Part 19
*Sock*, _subs._ 1. (Eton).—Edibles of any kind. Hence TO SOCK = to eat outside regular meals: _e.g._ “We SOCKED Lyndsay minor three times last week,” _i.e._ we gave him something to eat outside his regular meals three times last week. Whence SOCK = to give.
1881. PASCOE, _Everyday Life in our Public Schools_.... The consumption of SOCK, too, in school was considerable, and on occasion very conspicuous.
1883. BRINSLEY-RICHARDS, _Seven Years at Eton_.... We Eton fellows, great and small, SOCKED prodigiously. By the way, I do not know whence that term SOCK, as applied to what boys at some schools call “grub,” and others “tick,” is derived; for I question the theory which makes it spring from “suck.” I am rather disposed to accept the story that at the beginning of this century, one of the men, who sold fruits and tarts at the wall, got nicknamed SOCKS, in consequence of his having discarded knee-breeches and stockings in favour of pants and short hose. The man’s nickname might then have spread to his business and to his wares by a process familiar to etymologists, till SOCKING came to mean the purchase of good things not from SOCKS only, but from any other vendor.
1889. BUCKLAND, _Eton Fifty Years Ago_ [_Macmillan’s Mag._, Nov.]. “My governor has SOCKED me a book.”... A boy has also been heard to ask another to SOCK him a construe of his lesson.
2. (Winchester).—To hit hard: especially at cricket. Also to beat; to defeat: as in a game.
*Socker*, _subs._ (general).—Association football. _Cf._ RUGGER. Also SOCCER.
1896. _Tonbridgian_, 339, 1124. Hartley has been playing very well this season, and has also become a great half-back at SOCKER.
1897. _Felstedian_, Nov., p. 194. In _SOCCER_, with old Blues up, we ought to be very strong.
*Sodality*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—Higher Line SODALITY and Lower Line SODALITY = two confraternities of which boys are members; they meet at fixed times for devotions. A member is called a SODALIST.
*Sodger* (or *Sojer*), _subs._ (Winchester).—The Latin cross (a PERCHER, _q.v._) marked against a Præfect’s name when absent.
1880. _Music of a Merry Heart_, 55. The books went up, and in due time were returned to us after examination, with the most startling faults indicated by a good big cross in the margin, which crosses, for some reason, were known as SODGERS.
*Sodom*, _subs._ (Oxford).—Wadham College.
*Soft-ball*, _subs._ (Royal Military Academy).—Tennis.
*Sog*, _subs._ (Charterhouse and Winchester).—Twenty shillings; a sovereign.
*Solo*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A solitary walk—without a SOCIUS (_q.v._).
*Soph*, _subs._ (Cambridge).—A student of the second or third year; the distinctions are: A first year man = FRESHMAN (_q.v._); second year = Junior SOPH; third year = Senior SOPH.
1870. GOODRICH [WEBSTER, _Unabridged_, s.v. SOPHOMOSE]. This word has generally been considered an American barbarism, but it was probably introduced into our country at a very early period from the University of Cambridge, England. Among the cant terms at that University, as given in the “_Gradus ad Cantabrigiam_,” we find SOPH-MOR as the next distinctive appellation to Freshman. It is added that a writer in the _Gentleman’s Magazine_ thinks Mor an abbreviation of the Greek μωρία, introduced at a time when the “Encomium Moriæ,” the “Praise of Folly,” by Erasmus, was so generally used. The ordinary derivation of the word, from σοφός and μωρός would seem, therefore, to be incorrect. The young SOPHS at Cambridge appear formerly to have received the adjunct mor, μωρός, to their names, either as one they courted for the reason mentioned above, or as one given them in sport for the supposed exhibition of inflated feeling in entering upon their new honours. The term thus implied seems to have passed at a very early period from Cambridge in England to Cambridge in America, as the next distinctive appellation to Freshmen, and thus to have been attached to the second of the four classes in our American colleges, while it has now almost ceased to be known, even as a cant word, at the parent institution in England from whence it came.
*Sorry*, _intj._ (Winchester).—“I beg your pardon.” [Not now confined to Winchester.—WRENCH.]
*Soup-ticket*, _subs._ (King Edward’s, Birm.).—A card issued to a boy set down for Saturday afternoon detention: a DETÉN (_q.v._).
*Spadge*, _subs._ (Christ’s Hospital).—An affected walk. Also as _verb._ Formerly merely “to walk.” [_Cf._ Lat. _spatiari_; Ger. _spatzieren_.]
*Spange*, _adj._ (Royal Military Academy).—New; elegant; smart: _e.g._ “to look SPANGE,” “a SPANGE uniform.”
