Part 21
1887. _The Blue_, Nov. Thus, a little farther on, mention is made of the time when a boy leaves the School. The consequent change of dress might be vulgarly expressed by “exchanging HOUSEYS FOR TOWNEYS,” but our author is before all things refined. “The boy is at liberty to exchange the garb of the house for one more congenial to modern taste.”
*Town-lout*, _subs._ (Rugby).—A scholar residing in the town with his parents.
*Toys*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A bureau—desk and book-case combined. Whence TOY-TIME (or TOYS) = evening preparation (in College) and (in Commoners) all time so spent.
1440. _Prompt. Parv._ _Teye_, of a cofyr or forcer.
1881. PASCOE, _Everyday Life in our Public Schools_. The clock striking seven each junior retires to his TOYS or bureau for an hour and a half, during what is known as TOYTIME, when the work of the next morning and the week’s composition have to be prepared.
1891. WRENCH, _Winchester Word-Book_, s.v. TOYS.... The expression TOY-TIME suggests that the “s” has been added. If TOYS has not descended from this word [teye], it must have been transferred from the contents of the toys, and mean simply _one’s belongings_.
*Trades*, _subs._ (Christ’s Hospital).—_See_ quot. and PUBLIC-SUPPING.
1900. _Daily Telegraph_, 16th March, “London Day by Day.” After the boys had concluded their simple repast of tea and bread-and-butter, they formed up two-and-two, and bowed to the Lord Mayor, the different wards being headed by the TRADES, as the boys who carry the candlesticks, the bread-basket, table-cloth, and cutlery are termed.
*Travelling-scholarship* (or *Fellowship*), _subs._ (University).—RUSTICATION (_q.v._).
*Treacle-bolly*, _subs._ (Marlborough). A walk by the Kennett close to the College. [So called from the cottage of a miller so nick-named.]
*Tree of Knowledge, The* (Charterhouse).—The tree under which books, &c., are piled in the interval between second school and dinner (say 12.30 to 1.15), while run-about in winter and cricket-nets or position drill in summer is engaged in.
*Treer*, _subs._ (Durham: obsolete).—A boy who avoids organised games, but plays a private game with one or two friends. [Presumably because played by the trees at the side of the ground.]
*Trek*, _verb_ (Durham).—To run.
*Trencher*, _subs._ 1. (Winchester).—A square wooden platter: in use in College.
2. (general).—A college cap; a MORTAR-BOARD (_q.v._).
*Trial*, _subs._ (Harrow).—An examination. Whence TRIALS = the examinations at the end of the summer and winter terms.
*Tribune*, _subs._ (Winchester: obsolete).—A large pew in ante-chapel: reserved for ladies.
*Tripos*, _subs._ (Cambridge).—A word dating from the sixteenth century, and used successively in a number of different senses. At first it was applied to the stool on which the champion of the University sat at the disputations held at the admission of Bachelors of Arts to their degree; then it was transferred to the Bachelor himself; still later to the humorous, or, in some cases, scurrilous, speech with which “Mr. Tripos” opened the proceedings, and to the verses of the Bachelors at the Acts. The honours-lists were printed (about 1847-8) on the backs of these verses, and so tripos came to mean an honour-list, and, last of all, the examination itself. Until the year 1824 there was only one tripos, the Mathematical; and up to 1850 only those who had obtained honours in mathematics were admitted to the Classical examination. The degree was not given for that examination till a few years later.
1877. WORDSWORTH, _Scholæ Academicæ_, 20. Such interest as is now attached to them belongs rather to the verses than to the list of the several TRIPOSES (for the name has now at last come to signify degree examinations) which have been circulated already severally.
1891. _Harry Fludyer at Cambridge_, 9. I’m seriously thinking of chucking my TRIPOS and taking up the History Special.
*Trotter*, _subs._ (University).—A tailor’s assistant who goes on round for orders.
*Truck-house*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—The Recreation rooms.
1882. _Stonyhurst Mag._, i. 12, “Rummagings amongst our Records.” Grammar and Great Figures on their Declamation day ... were exempted from studies and allowed something of a collation in the TRUCK-HOUSE.
*Tub*, _subs._ 1. (University).—A boat broad in the beam, used by novices. Hence TUBBING = boating; to GET TUBBED = to be taught to row.
1853. BRADLEY, _Verdant Green_.... So to the river he next day went, and made his first essay in a TUB.
1889. _Morning Advertiser._ If “up” at the University, we will probably pass our time between “grinding hard” and TUBBING on the river.
