Part 22

1. THE COLLEGE WAISTCOAT.—A remarkable and original service was, up to the date of the Public Schools Commission, exacted of a Westminster junior. He was supposed to be a treasury of small conveniences for his seniors’ use in and out of school. He wore a college waistcoat of peculiar pattern, in the pockets of which he had to carry about and produce immediately on legal demand—the items are recorded in the published evidence—two penknives, two pieces of india-rubber, two pencils, two pieces of sealing-wax, two pieces of pen-string, two dips (_q.v._), two dip-corks, two wedges, two pieces of gutta-percha (for putting on the points of foils), and any number of pens. Besides, he had to carry a portfolio containing a sufficiency of “quarterns” of paper.

2. LATIN FORMULÆ.—Quaint old Latin formulæ continued in use at Westminster, unchanged since its earliest foundation. While the school is at morning lesson, the _monitor ostii_ (_see_ MONOS) watches the clock, and at half-past eleven comes to the monitor of school and announces the time. The monitor goes to the head-master’s desk, makes his bow, and says, “_Sesqui est undecima_.” At a quarter to twelve he makes the further announcement, “_Instat duodecima_.” When twelve o’clock has struck he says again, “_Sonuit duodecima_;” at a quarter-past twelve, “_Prima quarta acta est_;” at half-past, “_Sesqui est duodecima_,” at which welcome words books are shut, and the whole school is dismissed. The same formalities, with the necessary variations, are repeated during afternoon lessons. Before dinner the Captain calls out two boys of the Second Election, one to say grace—“_Age gratias_”—and the other to repeat the proper responses—“_Agite responsa_;” and when dinner is over, before grace again, he pays even the juniors the compliment of asking whether they have had enough—“_Satisne edistis et bibistis?_” to which the compulsory answer is made—in old times too often by hungry lips—“_Satis edimus et bibimus_.” Every night at ten o’clock the monitor of chamber gives the order for the juniors to put out the lights and go to bed—“_Extinctis lucernis intrate lectos_.” It is only within the last generation or two that the rule of speaking Latin exclusively, both by boys and masters, during school hours has fallen into abeyance.

*Westminster Play.*—A Latin comedy, presented annually in the dormitory of St. Peter’s College, a custom dating from Queen Elizabeth’s days. The performances take place just before the Christmas holidays, the play being repeated three times. The cast is strictly confined to the forty scholars on the foundation. At the close of last presentation a CAP (_q.v._) is collected, the surplus of which, after paying expenses, is divided among the performers.

*Wet-bob*, _subs._ (Eton).—A rowing man. _See_ DRY-BOB.

1839. C. T. BUCKLAND, _Eton Fifty Years Ago_ [1889, _Macmillan’s_, Nov.]. It was the ambition of most boys to be a WET-BOB, and to be “in the boats.” The school was divided between WET-BOBS and dry-bobs, the former taking their pleasure on the river, and the latter in the cricket-field.

*Whale*, _subs._ 1. (Cheltenham).—Codfish.

2. (Royal Military Academy).—A sardine.

*Whiter*, _subs._ (Harrow).—A white waistcoat: this may be worn by those who have been three years in the school.

*Whole*, _subs._ (Harrow).—A whole holiday, or whole schoolday.

*Wicker*, _subs._ (Felsted: obsolete).—A hamper: as of provisions.

*Wicket-cricket*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—Cricket played with a stick or “wicket.”

*Wilderness* (The), _subs._ (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—The Dark Walk; a part of the garden. _Cf._ GERARD, _Stonyhurst_, p. 179.

*Wilderness* (Charterhouse).—A playing ground at Old Charterhouse before Thomas Sutton bought the estate: now a belt of trees to the south of UNDER-GREEN (_q.v._).

*Wine*, _subs._ (University).—A wine-party. Also as _verb_.

1853. BRADLEY, _Verdant Green_, vii. Now I’m going to WINE with Smalls to-night.

*Wise Men of the East*, _subs. phr._ (Cambridge).—The last twelve in the Mathematical TRIPOS (_q.v._).