*Sparrow’s-hall*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—The old infirmary. [The head-bailiff was one Sparrow, and here the servants received their wages from him.]
*Spec*, _subs._ (Winchester).—Something enjoyable or pleasant; a good thing. ON SPEC = in consequence.
1891. WRENCH, _Winchester Word-Book_, s.v. SPEC.... What a SPEC! My pitch-up have turned up, and I’ve got leave-out ON SPEC.
*Speecher*, _subs._ (Harrow).—The speech-day: usually the first Thursday in July, when prizes are given. Greek, German, or French plays are acted, and there is also an afternoon concert. THE SPEECHER = the Speech-room, built in 1871.
*Speedyman*, _subs._ (Winchester: obsolete).—The messenger who brought the news of a vacancy at New College, Oxford. Whence SPED TO NEW COLLEGE = elected to a scholarship.
*Speg*, _adj._ (Winchester: obsolete).—Smart.
*Spending-house*, _subs._ (Rugby).—A pastry-cook’s: the custom, until Dr. Arnold abolished it, had been for the boys to take their morning and evening buttery commons of bread and cold milk to one of these establishments, and with “extras,” such as tea, coffee, butter, &c., to obtain a more decent meal than was otherwise possible.
1890. _Great Public Schools_, p. 150. Every boy had a SPENDING-HOUSE, as it was called, at one of the confectioners’ in High Street, where he left his books, bat, fishing-rod, &c.—to save a journey to his boarding-house—and spent his spare cash. It was in the back-yards of these houses that dogs and guns were kept.
*Spess*, _subs._ (Felsted).—A specimen: a term of contempt.
1889. _Felstedian_, July, 66. Others ... calling out ... frightful SPESSES, which word is in our language “specimens”; but as this is too long for their memories, they have shortened it.
*Spin*, _verb_ (Royal Military Academy).—To reject: as to an examination; to pluck; to plough.
*Spink*, _subs._ (Royal Military Academy).—Milk: specifically, condensed milk.
*Spinning-house*, _subs._ (University).—The prison of the Vice-Chancellor’s court.
*Spital Sermons* (Christ’s Hospital).—Once the chief feature of the Easter festivities of this ancient foundation. _See_ Appendix.
1834. TROLLOPE, _History of Christ’s Hospital_ [condensed and annotated by the editor of _The Blue_]. All Easter festivities connected with the School seem to be concentrated in the SPITAL SERMONS. The great antiquity of those discourses may be judged from the fact, that at the Easter following the foundation and opening of the School [1552], its members were present at St. Mary Spital. At this their first appearance at the Spital the boys appeared in that costume which, with the exception of the hats, still distinguishes them. A custom had long prevailed, according to which some learned person was appointed yearly by the Bishop of London to preach at Paul’s Cross on Good Friday on the Passion; and on the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday following, three others were appointed in like manner to uphold the doctrine of the Resurrection, at the Pulpit Cross in the Spital. On the Sunday following, a fifth preached at Paul’s Cross, passed judgment on the merits of those who had preceded him, and concluded the ceremony with an appropriate exhortation from himself. What this passing of judgment meant, and what purpose it served, is rather hard to decide. It would almost seem as if some prize or reward were offered for the best sermon. The SPITAL SERMONS are certainly the oldest institution of their kind in London, and probably in England. But they have naturally been subject to great changes. At first there were five, two at Paul’s Cross and three at St. Mary Spital. Many alterations followed; for instance, the Great Rebellion put an end for a time both to pulpit and sermons, until the Restoration, when they were revived, that is, the three SPITAL SERMONS proper (for the judge disappears) at St. Bride’s Church, which still stands in Fleet Street. Nothing interrupted them again until 1797, when the preachers once more were removed to Christ’s Church, where the SERMONS, now only two in number, have been regularly delivered, until within the memory of many still in the school [1890] the Corporation reduced their number to a minimum; and now one SPITAL SERMON instead of five is listened to, not at St. Mary Spital, or Paul’s Cross, or St. Bride’s, but at Christ Church, Newgate Street. Though the scene has not changed since 1797, the accompanying ceremony has been sadly mutilated. In my [Mr. Trollope’s] time, instead of the subjects which were wont to be discussed from the Pulpit Cross of St. Mary Spital, discourses were delivered commemorative of the five Sister Hospitals of Christ’s Hospital, St. Thomas’, St. Bartholomew’s, Bridewell, and Bethlehem. This feature has almost entirely disappeared; the reverend preachers now pass by, or casually mention, the original reason for their presence in the handsome pulpit of Christ Church. “On each day the boys of Christ’s Hospital, with the legend ‘He is risen’ attached to their left shoulder, form part of the Civic procession; walking on the first day in the order of their schools, the King’s boys bearing their nautical instruments.” [These King’s boys are, of course, the Mathemats, who seem in earlier days, before the development of the Classical side, and the chances of a University career, to have been the most prominent part of the School.] They assembled on Monday in the Square of the Royal Exchange, and on their return were joined by the Lord Mayor and Civic procession, with the ladies. On Tuesday they proceeded direct to the Mansion House; each boy received a new sixpence, each monitor a shilling, and each Grecian half a guinea. [It appears that Alderman Thomson, whose portrait hangs in the Hall, whose name is engraven on the walls of the Hospital, and to whom we owe the Classical and Mathematical Medals, doubled the donation in every case, and his successors have not returned to the original amount.] The boys were again followed by the Civic authorities, without the ladies, to Christ Church, where a Junior Bishop preached on Monday, and a clergyman selected by the Lord Mayor (usually his chaplain) on Tuesday. But the most interesting feature of all was that on both occasions an anthem composed by one of the Grecians, and set to music by the organist, was sung by the children.
