Part 23
*Joseph*, _subs._ (Harrow: obsolete).—Generic for boy: _e.g._ BEETLE-JOSEPH = an entomological collector; MUSIC-JOSEPH = a boy who studied music, and so forth.
*Keen*, _adj._ (Christ’s Hospital).—Good: _e.g._ “jolly KEEN” = very good.
*Kenna’s-day* (Stonyhurst).—_See_ DAY, _ante_.
*King*, _subs._ (Royal High School, Edin.).—A game peculiar to the school. The players range themselves on one side of the playground, one going into the centre and calling “King!” The centre player endeavours to catch some one, who then joins him, and this goes on till all are caught. A rush is then made for the side, the last to reach it taking the centre place in a new game. It forms an excellent training for football and a source of revenue to tailors.
*Lady Gallery* (Stonyhurst).—A gallery in which is a statue of the Blessed Virgin.
*Lamm.* TO LAMM IN, _verb. phr._ (Stonyhurst).—_See_ PEG IN.
*Last-quarter*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—An interval at the end of long recreations for toilet purposes, &c., before studies or other duties: _e.g._ “Is there LAST-QUARTER after this recreation?”
*Leeming’s Knot* (Stonyhurst).—A ditch or hole in a neighbouring wood. [From some local farmer who is said to have jumped into it.]
*Little Man*, _subs._ (Eton).—_See_ ante: this term, I am informed, is only applied to one particular man in a certain shop.
*Lo* (Felsted).—_See_ FAIN LO.
*Long Litany Lane* (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—A lane near the College.
*Long Sleep*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—A longer time than usual in bed: _e.g._ “There will be LONG SLEEP to-morrow,” “May I have LONG SLEEP?”
*Long-soft*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—A long, low bounce: STONYHURST-FOOTBALL (_q.v._).
*Lord’s.* TO BE IN LORD’S, _verb. phr._ (Winchester).—To be a member of the first Eleven at cricket, dating from the old Public School matches at Lord’s between Winchester, Harrow, and Eton. Whence LORD’S-EX = the Exeat for the Eton and Harrow match.
*Lounge*, _subs._ (Eton).—Both present and past Eton schoolmen inform me that, as far as they know, this word was, and is, never used.
*Love-lane* (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—A road near the College.
*Low*, _subs._ (Christ’s Hospital).—There are two sorts of fruit pies sold at the school shop, called respectively, according to their shape, “HIGH” and “LOW,” the word “pie” being generally omitted.
*Magazine*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—The dormitory of the smaller boys in the College. Once a trunk room.
*Mathemat*, _subs._ (Christ’s Hospital).—_See_ ante, and add following to quot. 1895:—
The most distinctive feature in the MATHEMAT life was the yearly “going to Court.” Our hair was trimmed and brushed for the occasion by the Hospital barber, buttonholes and gloves lavished on us. When we went to Buckingham Palace we drove five in a carriage, the redundant gentleman being literally and metaphorically sat upon by his justly indignant comrades. But more interesting were our visits to Windsor, with the march from the station to the Castle, the long weary waiting in endless corridors and gorgeous ante-chambers, the well-earned lunch, with John Brown peeping in at the door; then Her Majesty’s inspection of our drawings; and finally, our free range over the Castle and toilsome ascent of the Round Tower. I remember the following circumstance: One MATHEMAT exhibited a painting of a ship still building. Prince George of Wales remarked to his brother, “What a ‘rummy’ ship,” at which the exhibitor laughed, causing the elder Prince to exclaim, “Look, George, he’s laughing at you.”
*Mayfair* (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—A walk in the playground. _Cf._ BOND-STREET.
*Meeter*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—A successful kick at a ball coming towards the one who kicks. _See_ STONYHURST-FOOTBALL.
*Mob*, _subs._ (Christ’s Hospital).—A move from one Form to another.
*Mongrel* (Felsted).—_See_ D (Appendix).
*Monkey.* MONKEY-ROOM (Stonyhurst).—A lumber-room: chiefly used as a stable for bicycles.
*Mull*, _subs._ (Christ’s Hospital).—A fight.
*Nicks*, _intj._ (Stonyhurst).—_See_ ante. Also used at Stonyhurst by scouts at sight of a Prefect.
*Nip’s-night*, _subs._ (Felsted).—The annual entertainment for the village people. [_Nip_ = a rustic.]
*Nurse*, _subs._ (Christ’s Hospital).—_See_ ante. Obsolete in London, but retained at Hertford.
*Officiate*, _verb_ (Christ’s Hospital).—To interfere: _i.e._ to be “officious.” _E.g._ “Don’t officiate.”
