Part 2

1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, 363. On the Dunchurch Road there was a stile long known as BAGS’ STILE; here a certain set of boys, of whom Lyttelton was one [_c._ 1793], used to sit and “chaff” the passing “bagsmen”—for the commercial travellers to Rugby then rode with actual saddle-bags; and this practice led to terrible fights occasionally with the aggrieved riders.

*Bake*, _verb_ (Winchester).—To rest; to sit or lie at ease. Hence BAKER (_q.v._); BAKESTER (obsolete) = a sluggard; BAKING-LEAVE (_q.v._); BAKING-PLACE (_q.v._); BAKER-LAYER (_q.v._). [North. Dial. _beak_ = to bask in the heat. JAMIESON, _beik_, _beke_, _beek_ = to bask.]

1360. _Ywaine_ [RITSON, _E. M. R._]. And ligges BEKEAND in his bed.

_d._ 1395. _Barbour MS._ Ane Inglis man, that lay BEKAND Hym be a fyr.

1577. KENDALL [WRENCH]. At home we take our ease And BEAKE ourselves in rest.

1648. SYMMONS, _Vindication of Chas. I._ Wherefore if that Pope of Rome when he lay BEAKING himself in the midst of his luxuries, had cause to cry out, _Heu quantum patimur pro Christo_.

_d._ 1758. RAMSAY, _Works_. She and her cat sit BEEKING in her yard.

*Baker*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A cushion; also anything used to sit or kneel upon, as a blotting-book, &c. [BAKERS were of two kinds: that used in “College” was of large size, oblong in shape, and green in colour. The other, used in “Commoners,” was thin, narrow, much smaller, and of red colour.] Hence BAKER-LAYER (obsolete) = a Junior who used to take a Prefect’s green BAKER in and out of Hall at meal-times.

*Baker-layer.* _See_ BAKER.

*Baking-leave*, _subs._ (Winchester: obsolete).—1. Permission to BAKE (_q.v._) in a study in Commoners, or in a SCOB (_q.v._) place in College. 2. Leave to sit in another’s TOYS (_q.v._).

*Baking-place*, _subs._ (Winchester).—Any place in which to BAKE (_q.v._), or in connection with which BAKING-LEAVE (_q.v._) was given.

*Balbus*, _subs._ (University).—A Latin prose composition. [From the frequency with which BALBUS is quoted in ARNOLD’S well-known text-book, _Latin Prose Composition_.]

1870. _Quarterly Review._ BALBUS was in constant use.

*Ball.* CALL THE BALL! _phr._ (Stonyhurst).—The “Foul!” of Association Football.

*Balls*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A Junior in College collects footballs from the lockers in school and takes them through at 6 o’clock to the Ball-keeper in Commoners to be blown or repaired. The Ball-keeper is an Inferior who, for service in looking after cricket and foot-balls, is exempted from KICKING-IN (_q.v._) and WATCHING-OUT (_q.v._).

*Bally*, _subs._ (Sherborne: obsolete).—Ball court, the old name for the Fives’ courts; there was a game, evidently like fives, played at Sherborne against the north transept of the church as early as 1585. The word has long ago passed out of use.

*Banco*, _subs._ (Charterhouse).—Evening preparation at HOUSE under the superintendence of a monitor; the Winchester TOY-TIME (_q.v._).

1900. TOD, _Charterhouse_, 81. At old Charterhouse monitors had unlimited powers.... They were seldom interfered with by any master; for instance, the visit of a house master to BANCO was intensely resented. There was a “boule” in the Sixth Form of 1872, as to what a monitor should do who was thus insulted. Should he at once put his cap on, and take no notice of the master? or would it be more dignified to walk straight out of the room? _Ibid._, 84. The chief duties of a monitor now are to keep BANCO, and to see that order is preserved in the cubicles, and in his house generally. BANCO is the time from 7.30 to 8.55 every week-day evening except Saturday, and from 8.15 to 8.55 on Sundays, when the Under School sit in Long Room and prepare their work for the next day. The keeping of BANCO is a fine exercise in discipline for the monitor, and a very convenient arrangement for the house master. It is a tradition that a monitor helps every Under School boy with his work during BANCO if he can. _Ibid._, 95. The term BANCO was suggested by H. W. Phillott, afterwards Canon of Hereford ... in 1832, or a little later.

*Bandy*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst: nearly obsolete).—The Stonyhurst form of Hockey: prominent in the Tichborne trial, when the Claimant at first thought it a nickname, and afterwards a part of the College buildings.

