1887. _Stonyhurst Mag._, iii. 90. Stonyhurst boys of all past times
since the coming of the original “TWELVE APOSTLES” ... will have
noticed once a year, about Eastertide, a curious notice ... giving
warning of an approaching meeting of the Court Leet.
*Twenty* (The), _subs._ (Rugby).—The Sixth Form.
*Twenty-two and Twenty-two*, _subs. phr._ (Winchester:
obsolete).—Football: twenty-two a side.
*Twig* (The), _subs._ (Marlborough: obsolete).—The Head-master.
[In whose authority rested the use of the birch.]
*Twilight*, _subs._ (general).—Toilet.
*Twist* (or *Twoster*), _subs._ (Winchester).—A stick spirally
marked by a creeper having grown round it.
*Ulula*, _subs._ (Manchester Grammar).—The school magazine. [The
Owl is the school crest, as it was that of the founder, Hugh
Oldham, Bishop of Exeter.]
*Under Fire* (Westminster).—_See_ UPPER FIRE.
*Under-green* (Charterhouse).—Formerly the present big or match
football ground: now the Under’s cricket-ground.
*Under School* (Harrow).—_See_ UPPER SCHOOL.
*Under Selectæ* (Harrow).—_See_ UPPER SCHOOL.
*Union*, _subs._ (University).—An undergrad’s debating society.
1891. _Harry Fludyer at Cambridge_, 15. I think I shall speak at the
UNION soon.... I tried on Tuesday last, but I couldn’t catch the
President’s eye.
*Univ*, _subs._ (Oxford).—University College.
*Up*, _adv._ (Harrow).—In school. TO BE UP TO ANY ONE AT SECOND
SCHOOL = to go to any one for work at 10 or 11 o’clock.
*Upper Club* (Eton).—_See_ PLAYING-FIELDS.
*Upper (Middle, or Under) Fire*, _subs._ (Westminster).—The
three fire-places, under former arrangements, in the present
dormitory.
*Upper School*, _subs._ (Harrow).—In 1770 (the first year of the
printed BILLS (_q.v._) of the school) the school comprised
the monitors—their numbers varied from four to ten—the Fifth
Form, the Shell, and the Fourth and Third Forms: these
ranked as the UPPER SCHOOL. The UNDER SCHOOL was divided in
a very peculiar fashion; there was first the “Scan and
Prove” class, then the “Ovid,” the “Phædrus,” the “Upper
Selectæ,” “Under Selectæ,” “Nomenclature,” “Grammar,” and
“Accidence.”... At present there are, besides the monitors
(fifteen in number), an Upper and Lower Sixth, three
separate divisions of the Fifth, two “Removes,” three
“Shells,” and three Fourths. On the Modern Side are one
Sixth, three Fifths, one “Remove,” three Shells, and three
Fourths.
*Upper Selectæ* (Harrow).—_See_ UPPER SCHOOL.
*Upper Sixpenny* (Eton).—_See_ PLAYING-FIELDS.
*Uskites* (Charterhouse).—_See_ OUT-HOUSES.
*Vac*, _subs._ (University).—Vacation.
1891. _Harry Fludyer at Cambridge_, 2. I can’t make out why the Pater
is always so crusty about Rover. He told me every day last VAC he
wouldn’t have his house over-run with dogs.
*Valet*, subs. (Winchester).—Every Præfect had a Junior in
Chambers who acted in this capacity, made his tea or coffee,
carried his things through from Chambers to School and back
again, and looked after him in general.—MANSFIELD (_c._
1840).
*Varmint*, _adj._ (old University).—Good; spruce.
*Varmint-man*, _subs._ (Cambridge: obsolete). _See_ quots.
1803. _Gradus ad Cantab._ A VARMINT-MAN spurns a scholarship, would
consider it a degradation to be a Fellow.
1827. _Alma Mater...._ The handsome man, my friend and pupil, was
naturally enough a bit of a swell, or VARMINT-MAN.
*’Varsity*, _subs._ (Oxford and Cambridge).—The accepted
corruption of University.
*’Varsity-tit* (or *Tit*), subs. (Durham).—A student of Durham
University: in contempt.
*Varying*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A VULGUS (_q.v._) done UP TO
BOOKS (_q.v._).
*Vaseline*, _subs._ (Royal Military Academy).—Butter.
*Vaughan, The* (Harrow).—The school library: named after Dr.
Vaughan.
*Verites* (Charterhouse).—A boarding-house. [A corruption of
Oliverites, after Dr. Oliver Walford, 1838-55.]
*Vessel*, subs. (Winchester).—The eighth of a sheet of
LONG-PAPER (_q.v._).—[HALLIWELL.] Ital. _vassiola_.
*Vex*, _adv._ (Christ’s Hospital).—“So much the worse for”:
_e.g._ “VEX FOR YOU.” _Cf._ CHAFF.
