Part 20

1895. _Felstedian_, June, p. 104. Among plausible etymologies it is attempted to derive STUB from “the sound made by a stubbed football.” ... But the word STUB deserves to be rescued from its fate. I had always imagined it to be an East Anglian word for “kick,” but it is, to the best of my belief, obsolete in England.... A contributor to _Notes and Queries_, writing on a totally different subject, quoted the following words from a speech by an American judge: “As a barefooted boy I STUBBED my chapped toes over a rough New England farm.” [_Stub_ is commonly dialectical, in the sense of “to grub.”]

*Stuckling*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A kind of flat pastry made of the current year’s apples and dried currants.

1847. HALLIWELL, _Archaic Words_, s.v. STUCKLING. An apple pasty, thin, somewhat half circular in shape, and not made in a dish.

1883. TROLLOPE, _What I Remember_.... STUCKLING was a kind of flat pastry made of chopped apples and currants. And the speciality of it was that the apples must be that year’s apples. They used to be sent up from Devonshire or Cornwall, and sometimes were with difficulty obtained.

1891. WRENCH, _Winchester Word-Book_, s.v. STUCKLING. A pudding at Election dinner, made of meat, apple, and carraway.

*Study-place*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—A study. _Cf._ PLACE.

*Stuggy*,_ adj._ (general).—Thick-set. [STUGGY (Devon) = thick, stout.]

*Stumper*, _subs._ (Tonbridge).—Small cricket played with a stump.

*Stumps*, _subs._ (Harrow).—Cricket played with a stump and a soft ball.

*Styx*, _subs._ (The Leys).—A urinal. _Cf._ HADES.

*Sub-minister*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—The superior responsible for the health of the house. _See_ MINISTER.

*Substance*, _subs._ (Westminster).—_See_ SHADOW.

*Suck*, _subs._ (University).—A parasite; a toady.

*Suction*, _subs._ (Winchester).—Sweetmeats.

*Sudden-death*, _subs._ (University).—A crumpet.

*Sum*, _intj._ (Winchester).—The response at names-calling; ADSUM (_q.v._).

*Summer Quarter*, _subs._ (Charterhouse).—_See_ LONG QUARTER.

*Superann*, _subs._ (Charterhouse).—Superannuate.

*Superannuate*, _subs._ (Winchester).—_See_ quot.

_c._ 1840. MANSFIELD, _School-Life at Winchester_ (1866), 237. SUPERANNUATE.—A boy who was obliged to leave at Election, owing to his being past eighteen years of age. FOUNDERS (_q.v._) were not SUPERANNUATE till they were twenty-five.

*Surly Hall* (Eton).—A public-house on the right bank of the Thames, some three and a half miles from Windsor. _See_ FOURTH OF JUNE.

*Sur-master*, _subs._ (Manchester Grammar: obsolete).—The second master; the “Usher.” [There is now no second in command.]

*Sus*, _subs._ (Winchester: obsolete).—The remains of a Præfect’s tea: a fag’s perquisite.

_c._ 1840. MANSFIELD, _School-Life at Winchester_ (1866), 237. SUS.—The Juniors’ tea: generally drunk out of a pint cup when in bed.

*Swank*, _verb_ (general).—To work hard. [O.E. _Swinke_ = to labour.] Hence SWANKER = a hard worker. _See_ SWINK.

... _MS. Cott. Vespas_, D. vii. f. 3. I SWANK in mi sighing stede, I sal wasche bi al nyghtes mi bede. _Ibid._, 46. I SWANK criand, haase made. Chekes mine for pine I hade.

*Swat.* _See_ SWOT.

*Sweat.* _See_ SWOT.

*Sweater*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A servant.

*Sweat-gallery*, _subs._ (Winchester).—Fagging Juniors.

*Swell*, _subs._ 1. (Eton and Harrow). _See_ quot.

18[?]. T. R. OLIPHANT, _Eton College_.... It is very hard to define exactly what is meant by a SWELL at Eton; but it usually implies a boy who, brought into notice either by athletic prowess or scholarship, or high standing in the school, by this means becomes acquainted with the leading members of the school, and is found on acquaintance to develop considerable social qualities, which make him hand and glove with all the Eton magnates.