1823. NARES, _Glossary_, s.v. BANDY-BALL. A Yorkshire game, played with a crooked bat and a ball. It is the same as the Scottish game of golf. See STOWE’S _Survey_, ed. 1720, i. 251.

1847. HALLIWELL, _Archaic Words_, s.v. BANDY. A game played with sticks called BANDIES, bent and round at one end, and a small wooden ball, which each party endeavours to drive to opposite fixed points. Northbrooke, in 1577, mentions it as a favourite game in Devonshire. It is sometimes called BANDY-BALL, and an early drawing of the game is copied in STRUTT’S _Sports and Pastimes_, p. 102.

*Bangy* (or *Bangay*), _subs._ (Winchester).—Brown sugar. Also as _adj._ = brown. Hence BANGAY BAGS (or BANGIES) = brown-coloured trousers. WRENCH says the strong objection to these in former times probably arose from Tony Lumpkin coming to school in corduroys. [Suggested derivations are: (1) from _Bangalore_, a coarse-sugar growing country; (2) _bhang_ = hemp; (3) _banjy_ (Essex) = dull, gloomy.] A brown gate formerly leading from Grass Court into Sick House Meads was known as the BANGY GATE. The term is now often applied to the gate by Racquet Court into Kingsgate Street.

*Bar.* TO BAR OUT, _verb. phr._ (Royal High School, Edin.: obsolete).—To lock or barricade the doors to exclude the masters. This custom has been practically extinct since the day that Bailie John Macmorrane was shot by a pupil, William Sinclair, son of the Chancellor of Caithness, while endeavouring to get the door battered down (Sept. 15, 1595).

*Barbar*, _subs._ (Durham).—A candidate for scholarship from another school. [That is, “barbarian” = foreigner.]

*Barber*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A thick fagot or bough; one was included in each bundle. Also any large piece of wood.

_Verb_ (University).—To work off impositions by deputy. [Tradition relates that a learned barber was at one time frequently employed as a scapegoat in working off this species of punishment inflicted on peccant students.] Also TO BARBERISE.

1853. BRADLEY (“Cuthbert Bede”), _Verdant Green_, xii. As for impositions, why ... ’Aint there coves to BARBERISE ’em for you?

*Barge*, _subs._ (Sherborne).—Small cricket: played, with a stump for bat, against a wall.

_Verb_ (Charterhouse).—To hustle; TO MOB UP (_q.v._); TO BRICK (_q.v._).

*Barn, The* (Charterhouse).—A temporary wooden building, constructed in 1876 to meet deficiencies in class-room accommodation. It stood on the site now occupied by the Museum. It disappeared in 1884.

*Barnet*, _intj._ (Christ’s Hospital: obsolete).—Nonsense! Humbug!

*Barn-school*, _subs._ (Rugby).—_See_ quot.

1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, 367. Dr. James found there [Rugby in 1777] 52 boys; in five years he had raised them to 165. The one large schoolroom was no longer sufficient ... a new building was added.... Even the new schools overflowed, for the members rose in time to near 300; and the head-master was obliged to migrate into a barn adjoining the Dunchurch Road.... There for more than twenty years successive head-masters taught the two senior forms.... Connecting these buildings with the three schools adjoining the old manor-house was a line of cow-sheds, which served as a shelter in rainy weather.... Such was the Rugby of 1809; for it was not till long afterwards that barn and cow-sheds disappeared, though the present school buildings were begun in that year.

*Barracks*, _subs._ (Loretto).—A Form occasionally interpolated between NIPPERS (_q.v._) and Fourth. [In the Sixties a master at Loretto was known as the Captain, and when the first overflow from the school-house took place, the house in which a few boys slept, and over which he was master, was called the Garrison. The adjoining house was afterwards occupied and was called the BARRACKS. Whence the interpolated Form, which for a time had for its schoolroom a room at that house, getting the name of the Barracks Form. The name clung to it when moved to one of the regular schoolrooms.]

*Barter*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A half volley at cricket. Also as _verb_. [From Warden Barter, who was famous in the cricket-field for dealing with such balls.]

1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, 65. None showed more enthusiastic interest in these [Public School Cricket] matches than the late excellent Warden, Robert Speckott Barter.... He seldom missed a match at Lord’s from the time he played in the school eleven himself. He was a tremendous hitter in his day; and the remarkable punishment which he dealt out to the ball, when he was lucky enough to catch it on the “half-volley,” has given to a long hit of this character at Winchester (and even elsewhere) the name of a BARTER.

*Bartlemytide*, _subs._ (general: old).—The summer holiday.

*Base*, _subs._ (Harrow).—A goal: at football.