1785. GROSE, _Vulg. Tongue_, s.v. PLUCK.... These unfortunate individuals were designated by many opprobrious appellations, such as the Twelve Apostles, the Legion of Honour, WISE MEN OF THE EAST, &c.

*Wooston*, _adv._ (Christ’s Hospital).—Very: _e.g._ WOOSTON a jolly fellow; a WOOSTON jolly fellow; I am WOOSTON, chaffy. [That is, “whore son.”—GUILLEMARD.]

*Work*, _subs._ (Winchester).—Pain. Also as _verb_ = to hurt.

14[?]. _Townley Mysteries_, “Processus Noe.” My bonys are so stark No wonder if they WARK For I am full old.

14[?]. _Alexander_ [ASHMOL.], line 531. So sare WERKIS hire the wame. _Ibid._, line 539. Of *WERKE* well ne I wede (am mad).

1469. MALORY, _Morte d’Arthur_. But I may not stonde, myn hede WERCHES soo.

1750. COLLIER, _Works_. I gran an I thrutcht, till my arms WARTCHD agen.

1860. R. BRIERLY, _Ab. in London_. I shaked his hond till my arm WARTCHT, then he shaked mine till his arm WARTCHT.

1891. WRENCH, _Winchester Word-Book_, s.v. WORK. The use of REMEDY (_q.v._) for a holiday seems to imply that WORK is a painful disease.

*Worms*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A trenched line on the turf: used as goal at football. _See_ quot.

1881. PASCOE, _Life in Our Public Schools_. Across the two ends of the ground a small trench is dug, about four inches wide and two deep, and a goal is obtained when the ball is fairly kicked across the trench (Wiccamicé WORMS).

*Wrangler*, _subs._ (Cambridge).—The name given to those who are placed in the first class in the first or elementary portion of the public examination for honours in pure and mixed mathematics, commonly called the Mathematical Tripos, those placed in the second class being known as Senior Optimes, and those in the third class as Junior Optimes. Up to and including the year 1882, the student who took absolutely the first place in the Mathematical Tripos used to be termed Senior Wrangler; those who came next to him being second, third, fourth, &c., wranglers. Since then the title has been given to the student who takes the first place in Part I. of the Mathematical Tripos. The name is derived from the public disputations, in which candidates for degrees were formerly required to exhibit their powers.

1870. _The Blue_, March. We were rejoiced to hear of the University success of a late Grecian—G. A. Greenhill, who was announced as Second WRANGLER in the late Mathematical Tripos at Cambridge. Further on in the month we heard of his being bracketed with Mr. Pendlebury (the Senior WRANGLER) as Smith’s Prizeman, a thing seldom heard of at Cambridge, and never before has any Blue attained that high honour.

*Wratislaw’s.* _See_ PLANKS.

*Writer*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A Junior acting as secretary to a College officer.

*Wuggins*, _subs._ (Oxford).—Worcester College; BOTANY-BAY (_q.v._).

*Yarder*, _subs._ (Harrow).—Cricket played in the school yard: in the summer term.

TO GET YARDS, _verb. phr._ (Harrow).—To get a catch at football and be allowed a free kick, not running more than can be covered in three running strides. Hence TO GIVE YARDS = to give such a catch; TO STEP YARDS = to cover the distance in “kicking off yards” in three strides; TO KNOCK DOWN YARDS = to prevent another from “taking yards.” [Originally three yards.]

*Yards* (The), _subs._ 1. (Durham).—The list of members, originally of the First Game, but now of the Second Game—at football or cricket. [Formerly in the cricket season only a patch of ground thirty yards square was mowed. Those who had the privilege of playing on this were said to be “on the YARDS.”]

2. (Royal High School, Edin.).—The gravel-covered playground.

*Yark*, _verb_ (Durham).—To cane. _See_ TWANK and LAM. [_Yark_ (North) = to strike, to beat.]