2. (Rugby).—The word SWELL (says Mr. LEES KNOWLES) had an indefinite, but well understood, meaning in the school. A member of the school “twenty,” or “fifteen” as it is now, or a member of the eleven, was, for instance, a SWELL.

_Verb_ (Winchester).—To bathe; to wash.

*Swells*, _subs._ (Winchester).—Sunday services; Saints’-days, &c. [When surplices were worn.]

*Swift’s.* _See_ PLANKS.

*Swill*, _verb_ (Shrewsbury).—To take a shower-bath; also (Winchester) to wash by throwing water over the body.

1881. _Felstedian_, Nov., p. 75, “A Day’s Fagging at Winchester.” Having taken out the washing-stool, I proceed to call the Senior Præfect; when he gets up I have to SWILL him (_i.e._ pour a can of water over his back in his bath), and then rub him down with a towel.

*Swinger*, _subs._ (Charterhouse).—A box on the ears. _Cf._ _Swinge_ = to lash, to beat. Also SWINGE as _verb_.

1579. _Mariage of Witt and Wisdome._ O, the passion of God! so I shalbe SWINGED; So, my bones shalbe bang’d! The poredge pot is stolne: what, Lob, I say, Come away, and be hangd!

1611. COTGRAVE, _Dict._, s.v. DOBER. To beat, SWINGE, lamme, bethwacke.

1637. DU BARTAS [NARES]. Then often SWINDGING, with his sinnewy train, Somtimes his sides, somtimes the dusty plain.

[..?..] _Havelok the Dane_ [SKEAT, E.E.T.S. (1868), 214]. An ofte dede him sore SWINGE, And wit hondes smerte dinge; So that the blod ran of his fleys, That tendre was, and swithe neys.

*Swink*, _verb_ (Winchester).—To sweat; to work hard. Also as _subs._ _See_ SWANK.

1579. _Mariage of Witt and Wisdome._ But now I SWINKE and sweate in vaine, My labour hath no end, And moping in my study still, My youthfull yeares I spend.

1590. SPENSER, _Faërie Queene_.... Honour, estate, and all this worlde’s good, For which men SWINCKE and sweat incessantly.

1891. WRENCH, _Winchester Word-Book_, s.v. SWINK.... The former [to sweat] is the primary Wykehamical meaning: SWINK and _sweat_ have therefore changed places.

*Swipes*, _subs._ 1. (Stonyhurst).—The boy-servant who serves out beer at dinner.

2. (Harrow).—Supper.

TO BE SWIPED, _verb. phr._ (Harrow).—To be birched.

*Swish*, _verb_ (Eton and Charterhouse).—To flog. Hence SWISHING = a beating.

_c._ 1889. _Illustrated London News._ Flogging, or, as it is called at Eton, SWISHING, is to be abolished at that aristocratic seminary.

1891. _Harry Fludyer_, 47. He complained of us and Tipkins, and I got SWISHED the other day.

*Swot* (*Swat* or *Sweat*), _subs._ (general).—Lessons; work: specifically, mathematics at Royal Military Academy. Also a hard-working student.

1883. PASCOE, _Everyday Life at Our Public Schools_.... So much for work or SWOT, as the Harrovian, in common with other boys, somewhat inelegantly terms the more important part of instruction he receives at school.

_Verb_ (general).—To work hard: as at lessons.

IN A SWOT, _phr._ (Shrewsbury).—In a rage.

*Syntax*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—The upper Fourth Form.

*Tachs*, _subs._ (Tonbridge).—A fad; a mental eccentricity. _See_ HOBBS.

_c._ 1327. _Chester Plays_, ii. 27. For south this harde I hym saye, That he woulde rise the thirde daye; Nowe suerlye and he so maye, He hath a wounderous TACHE.

_c._ 1400. _Occleve MS._ [Soc. Ant.], 134, f. 279. And to his fadris maneris enclyne, And wikkid TACCHIS and vices eschewe.

[..?..] _MS. Cantab_, Ff. i. 6, f. 157. It is a TACCHE of a devouryng hounde To resseyve superfluyté and do excesse.

