Part 18

1864. _Blackwood’s Magazine_, vol. xcv., p. 79. Underneath is the place of execution, where delinquents are BIBLED. _Ibid._, p. 72. It need hardly be said that it [the rod] is applied in the ordinary fashion: six cuts forming what is technically called a BIBLING—on which occasions the Bible-Clerk introduces the victim; four being the sum of a less terrible operation called a SCRUBBING.

1891. WRENCH, _Winchester Word-Book_, s.v. SCRUBBING.... According to T. A. Trollope, the word in use in his day was SCOURGING: this, however, he describes as of three strokes: he does not mention “bibling.” He was in College 1820-28.

*Scrutiny*, _subs._ (Winchester: obsolete).—_See_ quot.

1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, p. 62. The Oxford visitors, on their arrival, proceed at once to “Election Chamber” to hear any complaints which the boys may have to prefer. This is called the SCRUTINY, the seven senior prefects, and the seven juniors in chambers (one from each chamber), are separately questioned; but complaints are seldom made. Next morning the examination for election of scholars to New College begins—no longer in the renowned “Election Chamber” itself, but in the long “Warden Gallery,” as more convenient for the purpose; all prefects who are of standing to leave the school are examined with any other who choose.

1891. WRENCH, _Winchester Word-Book_, s.v. SCRUTINY. An examination of the seven Seniors and seven Juniors in College, on the subject of their personal comfort, &c., in College. There were two SCRUTINEES in the year; one conducted by the Warden of New College and Posers in Election Week, the other by the Wardens and Fellows of Winchester in Sealing Week.

*Scud*, _subs._ (Rugby).—A runner.

1856. HUGHES, _Tom Brown’s School-days_, v. “I say,” said East, as he got his wind, looking with much increased respect at Tom, “you ain’t a bad SCUD, not by no means. Well, I’m as warm as a toast now.”

*Scull*, _subs._ (University).—The head (or master) of a College.

1864. HOTTEN, _Slang Dict._, s.v. SCULL. The head, or master of a college: nearly obsolete; the gallery, however, in St. Mary’s (the Oxford University church), where the “Heads of Houses” sit in solemn state, is still nicknamed the “Golgotha” by the undergraduates.

*Scull-race*, _subs._ (University).—A University Examination.

*Scuttle*, _verb_ (Christ’s Hospital, Hertford).—To cry out under oppression with a view to attracting the notice of one in authority. Hence SCUTTLE-CAT = one who SCUTTLES. Obsolete.

*Second-bounce*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—A kind of handball once very popular.

*Second-bowler*, subs. (Stonyhurst).—A wicket-keeper. _See_ STONYHURST-CRICKET.

*Second-Elevens*, _subs._ (Harrow).—(1) A match, at football, for practice: between two Houses, not as a HOUSE-MATCH (_q.v._). Also (2) a match, at cricket, between any Eleven from two Houses, save CAPS (_q.v._) and those in a regular game. Also SECONDERS.

*Second-examen*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—A punishment for great carelessness in study during a term: _e.g._ I’ve got SECOND-EXAM.

*Second-guarder.* _See_ GUARDER.

*Second-peal.* _See_ PEAL.

*Semi-bejan*, _subs._ (Aberdeen).—A student in the second class.

*Semper*, _adj._ (Winchester).—Always: _e.g._ I have got SEMPER leave-out. _See_ Appendix.

_c._ 1840. MANSFIELD, _School-Life at Winchester_ (1866), 233. A very common prefix; _e.g._ a boy was said to be SEMPER Continent, Tardy, or Ex Trumps if he was often at Sick-house, or late for Chapel, or habitually went up to Books without having looked at his lessons. An official who was always present at the College meetings went by the name of SEMPER TESTIS.

*Send.* TO SEND DOWN, _verb. phr._ (University).—To expel; to rusticate. _See_ GO DOWN.

1891. _Harry Fludyer at Cambridge_, 89. Next day they were hauled and SENT DOWN.

1891. _Felstedian_, April, p. 32. They SENT him down for two terms for smashing a shop window.

TO SEND UP, _verb. phr._ (Harrow).—(1) To send up to the head-master for some offence. Also (2) of an exercise sent up to the head-master as “very good.”