*Yellow-hammer*, _subs._ (Christ’s Hospital).—A BLUE (_q.v._) in disgrace for gross misconduct and under discipline. _See_ quot.

1844. _Reminis. of Christ’s Hospital_ [The Blue, August 1874]. In the case of a hardened offender, or of gross misdemeanour, a system of degradation was adopted, by causing the culprit to wear his coat turned inside out, and as the body of the coat had a yellow lining, the metamorphosis was remarkably striking, and (unkindest cut of all!) the subjects of this hideous transformation—these involuntary turn-coats—were by their schoolfellows nicknamed YELLOW-HAMMERS.

*Yolly*, _subs._ (Winchester: obsolete).—A post-chaise. [That is, “Yellow,” that having been generally a favourite colour for these vehicles.]

*-y*, _inseparable suffix_ (Manchester Grammar).—_See_ MATHY, CHEMMY, GYMMY, &c.

APPENDIX

*A*, _subs._ (Felsted).—_See_ D, _infra._

*Abbey, The* (Durham).—The Cathedral. The boys of Durham School (and they alone) speak, and always have spoken, of the Cathedral as “the Abbey.” This is supposed to show that the school dates from pre-Reformation days, though its foundation is put down to the time of Henry VIII. The Charity Commissioners admit the claim, and pay to the Head-master a pension founded by Cardinal Langley in 1415 for the master of his school in Durham.

*Academia*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—A select literary club: in vogue where the Jesuit _Ratio Studiorum_ flourishes. Not now existent at Stonyhurst, but it is in great vigour in America and on the Continent.

*Ambulacrum*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—The covered playground used in wet weather.

*Arcady*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—An arched portion of the new front.

*Atramentarius*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—The ink-pot boy: an office once in vogue, the holder of it being responsible for the cleanliness, &c., of the ink-pots in the class-rooms. For this he was given a GOOD-DAY (_q.v._) at the end of the year.

*B*, _subs._ (Felsted).—_See_ D, _infra._

*Back-stop*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—The wicket-keeper in ordinary cricket.

*Bag*, _verb_ (Stonyhurst).—TO COB (_q.v._).

*Ball of Honour*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—_See_ BEGGAR’S-ACE.

*Bannet* (and *Bannet-fire*), _subs._ (Royal High School, Edin.).—_See_ BONNET and BONNET-FIRE, _ante_: in each case an error has crept in; the correct spelling is, of course, _bannet_.

*Bate*, _adj._ (Harrow).—Angry.

*Beast*, _subs._ (Cambridge).—_See_ BRUTE.

*Beggar’s-ace* (and *Ball of Honour*), _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—Two extra balls given by the winning side in a game to enable their opponents to catch up if possible.

*Bill*, _subs._ (Eton).—An old Etonian states that “in the BILL” used to mean only that a boy was “complained of” to the Head-master. _See_ ante.

*Black Monday* (Stonyhurst).—The day of re-opening of schools.

*Blandyke* (Stonyhurst).—_See_ ante. It may be interesting to call attention to the connection between Stonyhurst and St. Omers and many of the words and phrases occurring in this vocabulary. They not only date from the Continental period, but find their explanation in it alone. The College was founded in 1592 at St. Omers, and continued without a break (at Bruges and Liège) previous to the settlement in England in 1794.

*Bloody Wars*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—A common name for any stiffness: such as that usually experienced at the beginning of the football or cricket season: _e.g._ “I’ve got the BLOODY WARS.”

*Blue*, _subs._ (Christ’s Hospital).—_See_ ante; concerning the dress, I learn that the cap was given up many years ago. There used to be a yellow petticoat under the blue skirt. The boys also wear white “bands.”

*Bluebottle*, _subs._ (Christ’s Hospital: Hertford).—A BLUE (_q.v._): used by girls at Hertford. _See_ GRASSHOPPER (Appendix) and HEDGEHOG (_ante_).

*Bottle*, _verb_ (Durham).—_See_ ante. Also TO BE BOTTLED = to be in a fix.