_d._ 1565. CHALONER, _Moriæ Euc._, p. 3, _b_. It is a common TATCHE, naturally gevin to all men, as well as priests, to watche well for theyr owne lucre.

1612. WARNER, _Albion’s England_, Bk. xiii. p. 318. First Jupiter that did usurp his father’s throne, Of whom even his adorers write evil TACHES many an one.

1822. NARES, _Glossary_, s.v. TACHE or TATCH. A blot, spot, stain, or vice; _tache_, French.

1847. HALLIWELL, _Archaic Words_, s.v. TACHE.... A quality, or disposition; a trick; enterprise; boldness of design. (_A.-N._)

_Verb_ (Tonbridge).—To stare at: mostly confined to one House.

*Tack*, _subs._ (Sherborne).—A feast in one’s study.

*Tag*, _subs._ (Winchester).—An off-side kick: at football. Also as _verb_.

_c._ 1840. MANSFIELD, _School-Life at Winchester_ (1866), 237. TAG.... When a player has kicked the ball well forward, and has followed it, if it was then kicked back again behind him by the other side, he was then obliged to return to his original position with his own side. If the ball had, in the meantime, been again kicked in front of him, before he regained his position, and he was to kick it, it would be considered unfair, and he would be said TO TAG.

*Tails*, _subs._ (Harrow).—The swallow-tailed coats worn by all in the Upper School, and (as “charity-tails”) by all in the Lower School who are considered by the Head of the School to be tall enough to require them.

*Tank*, _verb_ (King Edward’s, Birm.).—To cane: a rarer word than COSH (_q.v._). [_Tank_ (Warwicks.) = a blow.]

*Tap* (Eton).—_See_ Appendix.

*Taps.* _See_ TOLLY (sense 2).

*Tardy*, _adv._ (Winchester).—Late: as “I was TARDY TASK” (_q.v._).

1881. _Felstedian_, Nov., p. 75, “A Day’s Fagging at Winchester.” That done I return to chambers, fling on my gown, which I am obliged to keep off till the last moment as a sign of servitude to shew that I am only a junior, and then scramble in to chapel somehow, very likely late, with an impot in store from my form master, and a licking from the præfect in my chamber for being TARDY, though as likely as not he was himself the cause of it.

*Task*, _subs._ (Winchester).—All kinds of composition other than an Essay or Vulgus.

*Tatol*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A tutor in Commoners. These came into course in alternate weeks, their duties being to preside at meals, Toys (_q.v._) and names-calling, and to go round galleries at 9.15.

*Tavern* (The), _subs._ (Oxford).—New Inn Hall. [From its title, “New Inn,” and also because the buttery is open all day, and the members of the Hall can call for what they please at any hour, the same as in a tavern.]

*Tawse*, _subs._ (Scots: general).—A leather strap used in Scotland instead of the cane. [_Tawse_ (North) = a piece of tanned leather.]

*Team*, _subs._ (University).—The pupils of a private tutor or coach.

*Teddy-hall*, _subs._ (Oxford).—St. Edmund’s Hall.

*Teejay* (or *Tege*), _subs._ (Winchester).—A new-comer under the charge of an older scholar, who also instructs him in NOTIONS (_q.v._). Also as _verb_. [That is, _Protégé_.]

*Teek*, _subs._ (Harrow).—Mathematics. _See_ TIQUE.

*Temple*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A niche in Mead’s Wall.

1881. PASCOE, _Everyday Life in our Public Schools_.... On the last night of term there is a bonfire in Ball Court, and all the TEMPLES or miniature architectural excavations in Mead’s Wall are lighted up with candle-ends.

*Ten-o’clock Recreation*, _subs. phr._ (Stonyhurst).—Still keeps its name, though now for some years it comes nearly an hour later.

*Tepe*, _verb_ (Durham: obsolete).—To smoke: a lane near School was called Tepe Lane.

*Terrace, The* (Harrow).—The terrace below the chapel, towards the Footer-fields.

*Tertian*, _subs._ (Aberdeen).—A student in the third class.

*Tetra*, _subs._ (Felsted: obsolete).—A “record”: TO GO BEYOND THE TETRA = to beat the record. [A stuttering pronunciation of, some say, “tremendous,” others, “extraordinary.”] _See_ Appendix.