*Spite*, _verb_ (Winchester).—To hate: to dislike.
_c._ 1840. MANSFIELD, _School-Life at Winchester_ (1866), 235. When a boy suffered some injury himself, in order to spite another person; or having in some way injured another, received punishment, he was said to be SPITING GABELL. Dr. Gabell was formerly Head-master, and the extreme inexpediency of attempting to annoy him gave rise to the proverb.
1891. WRENCH, _Winchester Word-Book_, s.v. SPITE. The word in Wykehamical usage generally connoted the frame of mind rather than the acts in which it finds expression. But the phrase “to SPITE Gabell” describes the act popularly known as “cutting off your nose to SPITE your face.”
*Splice*, _verb_ (Winchester).—To throw; to fling: as a missile.
*Sport*, _verb_ (Winchester).—To spread: as a baulk (or report); to wear: as clothes; to provide: as a feast; to indulge in: as smoking, walking, &c.—a general verb of action. Whence SPORTING ACTION = an affected manner, gesture, or gait, or betrayal of emotion. [_Sport_ (var. dial.) = to show, to exhibit.]
*Sportings*, _subs._ (Charterhouse).—Clothes worn at the EXEAT (_q.v._).
1900. TOD, _Charterhouse_, p. 102. The splendour of Exeat garb defies description. It is enough to say that the Carthusian’s apparel then is as costly as his purse will buy, and that he calls it SPORTINGS.
*Spree*, _adj._ (Winchester).—(1) Conceited; stuck-up: of persons. (2) Smart; stylish; befitting a Wykehamist: of dress, &c. [_Spree_ (Devon) = spruce, gay.]
_c._ 1840. MANSFIELD, _School-Life at Winchester_ (1866), 72. At the end of the half year we used to have large entertainments called “SPREE MESSES,” between Toy-time and Chapel, consisting of tea, coffee, muffins, cakes, &c., the funds for which were generally provided by fines inflicted during Toy-time for talking loud, slamming the door, coming in without whistling (to show that it was not a Master entering), improper language, &c. &c. Sometimes a SPREE MESS was given by the boys about to leave at the end of that Half.
1891. WRENCH, _Winchester Word-Book_, s.v. SPREE.... As applied to juniors, uppish; inclined to assume airs, or usurp privileges not belonging to juniors. As applied to acts, permissible only to prefects or those of senior standing.
*Spreeman*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A Junior who has to fag hard.
1891. WRENCH, _Winchester Word-Book_, s.v. SPREEMAN. A Commoner Inferior, who, in consideration of his social status or long standing in the School, was invested by Præfects with privileges similar to those enjoyed by Candle-keepers in College.
*Squab* (or *Squob*), _verb_ (King Edward’s, Birm.).—To squeeze by. [The foot is placed against a wall or desk, and the back against the victim, who is similarly treated from the opposite side by some one else, or pressed against a wall.] Hence SQUAB-UP = “push,” generally. [_Squab_ (Devon) = to squeeze, to knock, to beat.]
*Square.* TO SQUARE ROUND, _verb. phr._ (Winchester).—To make room: as at a fire, &c.
*Squash*, _subs._ 1. (Stonyhurst).—A mellay (at football) of the two sides round the goal-posts. A goal secured in this way is called a “squash-goal.” Also Harrow.