*On.* ALL ON, _phr._ (Stonyhurst).—The direction given at the end of recreation. Also ALL IN.
*Passy*, _adj._ (Christ’s Hospital).—_See_ ante. Now obsolete: the modern equivalent is VISH, which _see_ (Appendix).
*Past*, _adv._ (Stonyhurst).—Beyond the goal line.
*Peg.* TO PEG IN, _verb. phr._ (Stonyhurst).—(1) To throw in hard: of cricket. (2) To cane severely: of corporal punishment: _e.g._ “Does So-and-so PEG IN?” Also To LAMM IN.
*People*, _subs._ (Harrow).—Relations; visitors: _e.g._ “I’ve got PEOPLE coming down.”
*Pepper-box*, _subs._ (Eton).—A buttress in the original Fives Court on the Chapel steps—reproduced in all Eton Fives Courts.
*Pester*, _subs._ (Harrow).—The special cab used to convey boys with infectious diseases to SANNY (_q.v._).
*Pet, The* (Felsted).—The petrifying stream: a small brook near Felsted.
*Philathlet* (or *Phil*), _subs._ (Harrow).—_See_ PHIL, _ante_. Also the large school cricket ground used for lower games.
*Philosopher’s-quarters*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—The part of the house in which the PHILOSOPHERS (_q.v._) live.
*Pi*, _adj._ (originally Winchester).—_See_ ante. This expression is now pretty general. Also PI-JAW (or PI-GAS) = a serious admonition.
*Pog*, _subs._ (Felsted).—_See_ ante: the suggested derivation is “Pig—pig-faced—pog.” “Put your POG” was the usual direction to DRAWING-ROUND (_q.v._).
*Post-office*, _verb_ (Harrow).—To promenade the High Street. [Where is situated the post-office.]
*Prefect’s-room*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—The room in which corporal punishment is inflicted. “To visit the PREFECT’S-ROOM” has a recognised significance. Also known as the TOLLY-SHOP.
*Prisoner’s-bars*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—Otherwise known as “Prisoner’s-base.”
*Privates*, _subs._ (Harrow).—Private lessons.
*Purgatory*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—_See_ HELL.
*Purl* (or *Pearl*), _subs._ (Winchester).—A header. Also as _verb_.
*Rabble*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—The Vesper Choir: _i.e._ the choir formed of boys not in the College choir proper, who sing alternately with the latter at Vespers.
*Reading-room*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—An hour of extra study after supper. So called from the room in which this study may be done. “I am going to Reading Room.”
*Rector’s Tower* (Stonyhurst).—A tower at the end of the west wing. Also known as Parbrick Tower, after the Rector who built it.
*Report*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—The account of the school work given by the Prefect of Studies in the Boys’ Refectory, before the whole house assembled, at the end of each term. The class which wins most honour is said to get FIRST PRAISE. After the Report the DISTINCTION LISTS are read. _Cf._ DISTINGUISHED.
*Retreat*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—A period of three days annually devoted by the boys to practices of piety.
*Romans* (Stonyhurst).—_See_ VICTORY-WALK.
*Rostrum*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—A pulpit formerly in the boys’ refectory: used for reading during certain meals.
*Rotten.* BELLS GO ROTTEN, _phr._ (Winchester).—_See_ MANSFIELD, _School-Life at Winchester_ (1866), 432.
*Roust*, _verb_ (Durham).—To kick.
*Sabbatine*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—A kind of academical exhibition given by one of the HIGHER LINE (_q.v._) classes to the rest of the Higher Line and visitors on a Saturday afternoon. [From _Sabbatum_.]
*Sack.* TO HAVE (or GET) THE SACK, _verb. phr._ (Harrow).—To be dismissed from school for an offence. A common enough word, but its specific use at Harrow deserves mention.
*Sage*, _subs._ (Royal High School, Edin.: obsolete).—A class.
*Sanny*, _subs._ (Harrow).—The School Sanatorium.
*Scaley*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—A term of contempt: applied to all foreigners.
*Sciff*, _verb_ (Christ’s Hospital).—To knock over.
*Sconse*, _subs._ and _adj._ (Christ’s Hospital).—A selfish fellow; selfish. _See_ SCAFF.
*Scratch* (Christ’s Hospital).—The matron’s servant.
*Scrub*, subs. (Stonyhurst).—A ball hit close to the wall or ground: handball.
*Scug*, _subs._ (Eton).—A term of contempt for any boy wanting in self-respect.