*Thick*, _subs._ (Winchester and Rugby).—A stupid fellow. Also as _adj._

1856. HUGHES, _Tom Brown’s School-days_, I. vii. What a THICK I was to come! Here we are, dead beat, and yet I know we’re close to the run in, if we knew the country.

*Thicker*, _subs._ (Harrow).—Thucydides: translated in the Upper School.

*Third Elevens* (or *Thirders*), _subs._ (Harrow).—A house SECOND ELEVEN (_q.v._) playing another house Second Eleven at football.

*Third-guarder*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—_See_ GUARDER.

*Thoke*, _subs._ (Winchester).—Rest; lying in bed. Hence as _verb_ = to lie in bed late. [Prov. Eng. _thoky_ = sluggish.] Whence TO THOKE UPON = to anticipate with pleasure; THOKESTER = an idler.

1847. HALLIWELL, _Archaic Words_, s.v. THOKISH. Slothful; sluggish. _East._ In Lincolnshire it is usually THOKY.

1891. WRENCH, _Winchester Word-Book_, s.v. THOKE. I’m THOKING ON next week: what a THOKE it will be, with a Leave-out-day, a Hatch-THOKE, and a half remedy.

1899. _Public School Mag._, Dec., p. 465. He attributed his success—or, at any rate, his long survival—to the art of “THOKING”—in the vulgar tongue, “slacking”—which he had laboriously acquired during his first years of office.

*Thoker*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A thick slice of bread soaked in water and then baked.

*Thos’s-hole*, _subs._ (Rugby). _See_ quot.

1856. HUGHES, _Tom Brown’s School-days_, vii. And so Tom and the Tadpole, in night-shirts and trousers, started off downstairs, and through “THOS’S-HOLE,” as the little buttery, where candles and beer and bread and cheese were served out at night, was called, across the School-house court.

1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, 367. “THOS” [Thomas Woobridge] the well-remembered old school-house servitor, being mounted on the leading horse.

*Three.* COME BACK AT THREE, _phr._ (Royal High School, Edin.).—The formula to signify detention after school hours.

*Threepenny*, _subs._ (general).—A tuck-shop cake of that value.

*Throw*, _verb_ (University).—To master; to succeed: as in a paper, lesson, examination, examiner, &c.

1891. _Harry Fludyer at Cambridge_, 98. These blessed exams. are getting awfully close now, but I think I shall floor mine, and Dick’s sure to THROW his examiners down.

*Tight*, _adj._ (Winchester).—Fast; hard.

1891. WRENCH, _Winchester Word-Book_, s.v. TIGHT.... A TIGHT bowler, &c. As superlative adverb now only used in TIGHT junior. TIGHT-snob, TIGHT-rot, and other such uses are obsolete.

*Tin-gloves*, _subs._ (Winchester).—_See_ quot.

_c._ 1840. MANSFIELD, _School-Life at Winchester_ (1866), 54. But there were other ordeals that were not quite so harmless. Green was liable to be asked whether he possessed a pair of TIN-GLOVES. As this article does not generally form part of a boy’s outfit, Bully would proceed to furnish him with a pair in the following manner:—Taking a half consumed stick from the fire, he would draw the “red-hot end” down the back of Green’s hand between each of the knuckles to the wrist, and having produced three satisfactory lines of blisters would then make two or three transverse lines across. A scientifically fitted pair of gloves of this description was generally, if not pleasant wear, of great durability.

*Tin-tab*, _subs._ (Dulwich).—The carpenter’s shop.

*Tip*, _subs._ (Felsted).—1. A false report.

1890. _Felstedian_, Feb., p. 3. Some one ventured to suggest that it was all a beastly TIP.... Many would just like to get hold of the fellow that started the TIP.

1893. _Felstedian_, Dec., p. 143. Nor is it credible that he stands in need of those useful and entertaining scraps of general information to which we apply the term “TIPS” in our ordinary conversation.

1895. _Felstedian_, April, p. 45. TIP.—“Tip” and “tip-spreading,” expressing with that brevity which is the soul of wit, our horror of scandal and scandal-mongering, again defy analysis.

2. (Felsted).—A foolish mistake in translating, &c.

