*Trial*, _subs._ (Harrow).—An examination. Whence TRIALS = the
examinations at the end of the summer and winter terms.
*Tribune*, _subs._ (Winchester: obsolete).—A large pew in
ante-chapel: reserved for ladies.
*Tripos*, _subs._ (Cambridge).—A word dating from the sixteenth
century, and used successively in a number of different
senses. At first it was applied to the stool on which the
champion of the University sat at the disputations held at
the admission of Bachelors of Arts to their degree; then it
was transferred to the Bachelor himself; still later to the
humorous, or, in some cases, scurrilous, speech with which
“Mr. Tripos” opened the proceedings, and to the verses of
the Bachelors at the Acts. The honours-lists were printed
(about 1847-8) on the backs of these verses, and so
tripos came to mean an honour-list, and, last of all, the
examination itself. Until the year 1824 there was only one
tripos, the Mathematical; and up to 1850 only those who had
obtained honours in mathematics were admitted to the
Classical examination. The degree was not given for that
examination till a few years later.
1877. WORDSWORTH, _Scholæ Academicæ_, 20. Such interest as is now
attached to them belongs rather to the verses than to the list of the
several TRIPOSES (for the name has now at last come to signify degree
examinations) which have been circulated already severally.
1891. _Harry Fludyer at Cambridge_, 9. I’m seriously thinking of
chucking my TRIPOS and taking up the History Special.
*Trotter*, _subs._ (University).—A tailor’s assistant who goes
on round for orders.
*Truck-house*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—The Recreation
rooms.
1882. _Stonyhurst Mag._, i. 12, “Rummagings amongst our Records.”
Grammar and Great Figures on their Declamation day ... were exempted
from studies and allowed something of a collation in the TRUCK-HOUSE.
*Tub*, _subs._ 1. (University).—A boat broad in the beam, used
by novices. Hence TUBBING = boating; to GET TUBBED = to be
taught to row.
1853. BRADLEY, _Verdant Green_.... So to the river he next day went,
and made his first essay in a TUB.
1889. _Morning Advertiser._ If “up” at the University, we will
probably pass our time between “grinding hard” and TUBBING on the
river.
1898. _Stonyhurst Mag._, Dec., p. 149, “Life at Oxford.” Rowing is
naturally a great attraction to many freshmen, and every College is
always on the look-out for new oarsmen. What one does is to get
“TUBBED,” that is, one is taught to row by members of the College
eight in boats that are too TUB-like to be easily capsized.
2. (Winchester).—A chest in Hall into which DISPARS (_q.v._)
not taken by the boys were put.
_c._ 1840. MANSFIELD, _School-Life at Winchester_ (1866), 79. In front
of the screen stood “TUB,” from which the Præfect of that Ilk took his
title; it was a strong painted oak chest, with a lid, about two feet
high.... As will be seen, it was simply impossible for the Juniors to
be up to time, the consequence of which was that more than half the
dinners were not taken; these were thrown into “TUB” at the end of
Hall, whence they were ultimately taken away by some poor women, and I
always understood (though I am not certain that such was the case)
that the “Præfect of TUB” got a certain sum for each “Dispar” not
taken, and so had a direct interest in managing that as many as
possible should go without their dinner. I will now explain the
absence of the Juniors; immediately the Præfects were seated, the
whole Hall resounded with shouts of “Junior—Junior—Junior,” rising in
savageness of tone, as the supply became exhausted; in five minutes
all the Juniors were darting wildly about in all directions, executing
orders received from their lords and masters; some to Colson’s hatch
for salt, or down in the cellar for beer, back to school for something
forgotten, into chambers for a pint cup, down to the kitchen for
gravy, &c. &c.
1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, p. 23. Until the last few years
the “præfect of TUB” (whose duty it was to examine the quality of the
meat sent in by the college butcher, and after dinner to see to the
proper collection and distribution of the remains) retained his title.
*Tub-mess*, _subs._ (Winchester).—The table at which the Senior
Præfects sat in Hall.—MANSFIELD (_c._ 1840).
*Tuck*, _subs._ (general).—Edibles of all kinds, but
particularly pastry. Hence TUCK-SHOP = a pastry-cook’s.
*Tuck-parcel*, _subs._ (Charterhouse).—A hamper from home: the
word is now becoming obsolete.
1856. HUGHES, _Tom Brown’s School-days_, I. vi. Come along down to
Sally Harrowell’s; that’s our school-house TUCK-SHOP. She bakes such
shining murphies. _Ibid._ The slogger looks rather sodden, as if he
didn’t take much exercise and ate too much TUCK.
*Tug*, _subs._ (Eton).—A Colleger; a scholar on the foundation.
Whence TUGGERY = College.
1881. PASCOE, _Everyday Life in our Public Schools_.... The long
looked-for St. Andrew’s Day arrives, when the great match of
collegers, or, as the small oppidan would term it, TUGS, and oppidans
is to be played.
1883. BRINSLEY-RICHARDS, _Seven Years at Eton_.... My interlocutor was
a red-headed freckled little boy of eleven, who had come from Aberdeen
“to try for TUGGERY,” that is, to try and pass in to the foundation as
a King’s Scholar.
1890. _Great Public Schools_, 52. The Collegers did not always fare as
bravely as they do now, either at board or bed. Terrible tales of
their manner of life may be read.... Perhaps the recollections of that
time caused the disrespect, almost bordering on contempt, with which
the Oppidans used for many years to regard the _Togati_, or
gown-wearing boys. [_Note._—I suppose there is not much doubt that the
nickname of TUG by which the Collegers used to go among the rest of
the school, was derived from the _toga_ they wore.]
_Adj._ (Winchester) = stale; ordinary; vapid; common. Whence
TUGS = stale news; TUG-CLOTHES = everyday clothes; TUG-JAW =
wearisome talk.
*Tui*, _subs._ (Winchester).—Tuition.
*Tumbies*, _subs._ (University).—Ablutions.
*Tund*, _verb_ (Winchester).—To thrash. Whence TUNDING = a
thrashing. [Lat. _tundere_.]
1881. PASCOE, _Everyday Life in Our Public Schools_.... I never heard
of any case in Eton like the TUNDING which, some years ago, brought
our mother-school into disagreeable notice.
1883. TROLLOPE, _What I Remember_.... It was the prefect of hall who
ordered the infliction of a public TUNDING.... The following simple
and truthful statement of what a public TUNDING was may enable those
who take an interest in the matter to form some reasonable opinion
whether the infliction of such punishment were a good or a bad
thing.... Some dozen or so of boys, who had the best capacities for
the performance, were appointed by him for the purpose, and the whole
assembly stood around the daïs, while the hymn _Te de profundis_ was
sung. When all were thus assembled, and before the singers commenced,
the culprit who had been sentenced to a TUNDING stepped out, pulled
off his gown, and received from the hands of one deputed by the
“prefect of hall,” and armed with a tough, pliant, ground-ash stick, a
severe beating.
_c._ 1890. _Punch_ [Confession by a Wykehamist]. I like to be TUNDED
twice a day, And swished three times a week.
*Turf*, _subs._ 1. (Winchester).—The pitch: at cricket. The
field is “long grass.”