3.(American cadets’.)—To study hard. [From bohn (q.v.).]

To have a bone in the leg—arm—throat, etc., phr. (common).—A humorous

reason for declining to use the member spoken of; a feigned obstacle.

1542. Nicholas Udall, Erasmus’s Apophthegmes (1877, Reprint of ed.

1562). p. 375. He refused to speake, allegeing that he had a bone

in his throte, and he could not speake.

1738. Swift, Polite Conversation (conv. iii.). Nev. Miss, come, be

kind for once, and order me a dish of coffee. Miss. Pray go

yourself; let us wear out the oldest first; besides, I can’t go,

for I have a bone in my leg.