*Tipping*, _adj._ (general).—First-rate; jolly.

*Tique*, _subs._ (Harrow).—(1) Arithmetic; and (2) mathematics. [From a French master’s peculiar English pronunciation.]

*Tish*, _subs._ (Royal Military College).—A partition; a cubicle.

*Tit.* _See_ ’VARSITY-TIT.

*Titch*, _subs._ (Christ’s Hospital).—A flogging. Also as _verb_ [Onomatopœia]. _See_ Appendix.

*Tizzy-poole*, _subs._ (Winchester: obsolete).—A fives ball [costing 6d., and sold by a head porter named Poole.]

*Toad*, _subs._ (Winchester: obsolete).—In College a piece of hot toast put into beer.

*Toe-fit-tie*, _subs._ (Winchester: obsolete).—_See_ quot.

1881. _Felstedian_, Nov., p. 84, “A Day’s Fagging at Winchester.” I remember now; it was that brute A—— who “to FITTI”-ed me last night.... For the benefit of the uninitiated let me explain the _modus operandi_ and its etymology: it is nothing more or less than the commencement of a line in the old familiar “_As in præsenti perfectum, format in avi_,” which we used to learn, “_to fit-ti_,” in reference to verbs of the third conjugation, transferred from the similarity of sound to the school-boy’s toe; it consisted in tying a running noose on a piece of string, cunningly turning up the bed-clothes at the foot, putting it round the big toe of an unconscious sleeper, running the noose up tight, and pulling till the victim followed the direction of string from the pain, getting farther and farther out of bed and nearer and nearer the floor, till mercifully released.

*Togger*, _subs._ (Oxford).—A TORPID (_q.v._) boat-race.

1894. _Felstedian_, Dec., p. 181. Wiltshire will probably row in one of the University TOGGERS next term.

1896. _Tonbridgian_, No. 339, 1124. Rowland rowed in the TOGGER, fifth on the river.

*Toke*, _verb_ (The Leys).—To be lazy; to “loaf.”

*Told.* TO BE TOLD, _verb. phr._ (Tonbridge).—To obtain one’s colours in a school team.

*Tolly*, _subs._ 1. (general).—A candle. [From _tallow_.] _Cf._ BROLLY, YOLLY, &c.

2. (Stonyhurst).—The flat instrument for administering punishment on the hand: the maximum is “twice nine.” Sometimes called TAPS (_q.v._): _e.g._ “I’ve to get TAPS to-night.”

TO TOLLY UP, _verb. phr._ (Harrow).—To surreptitiously light candles after gas is out.

*Tom*, _subs._ (Oxford).—The great bell of Christ Church. [It tolls 101 times each evening at ten minutes past nine o’clock (there being 101 students on the foundation), and marks the time for the closing of the College gates. “TOM” is one of the lions of Oxford. It formerly belonged to Oseney Abbey, and weighs about 17,000 pounds, being more than double the weight of the great bell of St. Paul’s.]

*Tommy*, _subs._ (Dublin).—A sham shirt-front. [From the Greek τομή, a section.]

*Tonkabout*, _subs._ (Charterhouse).—The hitting up of catches at cricket: said to be a BODEITE (_q.v._) term.

*Toot* (or *Tout*), _verb_ (Royal High School, Edin.).—To treat to lunch. [Recently introduced by a boy from New Zealand. Originally shout, then tout, whence TOOT. “Shout” = to stand treat.]

*To-pan*, _subs._ (Winchester).—_See_ quot., and BOILER.

_c._ 1840. MANSFIELD, _School-Life at Winchester_ (1866), 240. TOE-PAN.—A large basin of red earthenware placed in each chamber for washing the feet in.

*Top-side*, _subs._ (Harrow).—A wing at football: the opposite one to BOTTOM-SIDE (_q.v._).

*Torch-race*, _subs._ (Winchester: obsolete).—Formerly, part of the breaking-up ceremony of the winter half-year. On the last morning the boys, after early chapel, rushed out of gates, each bearing a burning birch-broom, up College Street and along the wall of the Close up to the old White Hart Inn, where breakfast was prepared before the chaises started for their various destinations. This curious TORCH-RACE subsequently gave way to a race of the seniors in sedan chairs.