*Basinite*, _subs._ (Charterhouse: obsolete).—A hot-water fag: he had to get hot water and towels ready for a monitor when he descended to wash in COCKS (_q.v._).

*Bat-mugger*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A wooden instrument used in oiling cricket-bats.

*Battal*, _subs._ (Harrow and Charterhouse).—Battalion drill for the Rifle Corps: usually (at Harrow) in the evening. [The second is the syllable accentuated.]

*Battler*, _subs._ (general).—A student. _See_ BATTLINGS.

*Battlings* (or *Battels*), _subs._ (general).—An allowance, in money or kind; apparently originally intended to supplement the meagre fare of fast-days. _Cf._ quots. Hence TO BATTEL = to take provisions from the buttery.

1607. WENTWORTH SMITH, _Puritan_ [MALONE, _Suppl._, ii. 543]. Eat my commons with a good stomach, and BATTLED with discretion.

1611. COTGRAVE, _Dict._... To BATTLE (as scholars do in Oxford), être debiteur au collège pour ses vivres. _Ibid._, Mot usé seulement des jeunes écoliers de l’université d’Oxford.

16 [?]. _Account rendered to Arch. of York_ [_William of Wykeham and His Colleges_]. Item for BATTLINGS on fasting days with the lent. 0. 9. 8. [_i.e._, 9s. 8d.]

1678. PHILLIPS, _Dict._, s.v. BATTEL. In the University of Oxford is taken for to run on to exceedings above the ordinary stint of the appointed Commons.

1744. SALMON, _Present State of Univ._, i. 423. Undergraduates consisting of Noblemen, Gentlemen-Commoners, Commoners, Scholars of the Foundation, Exhibitioners, BATTLERS, and Servitors.... The Commoners, I presume, are so called from their Commoning together, and having a certain portion of Meat and Drink provided for them, denominated Commons.... The BATTLERS are entitled to no Commons, but purchase their Meat and Drink of the Cook and Butler.

1786-1805. TOOKE, _Purley_, 390, _s.v._ BATTEL, a term used at Eton for the small portion of food which, in addition to the College allowance, the Collegers receive from the Dames.

_c._ 1840. MANSFIELD, _School-Life at Winchester College_, p. 184. The expense was defrayed by the boys subscribing the last three BATTLINGS (_i.e._ the weekly shilling allowed each boy). This was rather an illusory coin, for we seldom actually fingered it, as some one of the College servants generally had a kind of prescriptive right to a benefit; and whenever Saturday arrived, Præfect of Hall’s valet was sure to come round to ask the boys if they would give their BATTLING to Rat Williams, or Dungy, or Pulver, or Long John, or some other equally deserving individual.

1853. BRADLEY, _Verdant Green_, II. vii. [Note]. BATTELS are the accounts of the expenses of each student. It is stated in Todd’s _Johnson_ that this singular word is derived from the Saxon verb, meaning “to count or reckon.” But it is stated in the _Gentleman’s Magazine_ for 1792, that the word may probably be derived from the Low-German word _bettahlen_, “to pay,” whence may come our English word _tale_ or _score_.

1864. _Household Words_, p. 188. The business of the latter was to call us of a morning to distribute amongst us our BATTLINGS, or pocket-money.

1880. TROLLOPE, _Autobiogr._, i. 13. Every boy had a shilling a week pocket-money, which we called BATTELS. [This is probably a misprint—the Winchester term, as that used at other schools, is BATTLING. It was advanced out of the pocket of the Second Master.]

1886-87. DICKENS, _Dictionary of Oxford and Cambridge_, p. 16. BATTELS is properly a designation of the food obtained from the College Buttery. An account of this, and of the account due to the Kitchen, is sent in to every undergraduate weekly, hence these bills also are known as BATTELS, and the name, further, is extended to the total amount of the term’s expenses furnished by the College. In some Colleges it is made essential to the keeping of an undergraduates’ term that he should BATTEL, _i.e._ obtain food in College on a certain number of days each week.

1889. MURRAY, _Hist. Eng. Dict._, s.v. BATTELS. Much depends on the original sense at Oxford: if this was ‘food, provisions,’ it is natural to connect it with “BATTLE,” to feed, or receive nourishment.... It appears that the word has apparently undergone progressive extensions of application, owing partly to changes in the internal economy of the colleges. Some Oxford men of a previous generation state that it was understood by them to apply to the buttery accounts alone, or even to the provisions ordered from the buttery, as distinct from the “commons” supplied from the kitchen; but this latter use is disavowed by others, ... but whether the BATTELS were originally the provisions themselves, or the sums due on account of them, must at present be left undecided.