*Senior.* _See_ JUNIOR.

*Senior Hall* (Shrewsbury).—_See_ quot.

1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, p. 246. The boarders reside chiefly either in the head-master’s house, or SENIOR HALL, as it is called, or in a house adjoining rented by him, and called the “Junior Hall.” The second-master also has a “Hall,” which will accommodate about twenty. But the buildings are old, in many cases badly adapted for their present use, and have either been purchased, built, or rented from time to time by the head-master as the numbers of the school required.

*Senior Part*, _subs._ (Winchester).—_See_ BOOKS.

_c._ 1840. MANSFIELD, _School-Life at Winchester_ (1866), 233. SENIOR PART, THE FIFTH—The part next below the Præfects, generally called SENIOR PART.

1900. _St. James’s Gazette_, Mar. 15, “Arnoldiana.” One day they were both invited to breakfast by the Head, in the company of a “stupid boy” from SENIOR PART.

*Senior Soph.* _See_ SOPH.

*Servant*, _subs._ (Eton).—_See_ MONTEM.

*Servitor*, _subs._ (old).—_See_ SIZER.

*Seventh-chamber*, _subs._ (Winchester).—_See_ quot.

1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, p. 23. The schoolroom was still SEVENTH-CHAMBER—_Magna illa domus_, as the founder’s directions call it—though, as some of the commoners must have been taught together with the scholars, it is difficult to understand how so many could have found room there without great confusion.

*Shack*, _subs._ (Felsted).—A share. Whence TO GO SHACK = to give a share.

*Shadow*, _subs._ (Westminster).—_See_ quot.

1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, 187. When a boy is first placed in the school he is attached to another boy in the same form something in the relation of an apprentice. The new boy is called the “SHADOW,” the other, the “Substance.” For the first week the SHADOW follows the Substance everywhere, takes his place next to him in class, accompanies him as he rises or falls, and is exempt from any responsibility for his own mistakes in or out of school. During this interval of indulgence, his patron is expected to initiate him in all the work of the school, to see that he is provided with the necessary books and other appliances, and, in short, to teach him by degrees to enter upon a substantial and responsible existence of his own.

*She*, _subs._ (Charterhouse).—A plum-pudding. _Cf._ HE.

*Sheep*, _subs._ (Aberdeen).—A second classman or undergraduate.

1865. MACDONALD, _Alec Forbes_, ii. 5. At length a certain semi (second-classman, or more popularly SHEEP) stood up to give his opinion on some subject in dispute.

*Sheepskin*, subs. (University).—The diploma received on taking a degree. [Because inscribed on parchment.] Hence a person who has taken a degree.

*Shell*, _subs._ (originally Westminster).—_See_ quot.

1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, 178. At the end of this room [the school-room] there is a kind of semicircular apse, in which the SHELL form were formerly taught, and the shape of which is said to have given rise to this name, since adopted at several other public schools.

*Shepherd*, subs. (Harrow).—Every sixth boy in CRICKET-BILL (_q.v._): he answers for the five below him being present.

*Shield* (The), _subs._ (Harrow).—The Ashburton Shield: shot for at Bisley by Public School Eights.

*Shig*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A shilling.—MANSFIELD (_c._ 1840).

*Shimmy*, _subs._ (Felsted: obsolete).—A shirt.

*Shin*, _verb_ (Eton).—To kick on the shins.

1864. _Eton School-days_, xiii. He could not go out of his tutor’s if there happened to be any one in the yard without some one throwing a stone at him, or hissing, or SHINNING him if he passed near enough.

*Ship*, _verb._ 1. (Sherborne).—To turn a boy out of bed with his mattress on top of him. _Cf._ LAUNCH.

2. (general).—To RUSTICATE (_q.v._).

*Shirk*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—An old building of some dimensions, containing a number of private rooms; erected for temporary use, but since found of too much service to be demolished.

1884. _Stonyhurst Mag._, i. 277. Gothic architecture of all descriptions, including Elizabethan, was trampled out by the Renaissance (revived Greek), of which SHIRK is a very bad specimen (where it tries to be ornamental, as in its triangular pediment and the pilasters beside the larger window).