1898. _Stonyhurst Mag._, Dec., p. 149, “Life at Oxford.” Rowing is naturally a great attraction to many freshmen, and every College is always on the look-out for new oarsmen. What one does is to get “TUBBED,” that is, one is taught to row by members of the College eight in boats that are too TUB-like to be easily capsized.
2. (Winchester).—A chest in Hall into which DISPARS (_q.v._) not taken by the boys were put.
_c._ 1840. MANSFIELD, _School-Life at Winchester_ (1866), 79. In front of the screen stood “TUB,” from which the Præfect of that Ilk took his title; it was a strong painted oak chest, with a lid, about two feet high.... As will be seen, it was simply impossible for the Juniors to be up to time, the consequence of which was that more than half the dinners were not taken; these were thrown into “TUB” at the end of Hall, whence they were ultimately taken away by some poor women, and I always understood (though I am not certain that such was the case) that the “Præfect of TUB” got a certain sum for each “Dispar” not taken, and so had a direct interest in managing that as many as possible should go without their dinner. I will now explain the absence of the Juniors; immediately the Præfects were seated, the whole Hall resounded with shouts of “Junior—Junior—Junior,” rising in savageness of tone, as the supply became exhausted; in five minutes all the Juniors were darting wildly about in all directions, executing orders received from their lords and masters; some to Colson’s hatch for salt, or down in the cellar for beer, back to school for something forgotten, into chambers for a pint cup, down to the kitchen for gravy, &c. &c.
1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, p. 23. Until the last few years the “præfect of TUB” (whose duty it was to examine the quality of the meat sent in by the college butcher, and after dinner to see to the proper collection and distribution of the remains) retained his title.
*Tub-mess*, _subs._ (Winchester).—The table at which the Senior Præfects sat in Hall.—MANSFIELD (_c._ 1840).
*Tuck*, _subs._ (general).—Edibles of all kinds, but particularly pastry. Hence TUCK-SHOP = a pastry-cook’s.
*Tuck-parcel*, _subs._ (Charterhouse).—A hamper from home: the word is now becoming obsolete.
1856. HUGHES, _Tom Brown’s School-days_, I. vi. Come along down to Sally Harrowell’s; that’s our school-house TUCK-SHOP. She bakes such shining murphies. _Ibid._ The slogger looks rather sodden, as if he didn’t take much exercise and ate too much TUCK.
*Tug*, _subs._ (Eton).—A Colleger; a scholar on the foundation. Whence TUGGERY = College.
1881. PASCOE, _Everyday Life in our Public Schools_.... The long looked-for St. Andrew’s Day arrives, when the great match of collegers, or, as the small oppidan would term it, TUGS, and oppidans is to be played.
1883. BRINSLEY-RICHARDS, _Seven Years at Eton_.... My interlocutor was a red-headed freckled little boy of eleven, who had come from Aberdeen “to try for TUGGERY,” that is, to try and pass in to the foundation as a King’s Scholar.
1890. _Great Public Schools_, 52. The Collegers did not always fare as bravely as they do now, either at board or bed. Terrible tales of their manner of life may be read.... Perhaps the recollections of that time caused the disrespect, almost bordering on contempt, with which the Oppidans used for many years to regard the _Togati_, or gown-wearing boys. [_Note._—I suppose there is not much doubt that the nickname of TUG by which the Collegers used to go among the rest of the school, was derived from the _toga_ they wore.]
_Adj._ (Winchester) = stale; ordinary; vapid; common. Whence TUGS = stale news; TUG-CLOTHES = everyday clothes; TUG-JAW = wearisome talk.
*Tui*, _subs._ (Winchester).—Tuition.
*Tumbies*, _subs._ (University).—Ablutions.
*Tund*, _verb_ (Winchester).—To thrash. Whence TUNDING = a thrashing. [Lat. _tundere_.]
1881. PASCOE, _Everyday Life in Our Public Schools_.... I never heard of any case in Eton like the TUNDING which, some years ago, brought our mother-school into disagreeable notice.
1883. TROLLOPE, _What I Remember_.... It was the prefect of hall who ordered the infliction of a public TUNDING.... The following simple and truthful statement of what a public TUNDING was may enable those who take an interest in the matter to form some reasonable opinion whether the infliction of such punishment were a good or a bad thing.... Some dozen or so of boys, who had the best capacities for the performance, were appointed by him for the purpose, and the whole assembly stood around the daïs, while the hymn _Te de profundis_ was sung. When all were thus assembled, and before the singers commenced, the culprit who had been sentenced to a TUNDING stepped out, pulled off his gown, and received from the hands of one deputed by the “prefect of hall,” and armed with a tough, pliant, ground-ash stick, a severe beating.
