combatants. One of the
most serious TOWN AND GOWN rows on record took place on the day of St.
Scholastica the Virgin, February 10, 1345, when several lives were
lost on either side. The University was at that time in the Lincoln
diocese; and Grostête, the bishop, placed the townspeople under an
interdict, from which they were not released till 1357, and then only
on condition that the mayor and sixty of the chief burgesses should on
every anniversary of the day of St. Scholastica, attend St. Mary’s
Church and offer up mass for the soul of the slain scholars, and
should also individually present an offering of one penny at the high
altar. They, moreover, paid a yearly fine of 100 marks to the
University, with the penalty of an additional fine of the same sum for
every omission in attending at St. Mary’s. This continued up to the
time of the Reformation, when it gradually fell into abeyance. In the
fifteenth year of Elizabeth, however, the University asserted their
claim to all arrears. The matter being brought to trial, it was
decided that the town should continue the annual fine and penance,
though the arrears were forgiven. The fine was yearly paid on the 10th
of February up to our own time; the mayor and chief burgesses attended
at St. Mary’s and made the offering at the conclusion of the litany,
which, on that occasion, was read from the altar. This was at length
put an end to by Convocation in the year 1825.
1899. HEYWOOD, _Guide to Oxford_. The TOWN AND GOWN rows, as occasions
for displays of physical force, lasted until quite recent times, as
readers of _Verdant Green_ and _Tom Brown at Oxford_ will know.
Nowadays, however, they are happily unknown.
*Townee* (or *Towner*), _subs._ (general).—_See_ CAD.
*Towney* (Christ’s Hospital).—_See_ HOUSEY.
1887. _The Blue_, Nov. Thus, a little farther on, mention is made of
the time when a boy leaves the School. The consequent change of dress
might be vulgarly expressed by “exchanging HOUSEYS FOR TOWNEYS,” but
our author is before all things refined. “The boy is at liberty to
exchange the garb of the house for one more congenial to modern
taste.”
*Town-lout*, _subs._ (Rugby).—A scholar residing in the town
with his parents.
*Toys*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A bureau—desk and book-case
combined. Whence TOY-TIME (or TOYS) = evening preparation
(in College) and (in Commoners) all time so spent.
1440. _Prompt. Parv._ _Teye_, of a cofyr or forcer.
1881. PASCOE, _Everyday Life in our Public Schools_. The clock
striking seven each junior retires to his TOYS or bureau for an hour
and a half, during what is known as TOYTIME, when the work of the next
morning and the week’s composition have to be prepared.
1891. WRENCH, _Winchester Word-Book_, s.v. TOYS.... The expression
TOY-TIME suggests that the “s” has been added. If TOYS has not
descended from this word [teye], it must have been transferred from
the contents of the toys, and mean simply _one’s belongings_.
*Trades*, _subs._ (Christ’s Hospital).—_See_ quot. and
PUBLIC-SUPPING.
1900. _Daily Telegraph_, 16th March, “London Day by Day.” After the
boys had concluded their simple repast of tea and bread-and-butter,
they formed up two-and-two, and bowed to the Lord Mayor, the different
wards being headed by the TRADES, as the boys who carry the
candlesticks, the bread-basket, table-cloth, and cutlery are termed.
*Travelling-scholarship* (or *Fellowship*), _subs._
(University).—RUSTICATION (_q.v._).
*Treacle-bolly*, _subs._ (Marlborough). A walk by the Kennett
close to the College. [So called from the cottage of a
miller so nick-named.]
*Tree of Knowledge, The* (Charterhouse).—The tree under which
books, &c., are piled in the interval between second school
and dinner (say 12.30 to 1.15), while run-about in winter
and cricket-nets or position drill in summer is engaged in.
*Treer*, _subs._ (Durham: obsolete).—A boy who avoids organised
games, but plays a private game with one or two friends.
[Presumably because played by the trees at the side of the
ground.]
*Trek*, _verb_ (Durham).—To run.
*Trencher*, _subs._ 1. (Winchester).—A square wooden platter: in
use in College.