_Verb._ 1. (Eton).—To hide when liable to be caught out of bounds. Obsolete.

2. (Winchester).—_See_ HILLS.

*Shirkster*, _subs._ (Winchester).—One who shirks.

TO SHIRK IN, _verb. phr._ (Winchester).—To walk into water when bathing.

TO SHIRK OUT, _verb. phr._ (Winchester).—To go out contrary to rules.

*Shirt-sleevie*, _subs._ (Loretto).—A dance; on winter Saturday evenings, and sometimes in the open air at the end of summer term. [The costume is rational _de rigeur_: a flannel shirt open at neck and flannel trousers—no coat or waistcoat may be worn.]

*Shootabout*, _subs._ (Charterhouse).—An irregular form of football.

*Shooter*, _subs._ (Harrow).—A black morning coat: as distinguished from the tail-coat worn by the Fifth and Sixth Forms.

*Shorts*, _subs._ (general).—Flannel trousers; CUTS (_q.v._).

*Shot*, _intj._ (Royal High School, Edin.).—A cry of warning at the approach of a master.

OUT BY SHOT, _phr._ (Stonyhurst).—At football when the ball before going out hits one of the opposite side to the one who last kicked. _See_ FORCE.

*Shuffle*, _verb_ (Winchester).—To pretend; to feign: as “to SHUFFLE asleep.” Hence SHUFFLER.

*Shy*, _subs._ (Eton).—A point at the WALL (_q.v._) game.

*Siberia*, _subs._ (Felsted).—A section of the house containing many private rooms. [From its supposed temperature in winter.]

1889. _Felstedian_, July, 65. There lieth here a district which hath the name SIBERIA: and also its people are called not Siberians, but SIBERIA.

*Sick-house*, _subs._ (Winchester).—The College sanatorium, which stands in SICK-HOUSE MEADS. _See_ also BOX-HOUSE and BOX-BUILDINGS.

*Silver-fork*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A wooden skewer used as a chop-stick when forks were scarce.—MANSFIELD (_c._ 1840).

*Silver-pence*, _subs._ (Westminster).—Small money rewards—which were the pride of Westminsters in Cowper’s day—are still continued. The coins are furnished to the school by the Queen’s almoner in their unmilled state, prior to their issue as currency. Some are given by the head-master every week, and are valued quite as much as more substantial prizes. Silver money is also furnished by the college steward to the guests at the Elections dinners, that they may be prepared to reward the epigrams; but this is the ordinary coin of the realm.

*Sim*, _subs._ (Cambridge).—A Simeonite, or member of the Evangelical section of the Church of England. The modern equivalent is PI-MAN (_q.v._). [From the Rev. CHARLES SIMEON (1759-1836), fifty-four years Vicar of Holy Trinity, Cambridge.]

1826. TODD, _The Sizar’s Table_ [WHIBLEY, _Cap and Gown_, 109]. Some carnally given to women and wine, Some apostles of Simeon, all pure and divine.

1853. BRISTED, _Eng. Univ._, 39. While passing for a terribly hard reading-man, and a SIM of the straightest kind with the empty bottles.

*Simon*, _subs._ (King Edward’s, Birm.: obsolete).—A cane. [Acts ix. 43.]

*Sines*, _subs._ (Winchester).—Bread. A SINES = a small loaf.

*Single*, _subs._ (Harrow).—A room for exclusive use: thus DOUBLE (_q.v._).

*Sink*, _subs._ (The Leys).—(1) A heavy feed; a “stodge.” Also (2) one who indulges therein; a glutton.

*Sitter*, _subs._ (Oxford and Harrow).—A sitting-room.

*Six*, subs. (Oxford).—A W.C.

*Six-and-Six*, _subs._ (Winchester).—Football: six a side. _Cf._ TWENTY-TWO AND TWENTY-TWO. _See_ Appendix.

*Sixes*, _subs._ (The Leys).—Football teams for competition—six a side. _See_ KID, and Appendix.

*Six of* ..., _phr._ (Harrow).—An order to the value of sixpence. Thus SIX OF SAUSAGES WITH (archaic) = sixpennyworth of sausages with potatoes.