*Vic*, _intj._ (Felsted).—An exclamation giving warning of a
master’s approach; the equivalent of _cave_, which is not
used at Felsted. Also TO KEEP VIC.
*Vice* (The), _subs._ (University).—The Vice-Chancellor.
*Vile-child*, _subs._ (Eton).—_See_ quot., and Appendix.
1866-72. _Sketchy Memories of Eton...._ Being called a VILE-CHILD, the
which I subsequently learnt was a very frequent term of mild reproach,
and had no particular reference to the age of the individual to whom
it was addressed. As a proof of this I may add that, being at Eton for
the Winchester Match in 1883, I (_moi-qui-vous-parle_, height 6 feet 2
inches, and weight 14 stone 7 lbs.) was called a VILE-CHILD for being
on a committee to oppose a certain obnoxious Indian Bill! I wasn’t
sorry when tea was over, although many most pleasant evenings did I
afterwards spend in that room.
*Vocab*, _subs._ (Charterhouse).—A vocabulary.
*Vol*, _adj._ (Harrow).—Voluntary: _e.g._ VOL-GYM.
*Voluntary*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A copy of verses written
occasionally by some of the boys in Sixth Book and Senior
Part _ex proprio motu_.—MANSFIELD (_c._ 1840).
*Vulgus*, _subs._ (Winchester: obsolete).—A Latin epigram: four
or six lines long. Hence VULGUS-BOOK = a CRIB (_q.v._).
1883. TROLLOPE, _What I Remember_.... The mention of a VULGUS requires
some explanation. Every inferior, _i.e._ non-prefect, in the school
was required every night to produce a copy of verses of from two to
six lines on a given theme—four or six lines for the upper classes,
two for the lowest. This was independent of a weekly verse task of
greater length, and was called a VULGUS, I suppose, because
everybody—the VULGUS—had to do it.
1856. HUGHES, _Tom Brown’s School-days_, II. iii. The VULGUS (commonly
supposed to have been established by William of Wykeham at Winchester,
and imported to Rugby by Arnold more for the sake of the lines which
were learnt by heart with it than for its own intrinsic value, as I’ve
always understood), ... is a short exercise in Greek or Latin verse,
on a given subject, the minimum number of lines being fixed for each
form.... At Rugby VULGUS and lines were the first lesson every other
day in the week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays; and ... it is
obvious ... that the master of each Form had to set one hundred and
fourteen subjects every year.... Now, human nature being prone to
repeat itself, it will not be wondered that the masters gave the same
subjects sometimes over again after a certain lapse of time. To meet
and rebuke this bad habit of the masters, the school-boy mind, with
its accustomed ingenuity, had invented an elaborate system of
tradition. Almost every boy kept his own VULGUS written out in a book
... duly handed down from boy to boy, till ... popular boys, in whose
hands bequeathed VULGUS-BOOKS have accumulated, are prepared with
three or four VULGUSES on any subject in heaven or earth, or in “more
worlds than one,” which an unfortunate master can pitch upon.... The
only objection to the traditionary method of doing your VULGUSES was,
the risk that the successions might have become confused, and so that
you and another follower of traditions should show up the same
identical VULGUS some fine morning; in which case, when it happened,
considerable grief was the result.
*Waffle*, _verb_ (Durham).—To talk nonsense. [North dial.
_waffle_ = to wave, to fluctuate; _waffler_ (Camb.) = a
person who is very weak; _waffy_ (Linc.) = insipid.]
*Walking-days*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—Several days
allowed to a new boy during which he was initiated into the
ways of the house by an old boy.
*Wall*, _subs._ (Eton).—_See_ quot.
1890. _Great Public Schools_, 26. There are, as is well known, two
[football] games played at Eton—one at the WALL, the other in the
FIELD. The first is only played by a very limited number of boys, for
there is but one WALL; the game is of a mysterious and intricate
nature, and the uninitiated spectator cannot as a rule even see how a
point (called a SHY) is obtained. Indeed were it not for the
time-honoured match between Collegers and Oppidans on St. Andrew’s
Day, the game would probably become obsolete.... The Eton FIELD game
has, in the opinion of the writer [the Rev. Sydney R. James], merits,
as a game for boys, superior to those of any other kind of football.
In it speed and skilful dribbling and accurate kicking have their due
success, but strength and dogged perseverance and pluck are not left
out in the cold.
_Verb_ (Oxford).—To confine to College.
*Wallyford*, _subs._ (Loretto).—The usual run on a wet whole
school-day: about 3-1/2 miles. _See_ LONG WALLYFORD.
*Wanker*, _subs._ (Felsted).—A bloater. [From
“stinker”—“stwanker”—“wanker.”]
1892. _Felstedian_, Oct., 105. My name it is “WANKER”; a leaner or
lanker, Salter or ranker, fish never swam. _Ibid._, June 1897, p. 100.
He sniffs. “’Eugh, WANKERS again.”
*Warden*, subs. (Winchester).—See quot.