_c._ 1890. _Punch_ [Confession by a Wykehamist]. I like to be TUNDED twice a day, And swished three times a week.
*Turf*, _subs._ 1. (Winchester).—The pitch: at cricket. The field is “long grass.”
2. (Felsted).—The cricket-field.
1881. _Felstedian_, Nov., p. 75. There are (or were) six cricket pitches on TURF.
_Verb._ 1. (Derby).—To send to bed at bed-time: used of Præpostors.
2. (Marlborough).—To chastise.
*Turl* (The), _subs._ (Oxford).—Turl Street. [Formerly a narrow opening through the city wall into the High Street.]
*Turn.* TO TURN UP, _verb. phr._ (Marlborough).—To chastise: with cane, stick, or fives-bat.
TO BE TURNED, _verb. phr._ (Harrow and Dulwich).—To be ploughed in a _vive voce_ translation lesson.
*Twank*, _verb_ (Durham).—To cane. _See_ LAM and YARK. [_Twank_ (East) = to give a smart slap with the flat of the hand.]
*Tweaker*, _subs._ (Felsted: obsolete).—A catapult.
*Twelve.* AFTER TWELVE, _subs. phr._ (Eton).—From noon till two P.M.
1861. WHYTE-MELVILLE, _Good for Nothing_, p. 39. I used to visit him regularly in the dear old college from the AFTER TWELVE.
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.
1883. BRINSLEY-RICHARDS, _Seven Years at Eton_. Croppie, who abominated all laws and delighted in transgressions, resolved to go to the fair, and without difficulty he persuaded the Pug and me to join him. One day AFTER TWELVE the three of us passed over Windsor Bridge in the same condition as the “bold adventurers” alluded to in Gray’s Ode.
THE TWELVE, _subs._ (Harrow).—_See_ quot., and Appendix.
1899. _Public School Mag._, Dec., p. 446. The working system of the school has lately been slightly altered. Above the two sixth forms there has been placed a Head-master’s “TWELVE,” with the object of training the first TWELVE on the classical side for ’Varsity life. They are only in school about three hours a day, but have to get through a tough amount of work at their leisure.
*Twelve Apostles*, _subs._ 1. (Cambridge).—The last twelve in the Mathematical Tripos.
1785. GROSE, _Vulg. Tongue_, s.v. PLUCK.... These unfortunate fellows are designated by many opprobrious appellations, such as the TWELVE APOSTLES, the Legion of Honour, Wise Men of the East, &c.
2. (Stonyhurst).—The twelve first Stonyhurst boys.
1887. _Stonyhurst Mag._, iii. 90. Stonyhurst boys of all past times since the coming of the original “TWELVE APOSTLES” ... will have noticed once a year, about Eastertide, a curious notice ... giving warning of an approaching meeting of the Court Leet.
*Twenty* (The), _subs._ (Rugby).—The Sixth Form.
*Twenty-two and Twenty-two*, _subs. phr._ (Winchester: obsolete).—Football: twenty-two a side.
*Twig* (The), _subs._ (Marlborough: obsolete).—The Head-master. [In whose authority rested the use of the birch.]
*Twilight*, _subs._ (general).—Toilet.
*Twist* (or *Twoster*), _subs._ (Winchester).—A stick spirally marked by a creeper having grown round it.
*Ulula*, _subs._ (Manchester Grammar).—The school magazine. [The Owl is the school crest, as it was that of the founder, Hugh Oldham, Bishop of Exeter.]
*Under Fire* (Westminster).—_See_ UPPER FIRE.
*Under-green* (Charterhouse).—Formerly the present big or match football ground: now the Under’s cricket-ground.
*Under School* (Harrow).—_See_ UPPER SCHOOL.
*Under Selectæ* (Harrow).—_See_ UPPER SCHOOL.
*Union*, _subs._ (University).—An undergrad’s debating society.
1891. _Harry Fludyer at Cambridge_, 15. I think I shall speak at the UNION soon.... I tried on Tuesday last, but I couldn’t catch the President’s eye.
*Univ*, _subs._ (Oxford).—University College.
*Up*, _adv._ (Harrow).—In school. TO BE UP TO ANY ONE AT SECOND SCHOOL = to go to any one for work at 10 or 11 o’clock.
*Upper Club* (Eton).—_See_ PLAYING-FIELDS.
*Upper (Middle, or Under) Fire*, _subs._ (Westminster).—The three fire-places, under former arrangements, in the present dormitory.