*Sixpenny*, _subs._ (Eton).—A large field for football and cricket. _See_ PLAYING-FIELDS.

1864. _Eton School-days_, vi. I tell you plainly, if you are not in SIXPENNY after twelve, I will do my best to give you a hiding wherever I meet you.

*Six-raps*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst: recently obsolete).—A game consisting chiefly in rapping balls across the playground to be caught by others.

1887. _Stonyhurst Mag._, iii. 18, “Stonyhurst in the Fifties.” SIX RAPS, it may be remarked, was in those days played with a miniature Stonyhurst-cricket (_q.v._) ball.

*Size*, _subs._ (Cambridge).—An allowance of bread, &c., for a particular price; but _see_ quots. Whence SIZINGS.

1592. NASHE, _Pierce Penilesse_ [_Works_, ii. 68]. The Maister Butler of Pembrooke Hall, a farre better Scholler than thy selfe, (in my iudgement) and one that sheweth more discretion and gouernment in setting vp a SISE of Bread, than thou in all thy whole booke.

1605. SHAKSPEARE, _Lear_, ii. 4. To bandy hasty words, to scant my SIZES.

1614. BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER, _Wit at Several Weapons_, ii. To be so strict A niggard to your commons, that you’re fain TO SIZE your belly out with shoulder fees, With kidnies, rumps, &c.

1620. MINSHEU, _Dict._, s.v. SIZE. A farthing which schollers in Cambridge have at the buttery, noted with the letter S.

1632. SHIRLEY, _Witty Fair One_, iv. 2. College! I have had a head in most of the butteries of Cambridge, and it has been sconced to purpose. I know what belongs to SIZING, and have answered to my cue in my days.

1656. *BLOUNT*, _Glossographia_, ... SIZE.—A farthing’s worth of bread or drink which scholars at Cambridge had at the buttery.

1773. HAWKINS, _Origin of the Drama_, iii. 271. You are still at Cambridge with your SIZE cue.

1795. _Gent. Mag._, p. 21. In general, a SIZE is a small plateful of any eatable; and at dinner, TO SIZE is to order for yourself any little luxury that may chance to tempt you, in addition to the general fare, for which you are expected to pay the cook at the end of the term.

1823. NARES, _Glossary_, s.v. SIZE. To feed with SIZES, or small scraps.

1853. BRISTED, _Five Years_, 20. Go through a regular second course instead of the SIZINGS.

1864. HOTTEN, _Slang Dict._, s.v.

_Verb_ (Cambridge).—To order extras over and above the usual commons at the dinner in College hall. Soup, pastry, &c., are SIZINGS, and are paid for at a certain specified rate per SIZE, or portion, to the college cook. Whence, to pay one’s share of the expense: as at a supper-party. SIZING-PARTY = a number of students who contribute each his own part towards a supper, &c.

1785. GROSE, _Vulg. Tongue_, s.v. SIZE ... If a man asks you to sup he treats you: if TO SIZE, you pay for what you eat, liquors only being provided by the inviter.

1853. BRISTED, _Eng. Univ._, 19. Soup, pastry, and cheese can be SIZED FOR.

*Sizer* (or SIZAR), _subs._ (Cambridge).—A poor scholar. They were elected annually; paid rent for rooms and other fees on a lower scale than ordinary students; and got their dinners including sizings _(see_ SIZE, _subs._ and _verb_) from what was left at the Upper or Fellows’ table, free, or nearly so. They were equivalent to the BATTLERS (_q.v._) or SERVITORS (_q.v._) of Oxford.

1574. [R. W. CHURCH, _Spenser_ (1888), ch. i. p. 9.] On the 20th of May, he was admitted SIZAR, or serving clerk at Pembroke Hall.

1670. J. EACHARD, _Contempt of the Clergy_ [ARBER’S _Garner_, vol. vii. p. 257]. They took therefore, heretofore, a very good method to prevent SIZARS overheating their brains. Bed-making, chamber-sweeping, and water-fetching were doubtless great preservatives against too much vain philosophy.

1779. JOHNSON, _Life of Milton_, Par. 7. He was ... removed in the beginning of his sixteenth year to Christ’s College in Cambridge, where he entered a SIZAR, Feb. 12, 1624.