*Baulk*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A false report. This is SPORTED (_q.v._), not spread.

*Beak*, _subs._ (Harrow).—A master. FORM-BEAK = Form-master.

*Beanfielder*, _subs._ (Felsted: obsolete).—A long hit: at cricket.

*Bearded Cad*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A porter employed by the College to convey luggage from the railway station to the school. [The term originated in an extremely hirsute individual, who, at one time, acted in the capacity.]

*Beards!* _intj._ (The Leys: obsolete).—An ejaculation of surprise.

*Beast*, _subs._ (Cambridge).—A student who, having left school, goes up to Cambridge to study before entering the university. [Because (so it is stated) he is neither man nor boy.]

*Bedmaker* (or *Bedder*) _subs._ 1. (Cambridge).—A charwoman; a servant who makes beds and does other necessary domestic duties for residents in College.

1891. _Harry Fludyer at Cambridge_, 6. Remember me most kindly to Mrs. Bloggins. I shall never forget how good she was when we were at Cambridge last term.... These BEDMAKERS are kind souls after all.

2. (Oxford).—BEDDER = a bedroom.

*Beef Row*, _subs._ (Shrewsbury).—_See_ quot.

1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, 247. The dinners themselves [_c._ 1800-40] were fairly good, with the exception of the “boiled beef” days, which were highly unpopular. The beef was probably good enough, but it was cured with saltpetre, and the consequent redness was, in the boys’ eyes, objectionable. Remonstrances had been made in vain; and the result was something like a school rebellion, well remembered as the BEEF ROW. By concerted arrangement, on one day the boys in every hall rose from the table in a body, and left the masters and the boiled beef in sole occupation. Butler was indignant; he came into each of the halls after locking up, and demanded from the heads of the school a public apology for the insult, giving them an hour for consideration, and placing before them the alternative of immediate dismissal. The boys held together, and, early the next morning the whole of the Sixth Form, comprising no less than three who were to be future heads of Colleges, were started by chaise or coach for their respective homes. The rest of the boys declared themselves _en revolte_; they would not go into school, and the masters walked about the court alternately threatening and persuading. At last a gentleman in the town, an old Shrewsbury boy, much respected, harangued the rebels, and persuaded them to surrender. Some sort of concession seems almost to have been made by a portion of the absent Sixth Form under home influence, and the affair ended in the return of all the exiles.

*Beeswaxers*, _subs._ (Winchester).—Thick boots for football. [Pronounced Bĕswaxers.]

*Behind*, _subs._ (Eton and Winchester).—A back at football. At Eton SHORT BEHIND and LONG BEHIND: usually abbreviated to “short” and “long.” At Winchester, SECOND BEHIND and LAST BEHIND. These answer to the half-back and back of Association football. At Winchester, in the Fifteens, there is also a THIRD BEHIND.

UP BEHIND, _phr._ (The Leys).—Out of bounds: at back of College.

*Behind one’s Side.* _See_ SIDE.

*Bejant*, _subs._ (Aberdeen).—A new student: one of the first or lowest class. _See_ SEMI-BEJANTS, TERTIANS, and MAGISTRANDS.

*Belial*, _subs._ (Oxford).—Balliol College.

*Bells.* BELLS GO SINGLE, _phr._ (Winchester).—A single bell is rung for five minutes before the hour at which chapel commences. For College evening chapel three three’s are rung, and then follows a “bell,” one for every man in College—70. BELLS DOWN = _see_ quots.

_c._ 1840. MANSFIELD, _School-Life at Winchester College_, p. 62. The junior in chamber had a hard time of it; ... while endeavouring to get through his multifarious duties, he had to keep a sharp ear on the performance of the chapel bell, and to call out accordingly, “first peal!” “second peal!” and BELLS DOWN!

1878. ADAMS, _Wykehamica_, p. 256. At a quarter to six the peal again rang out, and the cry of BELLS GO was sounded in shrill tones through every chamber of College and Commoners.... After ten minutes the peal changed, and only a single bell continued to ring. This was notified by the cry BELLS GO SINGLE, and five minutes afterwards, by that of “BELLS DOWN.”... Presently the head-master ... would descend from his library: or the second master ... would appear at the archway near Sixth Chamber, and the warning voice would be heard “Gabell,” or “Williams through,” “Williams,” or “Ridding in.” Straightway there would be a general rush, the college-boys darting across the quadrangle in the rear of the Præfect of Chapel; while the Commoners hurried in, keeping up a continuous stream from their more distant quarters.