*Bouncer*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—A ball kicked from the hand before it reaches the ground: Stonyhurst-football (_q.v._).

*Boy*, _subs._ (Harrow).—Specifically, a fag a grade above the lowest form. _See_ ante. As a _verb_, TO BOY = to call for a fag: all fags are summoned by a long drawn-out shout.

*Brick* (and *Clat*), _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—The names given to the two rival camps in a certain notorious quasi-insurrection in the College some fifty years ago. A full account appears in Fitzgerald’s _Stonyhurst Memories_.

*Bug and Snail*, _subs._ phr. (Winchester).—The Natural History Society.

*Bug-shooter*, _subs._ (Harrow).—A member of the School Corps.

*Bumf.* TO BUY A BUMF, _verb. phr._ (general).—To purchase a newspaper. MATH-BUMF = mathematical paper. _See_ ante.

*Bunker*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—(1) A native; (2) a low fellow.

*Bus*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—An extra nondescript class formed chiefly of boys not born to study.

*Butt*, _subs._ (Dulwich).—The school tuck-shop. _See_ BUTTERY.

*Butter*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—A boy known often to miss a catch. Hence, as _verb_ = to miss a catch.

*Buzz*, _verb_ (Christ’s Hospital).—To cry; to weep.

*C*, _subs._ (Felsted).—_See_ D, _infra_.

*Cæsar’s-bridge* (Stonyhurst).—An old bridge over the Hodder. Also CROMWELL’S-BRIDGE, though it is probable that Cromwell crossed the Hodder higher up. _See_ HIGGER BRIG.

*Cage, The* (Royal High School, Edin.).—A covered area, between two gates, in which prisoners at games are confined. Also, as _verb_ = to put in this enclosure.

*Candle-keepers*, _subs._ (Winchester).—MANSFIELD in his _School-Life at Winchester College_, p. 30 (_see_ quot. 1840, _ante_), says, “Why so called I have no idea,” but _see_ ADAM’S _Wykehamica_ (1878), 418.

*Cards.* ON CARDS, _phr._ (Harrow).—A report on conduct taken to the Head-master.

*Carthaginians* (Stonyhurst).—_See_ VICTORY-WALK.

*Champion*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—A boy in a LOWER LINE (_q.v._) class who, on account of age or size, joins in the games of the HIGHER LINE (_q.v._). _Cf._ CHARITY-TAILS.

*Chisel*, _verb_ (Winchester).—To cheat.

*Clap*, _verb_ (Christ’s Hospital: Hertford).—To push in front of. Whence CLAPPER = one who so pushes.

*Clat* (Stonyhurst).—_See_ BRICK.

*Clogs*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—The boots made by the College shoemaker.

*Common-key*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—A key by which most of the doors on the boys’ side of the house are opened.

*Concertatio*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—An exhibition of class-work given from time to time in the Community refectory by the LOWER LINE (_q.v._) classes.

*Copy*, _subs._ (Harrow).—Formerly COPY = a prize-book, chosen by the recipient. _See_ ante.

*Cork*, _verb_ (Eton).—To throw. [An Old Etonian informs me that “Cork” and not CALK (_q.v._) is the correct orthography.]

*Cowshed, The* (Christ’s Hospital).—_See_ ante. It should be stated that THE COWSHED is a sort of pent-house near the Warden’s residence which workmen use for divers purposes.

*Cricket-machine*, subs. (Stonyhurst).—A boy who studies cricket scores with excessive care.

*Crock*, _subs._ (general).—An indifferent performer at a game.

*Crocked.* TO BE CROCKED, _verb. phr._ (general).—To be injured at a game.

*Crow’s-wing* (and *-refectory*), _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—The part of the house in which the masters live and fare. _See_ CROW.

*Cut.* TO CUT IN, _verb. phr._ (Harrow).—If a boy misses his place in the line at BILL (_q.v._), and tries to run in irregularly, he is said TO CUT IN.