1820. LAMB, _Elia_ (_Oxford in the Long Vacation_). In moods of humility I can be a SIZAR, or a Servitor. When the peacock vein rises, I strut a Gentleman Commoner.

1840. LYTTON, _Money_, ii. 3. I was put to school—sent to college, a SIZAR. Do you know what a SIZAR is? In pride he is a gentleman—in knowledge he is a scholar—and he crawls about, amidst gentlemen and scholars, with the livery of a pauper on his back!

1847. HALLIWELL, _Archaic Words_, s.v. SIZER.... A student at Cambridge whose expenses for living are partially provided by the College, originally a servitor, as serving one of the Fellows. Each Fellow of a College had one servitor allotted to him.

1857. MONCRIEFF, _Bashful Man_, ii. 4. _Collegian._ Who’s that fat gentleman that’s just got in? _Coachman._ That fat gentleman’s a SIZER from Corpus.

*Skew*, _subs._ (Harrow).—An entrance examination held on the last Thursday of term. _See_ DAB, and Appendix.

*Ski* (or SCI), subs. (Westminster).—A plebeian; an outsider: specifically the outer rabble of invaders of the territory of Dean’s yard, belonging of right to the _gens togata_ as Romans. [Said to be an abbreviation of VOLSCI.]

*Skimmer*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A method of entering the water when bathing: by just skimming beneath the surface, and rising again immediately.—MANSFIELD (_c._ 1840).

*Skimmery*, _subs._ (Oxford).—St. Mary’s Hall.

1853. BRADLEY, _Verdant Green_, viii. I swopped the beggar to a SKIMMERY man for regular slap-up sets of the ballet.

1860. G. and P. WHARTON, _Wits and Beaux of Society_, p. 427. After leaving Westminster School he was sent to immortal SKIMMERY (St. Mary’s Hall), Oxford.

*Skip*, _subs._ (Dublin).—A College servant: valet, messenger, and waiter combined: the Oxford SCOUT (_q.v._), and at Cambridge a GYP (_q.v._). Formerly (in general use) = a footman.

1703. WARD, _London Spy_, Pt. VII. p. 151. As a Courtier’s Footman when he meets his Brother SKIP in the middle of _Covent-garden_.

1754. MARTIN, _Eng. Dict._, s.v. SKIP.... A nickname for a footman.

1839. LEVER, _Harry Lorrequer_, ch. xiii. For the uninitiated I have only to add that SKIP is the Trinity College [Dublin] appellation for servant.

1842. _Tait’s Mag._, Oct., “Rem. College Life.” The SKIP, or according to the Oxford etymology, the man-vulture, is not fit for his calling who cannot time his business so as to be present simultaneously at several places.

1849. THACKERAY, _Pendennis_, ch. xx. His wounded tutor, his many duns, the SKIP and bedmaker who waited upon him.

*Skirmish.* TO SKIRMISH ON, _verb. phr._ (Winchester).—To run home from HILLS (_q.v._) when it commenced to rain.

*Skug* (or *Scug*), _subs._ (Eton).—_See_ Appendix.

1889. DRAGE, _Cyril_, vii. Such a little SKUG, to use a word in use at my tutor’s.

*Skull.* _See_ SCULL.

*Sky*, _verb_ (Harrow).—(1) To charge any one, or to knock down: at football. Also (2) = to hit or throw anything away.

*Skyte*, _subs._ (Shrewsbury).—A day boy. [Σχυθαι]

*Slabs*, _subs._ (Durham: obsolete).—A flat cake.

*Slack*, _verb_ (Durham).—To sell: specifically, to dispose of property to a dealer in second-hand goods. [From the name of a second-hand bookseller in Durham.]

*Slave-driver*, _subs._ (Harrow).—A fag-master: exclusively at cricket.

1890. _Great Public Schools_, p. 95. The upper ground on these days is given up to practice at the nets for the Eleven and the “Sixth Form” game, and to practice in fielding and catching. Boys below the Removes have to fag for them, and these fags are managed by SLAVE-DRIVERS (three or four boys appointed for the purpose).

*Sleath’s.* _See_ PLANKS.