*Torpid*, _subs._ (Harrow).—A boy who has not been two years in the school. There is a cup for the COCK-HOUSE (_q.v._) at torpids in football.

*Torpids*, _subs._ (Oxford).—(1) The eight-oared spring races; (2) the boats; and (3) the crews. Also TOGGER.

1853. BRADLEY, _Verdant Green_, II. xii. The Misses Green had the satisfaction to see their brother pulling in one of the fifteen TORPIDS that followed immediately in the wake of the other boats.

1889. _Felstedian_, Feb., p. 11. After the TORPIDS will come the Clinker Forms—an institution hitherto unknown in Oxford.

1900. _Westminster Gazette_, 21st Feb., 8. 3. Oxford University TORPIDS. These races were concluded to-day.

*Tosh*, _subs._ (general).—A foot-tub; a bath. Also, as _verb_ = to throw water over a person: _e.g._ “He TOSHED his house beak by mistake, and got three hundred.” Hence TOSH-POND (Royal Military Academy) = the bathing-pond. [That is, “toe-wash.”]

*Tosher*, _subs._ (Oxford).—An unattached student.

*Tosh-soap*, _subs._ (Charterhouse).—Cheese.

*T’other-school*, _subs._ (Winchester).—(1) One’s former school; and (2) any school not a Public School. Also as _adj._ = NON-LICET (_q.v._), or unbecoming: because more or less alien to Winchester.

*T’other-un*, _subs._ (Charterhouse).—A private school.

*Touch.* TO TOUCH IN, _verb. phr._ (Stonyhurst).—To reach one’s block: of a batsman when running. _See_ STONYHURST-CRICKET. [According to the Rules, “The TOUCHING-IN line is within a bat’s length of the CRICKET-STONE” (_q.v._).]

*Touchy*, _adv._ (Christ’s Hospital).—Rather: _e.g._ TOUCHY a lux = rather a good thing.

*Tow*, _subs._ (Shrewsbury).—A run in: at hare and hounds.

1881. PASCOE, _Everyday Life at our Public Schools_.... After that last “all up,” there is a TOW or continuous run of from one to three miles.

*Town and Gown*, _sub. phr._ (University).—The townsmen _v._ the members of the University. [In her young days the position of the University was one of perpetual conflict—with the town, the Jews, the Friars, and the Papal Court.]

1853. BRADLEY, _Verdant Green_, II. iii. TOWN AND GOWN disturbances are of considerable antiquity. Fuller and Matthew Paris give accounts of some which occurred as early as the year 1238. These disputes not unfrequently terminated fatally to some of the combatants. One of the most serious TOWN AND GOWN rows on record took place on the day of St. Scholastica the Virgin, February 10, 1345, when several lives were lost on either side. The University was at that time in the Lincoln diocese; and Grostête, the bishop, placed the townspeople under an interdict, from which they were not released till 1357, and then only on condition that the mayor and sixty of the chief burgesses should on every anniversary of the day of St. Scholastica, attend St. Mary’s Church and offer up mass for the soul of the slain scholars, and should also individually present an offering of one penny at the high altar. They, moreover, paid a yearly fine of 100 marks to the University, with the penalty of an additional fine of the same sum for every omission in attending at St. Mary’s. This continued up to the time of the Reformation, when it gradually fell into abeyance. In the fifteenth year of Elizabeth, however, the University asserted their claim to all arrears. The matter being brought to trial, it was decided that the town should continue the annual fine and penance, though the arrears were forgiven. The fine was yearly paid on the 10th of February up to our own time; the mayor and chief burgesses attended at St. Mary’s and made the offering at the conclusion of the litany, which, on that occasion, was read from the altar. This was at length put an end to by Convocation in the year 1825.

1899. HEYWOOD, _Guide to Oxford_. The TOWN AND GOWN rows, as occasions for displays of physical force, lasted until quite recent times, as readers of _Verdant Green_ and _Tom Brown at Oxford_ will know. Nowadays, however, they are happily unknown.

*Townee* (or *Towner*), _subs._ (general).—_See_ CAD.

*Towney* (Christ’s Hospital).—_See_ HOUSEY.