*Second-dinner*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—When a boy for any reason has been unable to dine with the rest, he is said to go to SECOND-DINNER.
*Second-tip*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—A form of STONYHURST-CRICKET (_q.v._), in which the batsman had to run once at least in two hits.
*Second-washing*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—The interval allowed every day before dinner for toilet purposes.
*Semmies* (or *Seminarians*), _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—Students at the Seminary or St. Mary’s Hall.
*Semper* (Winchester).—_See_ ante. SEMPER TESTIS also = “a boy always ready to support any assertion of his friend.”
*Senior Philosopher*, subs. (Stonyhurst).—The head and spokesman of the PHILOSOPHERS (_q.v._).
*Shag*, _subs._ (Christ’s Hospital).—A share. Also as _verb_.
*Shark*, _subs._ (Christ’s Hospital).—A “cadger.” Whence, as _verb_ = to make up to; to cadge.
*Shinner*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—A kick on the shins. _See_ STONYHURST-FOOTBALL.
*Shop-boys*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—The boys responsible for the shop in the “house.” It is entirely in the boys’ own hands; the profits go to the games club.
*Shuts*, _subs._ (Christ’s Hospital).—A “sell.” Also as _intj._ = “Sold again!”
*Side.* BEHIND ONE’S SIDE, _phr._ (Winchester).—Said of a man when nearer the opponents’ goal than the player on his own side who last touched the ball.
Also _see_ SWAGGER (Appendix).
*Sig*, _subs._ (Harrow).—A signature for work: _e.g._ “To get a SIG.” _See_ SIGNED.
*Signed.* TO BE SIGNED, _verb. phr._ (Harrow).—To be excused work.
*Six-and-Six*, _subs._ (Winchester).—_See_ ante. Originally one match yearly between College and Commoners; now three matches between College, Commoners, and Houses. Also SIXES. _See_ APPLE-PIE DAY.
*Sixes*, _subs._ (Harrow).—Alternate six balls in the Yard with another batsman. Hence TO GO SIXES = to go shares in anything.
*Skew* (Harrow).—_See_ ante. Also, as _verb_ = to turn (or fail) in REP (_q.v._).
*Skit*, _subs._ (Harrow).—A quantity.
*Slime*, _verb._ 1. (Felsted).—_See_ ante. To sneak in, out, or past. Also as _subs._, TO DO A SLIME (even in games) = to take a crafty advantage.
2. (Harrow).—To go round quietly.
1898. WARNER, _Harrow School_, 282. His house beak SLIMED and twug him.
3. (Harrow).—To make drops at rackets.
*Slop*, _subs._ (Christ’s Hospital).—A term of contempt.
*Slopper*, _subs._ (The Leys).—A slop-basin.
*Snoring-dormitory*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—A special dormitory reserved for troublesome sleepers.
*Souppy*, _subs._ (Royal High School, Edin.).—The same as GRUBBY (_q.v._).
*Spec*, _verb_ (Harrow and Durham).—To expect to get; to count on winning beforehand: as a race, &c.
*Spital Sermon* (Christ’s Hospital).—_See_ ante. In _The Blue_ of April 1900 appears an account of a Spital Sermon preached in Christ Church, Newgate Street, April 23rd, 1644: it is quaint. In recent years the Lord Mayor’s chaplain preached on Easter Monday, a bishop on Tuesday, but within the last twenty years the Monday sermon has been given up. Also, the boys no longer wear the bit of paper bearing the words, “He is risen,” and the “Mathemats” have ceased to carry their nautical instruments.
*Spot.* ON THE SPOT, _phr._ (Stonyhurst).—(1) In good humour; (2) in good condition.
*Stonyhurst-cricket*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst: recently obsolete).—A form of cricket played till very recent times at Stonyhurst, the ordinary game being known as LONDON-CRICKET. The points of difference are chiefly these: (1) the balls must be swift, and bowled along the ground; (2) the batsman must hit—“slog” is the term; and (3) the game is played at a single wicket. Bat, ball, and wickets differ in shape and size from those used in cricket proper. In Father Gerard’s _Stonyhurst_ will be found a detailed account of the game, and a connection is traced between it and a crude form once played at Eton. It is in all probability a survival of very primitive cricket which became stereotyped because of the life of the College abroad.