*Belly-hedge*, _subs._ (Shrewsbury).—An obstruction of such a height that it can easily be cleared: of school steeplechases. [That is, about belly high.]

*Belows*, _subs._ (Rugby).—_See_ CAP (3).

*Bender*, _subs._ (common).—The bow-shaped segment of a kite.

1873. Dr. BLACKLEY, _Hay Fever_, p. 145. The first kite was six feet in length by three feet in width, and was made of the usual form, namely, with a central shaft or “standard,” and a semicircular top or BENDER.

*Bene-book*, _subs._ (Charterhouse).—_See_ quot.

1900. TOD, _Charterhouse_, 131. Besides prizes, BENE-BOOKS are awarded to the Sixth Forms on the following system: Every boy generally does four classical exercises a week, viz., Greek and Latin prose, Greek and Latin verse, and one mathematical exercise; these are marked, according to their merit, B, b, sb, s, vs, m, M; that is to say, Big bene, bene, satis bene, satis, vix satis, male, Big male.... A BENE-BOOK (value 12s. 6d.) is earned by the winner of two BENES a week throughout the quarter. There used to be a yet higher mark, _i.e._, B†, or a WRITE-OUT, which counted four. A B† denoted that the composition to which it was attached was worthy of being written out in a book kept with a view to forming a new edition of “Sertum Carthusianum.” There are many volumes of old WRITE-OUT books on the shelves of the library, but for years no addition has been made to them. The WRITE-OUT is quite obsolete.

*Bevers*, _subs._ (general).—An afternoon meal or refreshment; a snack between meals. Whence (Winchester) BEVERS (or BEVER-TIME) = an interval from 4.30 to 5 in afternoon school, observed (says WRENCH) long after the distribution of bread and beer had ceased on whole school-days. [_See_ BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER, i. 20; FORD, i. 392; FLORIO, in v. _Merénda_; COOPER, in v. _Antecænium_; _Stanihurst’s Descr. of Ireland_, p. 18; _Nomenclator_, p. 79; Sir JOHN OLDCASTLE, p. 42; HOWELL, sect. 43; MIDDLETON’S _Works_, iv. 427, v. 141.]

1580. _Lingua_ [DODSLEY, _Old Plays_ (REID, 1825), v. 148]. _Appetitus._ Your gallants never sup, breakfast, nor BEVER without me.

1585. _Nomenclator_, p. 79. A middaies meale: an undermeale: a boire or BEAVER: a refreshing betwixt meales.

1597. HARRISON, _Desc. of England_. Of old we had breakfastes in the forenoone, BEUARAGES or nuntions after dinner, and thereto reare suppers, generallie when it was time to go to rest, a toie brought into England by hardie Canutus; but nowe these are very well past, and each one, except some young hungrie stomach, that cannot fast till dinner-time, contenteth him self with dinner and supper.

1598. FLORIO, _Worlde of Wordes_, s.v. Merenda, Plauto. Propriè olim prandium dicebatur quod meridie daretur. Nonius cibum qui post meridiem sumitur interpretatur. ἑσπέρισμα. Le reciner.

1604. MARLOWE, _Dr. Faustus_. Thirty meals a day and ten BEVERS.

1607. BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER, _Woman Hater_, i. 3. He is none of those same ordinary eaters, that will devour three breakfasts, and as many dinners, without any prejudice to their BEVERS, drinkings, or suppers.

1611. COTGRAVE, _Dict._, s.v. BEVER. An afternoon’s nuncheon.

_c._ 1840. MANSFIELD, _School-Life at Winchester College_, p. 83. In summer time we were let out of afternoon school for a short time about 4 P.M., when there was a slight refection of bread and cheese laid out in Hall. It was called BEEVER-TIME, and the pieces of bread BEEVERS.

1847. HALLIWELL, _Archaic Words_, s.v. BEVER. An intermediate refreshment between breakfast and dinner. The term is now applied to the afternoon snack of harvest-men and other labourers, and perhaps may be explained more correctly as any refreshment taken between the regular meals. Sometimes refreshments of drink, or drinkings, were called BEVERS; but potations were not BEVERS, as Mr. Dyce asserts.

1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_ [Winchester], p. 23. School opened again at two o’clock; at half-past three came an interval called BEVER-TIME, when the boys had again bread and beer allowed them. At five the school was dismissed, and the whole resident society—warden, fellows, masters, and scholars—went in procession round the cloisters and the whole interior circuit of the college.

1884. M. MORRIS, in _English Illustrated Magazine_, Nov., p. 73. [At Eton, we] came up from cricket in the summer afternoons for BEAVER.