1876. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_ [Harrow], p. 312. The gravel cut the leather case of the ball occasionally, as well as the hands and faces of those who scrambled over it in a SQUASH, as that close _mêlée_ is called, which Rugby men know as a “scrummage,” and Etonians as a “rouge.”
1885. _Stonyhurst Mag._, i. 144. The second law on the Code enacts that “no one may push, pull, charge, or trip another player.” How then is a SQUASH GOAL to be accounted for?
2. (Harrow).—A game of racquets not played with a HARDER (_q.v._), but with an indiarubber ball, which is also called a SQUASH.
*Squashed-flies.* _See_ FLIES.
*Squeaky*, _adj._ (Christ’s Hospital).—High-pitched: of the voice. _Cf._ GRUFF.
1844. _Reminis. of Christ’s Hospital_ [_The Blue_, Aug. 1874]. The voices, in our own peculiar phraseology, being divided into two classes—those who sang SQUEAKY and those who sang GRUFF. The monitors were constantly on the look-out for boys with SQUEAKY voices, and did any youth make himself at all prominent in this respect, down upon him would pounce the monitor, forthwith to _transpose_ him to the organ gallery, there to submit his musical abilities to a trial by the organist. The latter was an elderly gentleman, inclined at times to be rather irritable.
*Squealer*, _subs._ (Wellington).—A small boy.
*Squirm* (or *Squirt*), _subs._ (general).—An obnoxious boy.
*Squish*, _subs._ 1. (general).—Marmalade.
2. (Winchester).—Weak tea.
*Squo*, _adj._ (Charterhouse).—SQUASH (_q.v._); as in SQUO-court, SQUO-ball, SQUO-bat, &c.
*Stally*, _adj._ (Derby).—Strong [? stalwart].
*Stamp*, _subs._ (Harrow).—Every one is provided with a “school stamp”; the name is cut on it, and this must be printed on all books, &c. Above the Second Fifth boys keep their own stamp.
*Stand.* TO STAND OUT FOR COLLEGE, _verb. phr._ (Westminster).—To enter for a King’s scholarship. Candidates must be under fifteen years of age, and have been in the school as a town boy for not less than a year preceding.
1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, p. 182. Then if he thinks proper he “STANDS OUT FOR COLLEGE”—or, in the old Latin phraseology, becomes one of the _minores candidati_. He undergoes a very severe examination, called the “Challenge” [_q.v._], the form of which must have been preserved from Queen Elizabeth’s days, and is the last surviving relic of the old scholastic disputations; those tournaments of Latin and logic, in which Queen Bess was wont to reward a successful champion with a purse of gold from her own virgin hand, and her successor, James, distributed liberally the more economical guerdon of royal applause and criticism.
*Standing-up Week*, _subs. phr._ (Winchester).—_See_ quot.
_c._ 1840. MANSFIELD, _School-Life at Winchester_ (1866), 235. STANDING-UP WEEK—During the last week of Long Half all the boys, except Sixth Book and Senior Part, had to say a number of lines by heart in eight lessons, which they were supposed to have learned in the course of the previous year; this was called STANDING-UP. Marks were given according to merit, and these marks had a very material effect on the respective positions of the boys in their Parts.
*Station.* ON STATION, _adv. phr._ (Westminster).—The attendance, by juniors, on the games in the “Green” in Great Dean’s Yard, or, on a rainy day, in College.
1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, p. 186. The juniors are expected to remain ON STATION in college for the short intervals after breakfast and after dinner, and at other times in the playgrounds (the “Green” in Dean’s Yard or Vincent Square, according to the time of year or the game that happens to be in season); except on decidedly wet days, when STATION is always in college.
*Statue* (The), _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—A statue of the Virgin looked after by the boys. They have “Month of May” devotions, and write “May verses” in her honour.
*Stay.* TO STAY OUT, _verb. phr._ 1. (Eton).—To stay out of school. _See_ quot.
1883. BRINSLEY-RICHARDS, _Seven Years at Eton_. Sometimes Blazes had a lazy fit, and put himself on the sick-list for a day. This was called STAY OUT, for the reason that one had to stay in.
1866-72. “MAC,” _Sketchy Memories of Eton_. Many things at Eton were called by misnomers, in the construction of which the _lucus a non lucendo_ principle came out very strong. Thus, when we stayed in, we said we were STAYING OUT; when “absence” was called, we had to be _present_; a _third_ of a year was called a _half_, &c. &c.
2. (Rugby).—To go on the sick-list.
*Stedman promo*, _subs._ (Charterhouse).—An unexpected (and probably undeserved) promotion. [Because announced in the lists printed by Mr. R. B. Stedman, the school bookseller at Godalming.]