_c._ 1840. MANSFIELD, _School-Life at Winchester_ (1866), 27. The
chief of the whole establishment is the WARDEN, who has nothing to do
with the teaching of the boys; he admits and when necessary expels
them, confers on them the dignity of “Præfect,” listens to their
complaints, and, in fact, in all matters appertaining to the
management of the school and the society is omnipotent.
*Wash*, _subs._ (Derby).—School tea or coffee. _See_ ROCK.
*Washing-drawer*, _subs._ (Winchester).—In College, a box to
hold toilet requisites.
*Washing-stool*, _subs._ (Winchester).—In College, a Præfect’s
table.
1881. _Felstedian_, Nov., p. 74, “A Day’s Fagging at Winchester.” I
remember that the Senior Præfect is going to get up to mug early
before chapel, and I have to call him and take his WASHING-STOOL (a
rough wooden table generally used for putting washing basins on,
which, when covered with a cloth, serves as a writing-table) out into
Chamber Court.... Here let me observe that only the præfects have
separate basins to wash in; the juniors use the two stone conduits.
*Watch*, _subs._ (Westminster).—A junior who has to remain in
College during play-hours to answer inquiries, receive
messages, and so forth, performing, in fact, the duties of a
servant.
*Watch.* TO WATCH OUT, _verb. phr._ (Winchester).—To field: at
cricket.
*Water*, _subs._ (Westminster).—Boating.
1881. PASCOE, _Everyday Life in Our Public Schools_. Boating, or
WATER, as it is called at Westminster, is in a very flourishing
condition.
*Weekites* (Charterhouse).—_See_ OUT-HOUSES.
*Westminster Customs.* _See_ CAP; CHALLENGE; EARLY; PLAY; MONOS;
PANCAKE; SHADOW; SILVER-PENCE and WESTMINSTER PLAY. Besides
these are others worthy of mention:—
1. THE COLLEGE WAISTCOAT.—A remarkable and original service
was, up to the date of the Public Schools Commission,
exacted of a Westminster junior. He was supposed to be a
treasury of small conveniences for his seniors’ use in and
out of school. He wore a college waistcoat of peculiar
pattern, in the pockets of which he had to carry about and
produce immediately on legal demand—the items are recorded
in the published evidence—two penknives, two pieces of
india-rubber, two pencils, two pieces of sealing-wax, two
pieces of pen-string, two dips (_q.v._), two dip-corks, two
wedges, two pieces of gutta-percha (for putting on the
points of foils), and any number of pens. Besides, he had to
carry a portfolio containing a sufficiency of “quarterns” of
paper.
2. LATIN FORMULÆ.—Quaint old Latin formulæ continued in use
at Westminster, unchanged since its earliest foundation.
While the school is at morning lesson, the _monitor ostii_
(_see_ MONOS) watches the clock, and at half-past eleven
comes to the monitor of school and announces the time. The
monitor goes to the head-master’s desk, makes his bow, and
says, “_Sesqui est undecima_.” At a quarter to twelve he
makes the further announcement, “_Instat duodecima_.”
When twelve o’clock has struck he says again, “_Sonuit
duodecima_;” at a quarter-past twelve, “_Prima quarta acta
est_;” at half-past, “_Sesqui est duodecima_,” at which
welcome words books are shut, and the whole school is
dismissed. The same formalities, with the necessary
variations, are repeated during afternoon lessons. Before
dinner the Captain calls out two boys of the Second
Election, one to say grace—“_Age gratias_”—and the other to
repeat the proper responses—“_Agite responsa_;” and when
dinner is over, before grace again, he pays even the
juniors the compliment of asking whether they have had
enough—“_Satisne edistis et bibistis?_” to which the
compulsory answer is made—in old times too often by hungry
lips—“_Satis edimus et bibimus_.” Every night at ten o’clock
the monitor of chamber gives the order for the juniors to
put out the lights and go to bed—“_Extinctis lucernis
intrate lectos_.” It is only within the last generation or
two that the rule of speaking Latin exclusively, both by
boys and masters, during school hours has fallen into
abeyance.
*Westminster Play.*—A Latin comedy, presented annually in the
dormitory of St. Peter’s College, a custom dating from Queen
Elizabeth’s days. The performances take place just before
the Christmas holidays, the play being repeated three times.
The cast is strictly confined to the forty scholars on the
foundation. At the close of last presentation a CAP (_q.v._)
is collected, the surplus of which, after paying expenses,
is divided among the performers.
*Wet-bob*, _subs._ (Eton).—A rowing man. _See_ DRY-BOB.
1839. C. T. BUCKLAND, _Eton Fifty Years Ago_ [1889, _Macmillan’s_,
Nov.]. It was the ambition of most boys to be a WET-BOB, and to be “in
the boats.” The school was divided between WET-BOBS and dry-bobs, the
former taking their pleasure on the river, and the latter in the
cricket-field.
*Whale*, _subs._ 1. (Cheltenham).—Codfish.