*Upper School*, _subs._ (Harrow).—In 1770 (the first year of the printed BILLS (_q.v._) of the school) the school comprised the monitors—their numbers varied from four to ten—the Fifth Form, the Shell, and the Fourth and Third Forms: these ranked as the UPPER SCHOOL. The UNDER SCHOOL was divided in a very peculiar fashion; there was first the “Scan and Prove” class, then the “Ovid,” the “Phædrus,” the “Upper Selectæ,” “Under Selectæ,” “Nomenclature,” “Grammar,” and “Accidence.”... At present there are, besides the monitors (fifteen in number), an Upper and Lower Sixth, three separate divisions of the Fifth, two “Removes,” three “Shells,” and three Fourths. On the Modern Side are one Sixth, three Fifths, one “Remove,” three Shells, and three Fourths.
*Upper Selectæ* (Harrow).—_See_ UPPER SCHOOL.
*Upper Sixpenny* (Eton).—_See_ PLAYING-FIELDS.
*Uskites* (Charterhouse).—_See_ OUT-HOUSES.
*Vac*, _subs._ (University).—Vacation.
1891. _Harry Fludyer at Cambridge_, 2. I can’t make out why the Pater is always so crusty about Rover. He told me every day last VAC he wouldn’t have his house over-run with dogs.
*Valet*, subs. (Winchester).—Every Præfect had a Junior in Chambers who acted in this capacity, made his tea or coffee, carried his things through from Chambers to School and back again, and looked after him in general.—MANSFIELD (_c._ 1840).
*Varmint*, _adj._ (old University).—Good; spruce.
*Varmint-man*, _subs._ (Cambridge: obsolete). _See_ quots.
1803. _Gradus ad Cantab._ A VARMINT-MAN spurns a scholarship, would consider it a degradation to be a Fellow.
1827. _Alma Mater...._ The handsome man, my friend and pupil, was naturally enough a bit of a swell, or VARMINT-MAN.
*’Varsity*, _subs._ (Oxford and Cambridge).—The accepted corruption of University.
*’Varsity-tit* (or *Tit*), subs. (Durham).—A student of Durham University: in contempt.
*Varying*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A VULGUS (_q.v._) done UP TO BOOKS (_q.v._).
*Vaseline*, _subs._ (Royal Military Academy).—Butter.
*Vaughan, The* (Harrow).—The school library: named after Dr. Vaughan.
*Verites* (Charterhouse).—A boarding-house. [A corruption of Oliverites, after Dr. Oliver Walford, 1838-55.]
*Vessel*, subs. (Winchester).—The eighth of a sheet of LONG-PAPER (_q.v._).—[HALLIWELL.] Ital. _vassiola_.
*Vex*, _adv._ (Christ’s Hospital).—“So much the worse for”: _e.g._ “VEX FOR YOU.” _Cf._ CHAFF.
*Vic*, _intj._ (Felsted).—An exclamation giving warning of a master’s approach; the equivalent of _cave_, which is not used at Felsted. Also TO KEEP VIC.
*Vice* (The), _subs._ (University).—The Vice-Chancellor.
*Vile-child*, _subs._ (Eton).—_See_ quot., and Appendix.
1866-72. _Sketchy Memories of Eton...._ Being called a VILE-CHILD, the which I subsequently learnt was a very frequent term of mild reproach, and had no particular reference to the age of the individual to whom it was addressed. As a proof of this I may add that, being at Eton for the Winchester Match in 1883, I (_moi-qui-vous-parle_, height 6 feet 2 inches, and weight 14 stone 7 lbs.) was called a VILE-CHILD for being on a committee to oppose a certain obnoxious Indian Bill! I wasn’t sorry when tea was over, although many most pleasant evenings did I afterwards spend in that room.
*Vocab*, _subs._ (Charterhouse).—A vocabulary.
*Vol*, _adj._ (Harrow).—Voluntary: _e.g._ VOL-GYM.
*Voluntary*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A copy of verses written occasionally by some of the boys in Sixth Book and Senior Part _ex proprio motu_.—MANSFIELD (_c._ 1840).
*Vulgus*, _subs._ (Winchester: obsolete).—A Latin epigram: four or six lines long. Hence VULGUS-BOOK = a CRIB (_q.v._).
1883. TROLLOPE, _What I Remember_.... The mention of a VULGUS requires some explanation. Every inferior, _i.e._ non-prefect, in the school was required every night to produce a copy of verses of from two to six lines on a given theme—four or six lines for the upper classes, two for the lowest. This was independent of a weekly verse task of greater length, and was called a VULGUS, I suppose, because everybody—the VULGUS—had to do it.