*Slime*, _verb_ (Durham).—To try and cut games. Also = to loaf; to lounge: _e.g._ SLIMING down town. _See_ App.

*Slog*, _subs._ (general).—A large slice.

_Verb_ (Stonyhurst).—At hockey to hit at the ball when the right hand is less than a foot below the left on the stick.

*Sloggers*, _subs._ (Cambridge).—The second division of boats; corresponding to the Oxford TORPIDS (_q.v._).

*Slosher*, _subs._ (Cheltenham).—An assistant in a boarding-house charged with superintending dormitories, evening work, &c.

*Slow*, _adv._ (Winchester).—Ignorant of Winchester NOTIONS (_q.v._).

*Slum*, _verb_ (Derby).—To evade; to get out of anything, as work. Also (University), to avoid observation by using by-streets.

*Small*, _adj._ (Harrow).—1. Under sixteen years of age: eligible to go in for SMALL events in the sports. _See_ BIG.

2. Applied to boarding-houses kept by some of the assistant masters, and strictly limited to seven or eight boys: a comparatively modern arrangement, having been instituted _circa_ 1850.

*Small-pill*, _subs._ (The Leys).—A diminutive football; used on “runs.”

*Smalls*, _subs._ (Oxford).—The first examination.

1853. *Bradley*, _Verdant Green_, II. xi. The little gentleman was going in for his Degree, _alias_ Great-go, _alias_ Greats; and our hero for his first examination _in literis humanioribus_, _alias_ Responsions, _alias_ Little-go, _alias_ SMALLS.

1863. READE, _Hard Cash._... Cramming for SMALLS.... Julia reminded her that SMALLS was the new word for LITTLE-GO.

*Smoke.* _See_ COBBLER.

*Smoker* (or *Smoke-shell*), _subs._ (Royal Military Academy).—A chamber-mug.

*Smug*, _subs._ (general).—An ill-mannered, ill-dressed, or unpopular student. Also as _verb_ = to keep indoors hard at work; whence also (as _subs._) a hard worker.

*Smuggler*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A small lead-pencil pointed at both ends.

*Snack*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A racket ball: formerly a bat-fives ball. [SNACK-BALLS (Glouc.) = balls made of SNACK (a dried fungus), which are very elastic and bounce well.]

*Snap-up*, _verb_ (Winchester).—_See_ quot.

_c._ 1840. MANSFIELD, _School-Life at Winchester_ (1866), 234. SNAPPING UP for false quantities.—When up at Books, if any boy, when translating, made a false quantity, any other boy (however low down in the Part) who could first correct him was allowed to go up above him. If, however, the SNAPPER-UP was himself wrong, he had to go to the bottom of the Part.

*Snicks.* TO GO SNICKS, _verb. phr._ (Winchester).—To share.

*Snitch*, _subs._ (Christ’s Hospital).—A term of contempt.

_Verb_ (Derby).—To hit in the eye.

*Sniw.* TO OFFER SNIW, _verb. phr._ (The Leys).—To cheek. [SNIW = Snow.]

*Snob*, _subs._ 1. (University).—A townsman.

2. (Marlborough).—Small cricket: as two together, or at tip and run.

*Snoke*, _subs._ (Durham: obsolete).—(1) An underhand person: _e.g._ “He is a great SNOKE”; (2) an untoward circumstance: _e.g._ “It was a great SNOKE, we lost the match.”

_Verb._ To inform: of an offence. Not necessarily “to sneak,” because it could be used of a master reporting to the Head-master.

1847. HALLIWELL, _Archaic Words_, s.v. SNOKE. To ferret out; to pry into. _North._ SNOKE-HORNE, _Townley Myst._, p. 68, a sneaking fellow.

*Snook*, _verb_ (Shrewsbury).—(1) To do the whole of an examination proper. Whence (2) to beat in argument or repartee.

*Snooker*, _subs._ (Royal Military Academy).—A newly-joined cadet of the fourth class.

*Soap*, _subs._ (Royal Military Academy).—Cheese.

*Socius*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A chum; a companion.

_Verb_ (Winchester).—To accompany. [The School precept is _Sociati omnes incedunto_.]