*-ster*, _inseparable suffix_ (Winchester).—The termination agent: as Brockster, Mugster, Thokester, Quilster, &c.
*Stew*, _verb_ (Stonyhurst).—To study. Whence STEW-POT = a hard student.
*St. George*, _subs._ (Eton).—_See_ FOURTH OF JUNE.
1891. _Harry Fludyer_, 120. Well, about the boat procession. It went off splendid. You know I’m in the ST. GEORGE, and Forker Major—a great heavy brute—is our captain, and Tipkins is steerer.
*Sticking-up*, _subs._ (Winchester).—_See_ quot.
_c._ 1840. MANSFIELD, _School-Life at Winchester_ (1866), 236. STICKING-UP.—On the last three Fridays of each Half, a boy was selected by appointment of Commoner Præfects and Course-keeper, and placed on the top of TOYS (_q.v._) in their Hall, and was pelted with PONTOS (_q.v._) by the rest. The following PEALS (_q.v._) were chanted previously, one on each day: “Locks and Keys,” “Boots and Leathers,” and “Gomer Hats.”
*Stick-ups*, _subs._ (Harrow).—Stand-up, or high collars: as opposed to “turn-downs.” The rules as to collars are very intricate, and differ in various Houses. At Charterhouse STICK-UPS are not permissible until the end of the first year.
*Stinks*, _subs._ (general).—Chemistry. Also as a nickname for a lecturer thereon.
*Stizzle*, _verb_ (Tonbridge).—To cane.
*Stodge*, _subs._ (Charterhouse).—The inside of a roll; the crumb of new bread.
_Verb_ (Tonbridge).—To hurt.
*Stodger*, _subs._ (Charterhouse and Tonbridge).—A penny bun.
*Stone* (The), _subs._ (Christ’s Hospital: obsolete).—The Steward’s table in Hall. TO GO TO THE STONE = to go up for trial, judgment, and sentence for misconduct.
1844. _Reminis. of Christ’s Hospital_ [_The Blue_, Aug. 1874]. With respect to misconduct out of school hours, the several monitors were the police, and the Steward the sole judge. When first appointed, the young monitors displayed excessive zeal in the discovery of delinquencies, and would call out with as much severity as it was possible to throw into the voice of a youth of fourteen, “Go to THE STONE, you, sir!” “THE STONE” was the name given to the Steward’s table in the Hall, where offenders were tried, judgment delivered, and sentence carried out, immediately after meals. The mildest punishment consisted of caning on the open hand (ironically termed “cakes”), and next in severity was flogging with the birch (called “brushing”); and Fate, with a grim sense of humour which we failed to appreciate at the time, decreed that the head beadle in our time, who was appointed to administer the said brushings and cakes, should bear the appropriate name of Honey.
*Stonyhurst-cricket* (or *Football*). _See_ Appendix.
*Stop.* TO STOP OUT, _verb. phr._ (Harrow and Charterhouse).—To absent oneself from school: at Harrow, through indisposition.
*Stopping-up*, subs. (Stonyhurst).—An extra time of study allowed to elder boys when the rest have gone to bed: _e.g._ “I am going to STOPPING-UP to-night.”
*Strangers’ Place*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—The guest-rooms. When a boy had friends staying in the College he was said to be “in the STRANGERS’ PLACE.” _Cf._ PLACE.
*Straw*,_ subs._ 1. (Harrow).—A straw hat worn by the whole school all the year round, except on Sundays and at games. The ELEVEN STRAW = a speckled black-and-white straw hat worn by the Cricket Eleven.
2. (Rugby).—For two years after his first term (during which a silk hat or “topper” was _de rigueur_) a boy wears a black-and-white speckled straw hat with a black ribbon. Each House has its own distinctive ribbon. At the end of his third year a boy could “take” his “white straw,” but he was not expected to do this unless he were a SWELL (_q.v._).
Also _see_ CLEAN STRAW.
*Strawer*, _subs._ (general).—A straw hat.
*Stretch*, _subs._ (University).—A walk.
*Strive*, _verb_ (Christ’s Hospital).—To write with care: _see_ SCRUB. _E.g._ “Copy this!” “Shall I STRIVE, Sir, or ‘scrub’ it down?”
*Stub*, _verb_ (Felsted).—To kick a football about.
1888. _Felstedian_, Dec., p. 98. Now these hollow globes [footballs] flying through the air, collide with their sandals, and this colliding they call STUBBING. _Ibid._ (Nov. 1896, 153). Boys are fined for STUBBING on a forty higher than their own.