1856. HUGHES, _Tom Brown’s School-days_, II. iii. The VULGUS (commonly supposed to have been established by William of Wykeham at Winchester, and imported to Rugby by Arnold more for the sake of the lines which were learnt by heart with it than for its own intrinsic value, as I’ve always understood), ... is a short exercise in Greek or Latin verse, on a given subject, the minimum number of lines being fixed for each form.... At Rugby VULGUS and lines were the first lesson every other day in the week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays; and ... it is obvious ... that the master of each Form had to set one hundred and fourteen subjects every year.... Now, human nature being prone to repeat itself, it will not be wondered that the masters gave the same subjects sometimes over again after a certain lapse of time. To meet and rebuke this bad habit of the masters, the school-boy mind, with its accustomed ingenuity, had invented an elaborate system of tradition. Almost every boy kept his own VULGUS written out in a book ... duly handed down from boy to boy, till ... popular boys, in whose hands bequeathed VULGUS-BOOKS have accumulated, are prepared with three or four VULGUSES on any subject in heaven or earth, or in “more worlds than one,” which an unfortunate master can pitch upon.... The only objection to the traditionary method of doing your VULGUSES was, the risk that the successions might have become confused, and so that you and another follower of traditions should show up the same identical VULGUS some fine morning; in which case, when it happened, considerable grief was the result.
*Waffle*, _verb_ (Durham).—To talk nonsense. [North dial. _waffle_ = to wave, to fluctuate; _waffler_ (Camb.) = a person who is very weak; _waffy_ (Linc.) = insipid.]
*Walking-days*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—Several days allowed to a new boy during which he was initiated into the ways of the house by an old boy.
*Wall*, _subs._ (Eton).—_See_ quot.
1890. _Great Public Schools_, 26. There are, as is well known, two [football] games played at Eton—one at the WALL, the other in the FIELD. The first is only played by a very limited number of boys, for there is but one WALL; the game is of a mysterious and intricate nature, and the uninitiated spectator cannot as a rule even see how a point (called a SHY) is obtained. Indeed were it not for the time-honoured match between Collegers and Oppidans on St. Andrew’s Day, the game would probably become obsolete.... The Eton FIELD game has, in the opinion of the writer [the Rev. Sydney R. James], merits, as a game for boys, superior to those of any other kind of football. In it speed and skilful dribbling and accurate kicking have their due success, but strength and dogged perseverance and pluck are not left out in the cold.
_Verb_ (Oxford).—To confine to College.
*Wallyford*, _subs._ (Loretto).—The usual run on a wet whole school-day: about 3-1/2 miles. _See_ LONG WALLYFORD.
*Wanker*, _subs._ (Felsted).—A bloater. [From “stinker”—“stwanker”—“wanker.”]
1892. _Felstedian_, Oct., 105. My name it is “WANKER”; a leaner or lanker, Salter or ranker, fish never swam. _Ibid._, June 1897, p. 100. He sniffs. “’Eugh, WANKERS again.”
*Warden*, subs. (Winchester).—See quot.
_c._ 1840. MANSFIELD, _School-Life at Winchester_ (1866), 27. The chief of the whole establishment is the WARDEN, who has nothing to do with the teaching of the boys; he admits and when necessary expels them, confers on them the dignity of “Præfect,” listens to their complaints, and, in fact, in all matters appertaining to the management of the school and the society is omnipotent.
*Wash*, _subs._ (Derby).—School tea or coffee. _See_ ROCK.
*Washing-drawer*, _subs._ (Winchester).—In College, a box to hold toilet requisites.
*Washing-stool*, _subs._ (Winchester).—In College, a Præfect’s table.
1881. _Felstedian_, Nov., p. 74, “A Day’s Fagging at Winchester.” I remember that the Senior Præfect is going to get up to mug early before chapel, and I have to call him and take his WASHING-STOOL (a rough wooden table generally used for putting washing basins on, which, when covered with a cloth, serves as a writing-table) out into Chamber Court.... Here let me observe that only the præfects have separate basins to wash in; the juniors use the two stone conduits.
*Watch*, _subs._ (Westminster).—A junior who has to remain in College during play-hours to answer inquiries, receive messages, and so forth, performing, in fact, the duties of a servant.
*Watch.* TO WATCH OUT, _verb. phr._ (Winchester).—To field: at cricket.
*Water*, _subs._ (Westminster).—Boating.
1881. PASCOE, _Everyday Life in Our Public Schools_. Boating, or WATER, as it is called at Westminster, is in a very flourishing condition.
*Weekites* (Charterhouse).—_See_ OUT-HOUSES.
*Westminster Customs.* _See_ CAP; CHALLENGE; EARLY; PLAY; MONOS; PANCAKE; SHADOW; SILVER-PENCE and WESTMINSTER PLAY. Besides these are others worthy of mention:—