*D*, _subs._ (Felsted).—A division of “punishment bounds.” Nominally the bounds were:—A = practically no bounds; B = the ordinary bounds, the roads about a mile from the school; C = punishment bounds, confinement to the cricket-fields and playground; and D = confinement to the old school-house playground, one of the commonest forms of punishment till 1876, when the present school-house was opened. C and D were also known respectively as MONGREL and QUOD.

*Dame*, _subs._ (Eton and Harrow).—Originally many ladies kept boarding-houses: hence the word. _See_ ante.

*Damnation-hill* (Harrow).—_See_ DAMNATION-CORNER and HOWSON and WARNER, _Harrow School_ (1898), 80.

*Degerd*, _adj._ (Harrow).—Degraded. [Pronounced _Daygerd_.]

*Dicks’* (Stonyhurst).—The chief tuck-shop at the present time.

*Ditch, The* (Christ’s Hospital).—_See_ ante. THE DITCH is one of the three playgrounds, or rather open spaces, within the walls of Christ’s Hospital: it takes its name from the old City ditch which ran beneath it. The two others are the “Hall Play,” and the “Garden.”

*Double-remove.* To get a DOUBLE-REMOVE, _verb. phr._ (Harrow).—To skip a form.

*Dox*, _subs._ (Tonbridge).—The head-master. [An abbreviation of “doctor.”]

*Dub.* TO DUB IN, _verb. phr._ (Christ’s Hospital).—To subscribe.

*Duke’s-room* (Stonyhurst).—The PHILOSOPHERS’ (_q.v._) drawing-room.

*Early bed*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—In winter time the smaller boys go to bed an hour before the rest. Elder boys may avail themselves of this if sick: _e.g._ “There is no EARLY BED to-night.”

*Extraordinary*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—Classes in which extra classics are read in the lower forms.

*Fag-poker*, _intj._ (Harrow: obsolete).—A cry to a fag to fetch a stake for the fire.

1827. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_ [Harrow], p. 318. Poker and tongs were unknown luxuries in the “play-room” at Butler’s; and the junior fag, at the call of “FAG poker,” had to rush out in the cold to pull a hedge-stake of substantial dimensions from the fence or faggot-stack.

*Feeder-cric* (Christ’s Hospital).—_See_ ante. This game got its name from the “feeder,” _i.e._ the thrower of the ball, and the humble imitation that it was of cricket. The bat was a stick like a “glorified” ruler, but cut away at one end to resemble in some sort a cricket-bat. It was played against a buttress, on which was marked a circle in chalk, which served as a wicket. The ball was soft, with a hole in it; as in rounders the batsman might insist on certain conditions as to the method of “feeding,” and might refuse to recognise a “feed” unreasonable in height.

*First-praise*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—_See_ REPORT.

*First-touch.* TO BE FIRST-TOUCH, _verb. phr._ (Stonyhurst).—To be first in reaching the scene of a game, a place in which was secured by touching some object, as a handball, a wicket, &c.

*Flab*, _subs._ 1. (Christ’s Hospital).—Butter.

2. (Stonyhurst).—A boy who does not play in any of the regular (cricket) matches. For such a practice net is provided, known as the FLAB’S-NET.

*Fob*, _verb_ (Christ’s Hospital).—To put on carelessly: as bands or buttons, without trouble, to look right for a minute or so.

*Forcing*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—Dribbling. _See_ STONYHURST-FOOTBALL.

*Form-beak*, _subs._ (Harrow).—A form-master. _See_ BEAK.

*Form-game*, _subs._ (Harrow: obsolete).—At football, the games arranged in grades of ability, and not by Houses. They were named on the same principle as the school is arranged—Sixth Form game, Fifth Form game, and so on.

*Forty*, _subs._ (Felsted).—A division of the school for football or cricket. Each FORTY has its own ground.

*Fotch*, _subs._ (Christ’s Hospital).—A blow on the face. Also as _verb_ = to strike.

*Fox*, _verb_ (Stonyhurst).—To pretend to be ill.

*Frart*, _subs._ (Christ’s Hospital).—A potato.

*Fug*, _subs._ (Harrow).—_See_ ante. The name is now given to a diminutive Association ball: formerly one of hair and chamois-leather.

*Fungi*, _subs._ (Christ’s Hospital)—India-rubber.

*Gomer*, _subs._ (Winchester).—_See_ ante, sense 2. I am informed that there is yet another usage. GOMERS = a suit of clothes in which to go home. [Because College men wear gowns.]

*Goose-match*, _subs._ (Harrow).—_See_ ante, and quot.

1898. S. W. GORE, _Harrow School_, 225. Harrow is, I believe, one of the few schools where cricket is played in the Michaelmas term, when the traditional “GOOSE” MATCH is played. This was started on the 22nd of September 1849 by Mr. C. O. Eaton.

*Grammar-match*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—A football match in which the members of the highest class of the LOWER LINE (_q.v._)—GRAMMAR (_q.v._)—play the lower classes combined.

*Grasshopper*, _subs._ (Christ’s Hospital: Hertford).—A BLUE-girl: used by boys at Hertford. _See_ BLUEBOTTLE (Appendix) and HEDGEHOG (_ante_).

*Great Figures* (Stonyhurst).—_See_ FIGURES, _ante_.

*Grecian*, _subs._ (Christ’s Hospital).—Add following to 1871 quot.:—

Then on leaving the school for college they obtain a gift of £60 for clothing and outfit, and an allowance of £70 a year while at college. Nor do they seem to owe any further allegiance in after life to Christ’s Hospital. For instance, many lads are educated specially for the navy, and are distinguished from the others by wearing a metal badge on the shoulder, but on leaving Christ’s they do not necessarily enter maritime life.

*Head.* HEAD OF THE LINE, _subs. phr._ (Stonyhurst).—The Captain of the School.

*Hedgehog* (Christ’s Hospital).—_See_ BLUEBOTTLE and GRASSHOPPER (Appendix).

*Hell*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—A well-known hazard on the golf links: another is called PURGATORY.

*Henner*, _subs._ (Royal High School, Edin.).—A challenge to do something difficult, which the challenger must first do himself: _e.g._ “Here’s a HENNER for you!” [Probably from Old Scots _hain_.]

*Higger Brig*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—A bridge over the Hodder. It was by the old bridge at this point that Cromwell crossed on his way to Stonyhurst Hall, though some say it was at CÆSAR’S BRIDGE (_q.v._). [Derived from an attempt to pronounce “Higher Bridge” in the local fashion.]

*Hopgarth*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—A part of the Gardens.

*House-beak*, _subs._ (Harrow).—A master. _See_ BEAK and FORM-BEAK.

*Immunity-card*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—_See_ TOLLY-TICKET.

*In.* ALL IN, _phr._ (Stonyhurst).—A direction given (1) at end of recreation; and (2) to stay indoors at recreation time when wet.

*Ink-pot Boy* (Stonyhurst).—_See_ ATRAMENTARIUS.

*Jicker*, _subs._ (Christ’s Hospital).—(1) The juice of a HIGH (_q.v._). [It is suggested that this is a “portmanteau word”—from _juice_ and _liquor_.] Also (2) = blacking.

*Jickery*, _adj._ (Christ’s Hospital).—Big: _e.g._ “You’re in for a JICKERY row.” [Query = overflowing, like the JICKER (juice) of a “high” (fruit tart).]

*Jiffs, The* (Christ’s Hospital).—THE JIFFS are about the oldest part of the Hospital building. The name is given to cloisters lying on the left hand as one enters from Christ Church passage. They are at a lower level, and are reached by four steps. It was the only part not burned in the Great Fire. The rooms above were destroyed. [Suggested derivations are:—(1) from “Grey Friars” = G.F.’s; and (2) from a beadle, Geoffrey—Geoff’s—Jiffs.]