*Stonyhurst-football*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—A kind of football played at Stonyhurst and some other schools. It differs materially from the Association and Rugby game, chiefly in these respects: (1) any number may play at once; (2) the ball may be touched by the hand during the game, but not handled or carried as in Rugby football; (3) charging, or otherwise roughly treating another player, is prohibited. The goal-posts are longer and the space between them narrower than in other forms of the game; the ball is small and round. It is akin to a species of football played at Eton, and is clearly a relic of the past. In matches the sides usually have names: _e.g._ “French and English,” in the Grand Matches—a significant survival from old continental days; “Federals and Allies” (now obsolete); “Pipes and Windows”—a favourite impromptu match, the “Pipes” being those who sit on one side of the old “Study Place,” the “Windows” those who sit on the other. Now that the “Pipes” (hot-water pipes) are on the same side as the windows, the match is more commonly called “Walls and Windows,” but sometimes “Chapel Pipes and Windows.” “Shavers and Non-shavers” is another favourite match.
*Strue*, _subs._ (general).—A construe. _See_ CON.
*Superd.* TO BE SUPERD, _verb. phr._ (Harrow).—To be superannuated.
*Swack*, _subs._ (Christ’s Hospital).—Deception. Whence TO SWACK UP = to deceive; to take in.
*Swagger* (or *Side*), _subs._ (Harrow).—(1) Appropriating privileges to which one has no right; and (2) using peculiar privileges which others may not use. Etiquette in this respect is very complex.
1898. WARNER, _Harrow School_, 280. The rules of “SWAGGER” are most complex, like other traditional and unwritten codes, and in them a new boy is apt to find himself entangled. He goes out with his umbrella rolled up, and he finds he is swaggering; or he carries it by its middle, or under his arm, or he walks on the middle terrace after chapel, or he innocently wears his “blues” open when it is hot, or turns his trousers up when it is wet, and again he is swaggering. Lady visitors sometimes think small boys at Harrow rude. It is not rudeness which leads boys to stick close to the wall, even when coming up covered with mud from football, and shoulder the world into the gutter, it is modesty; to walk in the road is SWAGGER. To loiter at the house door, or to sing or whistle in the passages, and to wear a hat in the house are also forms of SWAGGER.
*Taff*, _subs._ (Christ’s Hospital: Hertford).—A potato.
*Talker*, _subs._ (Harrow).—One who cannot sing in time.
1898. HOWSON and WARNER, _Harrow School_, 208. Then followed solos from those who could sing and those who could not—it made no difference. The latter class were called TALKERS, and every boy was encouraged to stand up and “talk it out.”
*Tap*, _subs._ (Eton).—Originally the CHRISTOPHER (_q.v._). Now the only place recognised by the authorities where a boy can get beer.
*Tart-feast*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—Certain feasts indulged in by classes at the end of the school year.
*Temple of Bel[l], The* (Royal High School, Edin.: obsolete).—A square tower at the north-east corner of the playground in which the bell was formerly hung: now rendered invisible by the new buildings.
*Tetra* (Felsted).—_See_ ante. Also as _adj._: _e.g._ a science boy regarded “Stinks” as “TETRA-buck.”
*Thirders*, _subs._ (Harrow).—The Third Eleven.
*Three Hundred Day* (Stonyhurst).—_See_ DAY.
*Three-yearer*, _subs._ (Harrow).—A boy who has been three years in the school, and who, by seniority, has the right to do certain things, which his juniors may not do.
*Ticket*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A promise, given by a Prefect to a Junior, to remit the next punishment when incurred.
*Titch*, _subs._ (Christ’s Hospital).—_See_ ante. It is suggested that TITCH is a “portmanteau word”—“tight breeches,” the tightening of the garment being often a preliminary to the operation.
*Tizzy-tick*, _subs._ (Harrow).—An order on a tradesman to the extent of sixpence a day.
*Tolly, The* (Rugby).—_See_ quot.
1900. _Athenæum_, 16th June, p. 743. The chapel rather loses by its stunted head, especially as a fine tapering spire (disrespectfully known as “THE TOLLY”) appears at the back of the Close.
*Tolly-shop*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—_See_ PREFECT’S-ROOM.
*Tolly-ticket*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—A custom now generally obsolete, but still kept up by some masters. It used to be common, and consisted in giving a boy a card of good conduct as a reward for specially good work. If, later, he were to incur punishment for some offence, he would produce this card, and, unless the offence were too grave, could thereby receive a free pardon. Such cards were called TOLLY TICKETS or IMMUNITY CARDS. [A precisely similar custom is described as having existed at Eton in the forties by Mr. C. Kegan Paul in his _Memories_.]
*Tonk*, _verb_ (Durham).—To hit: a cricket term.
*Trav*, _subs._ (Felsted).—Travelling-money. _See_ HOTS.
*Tubby* (Christ’s Hospital).—A male servant of the school: his business was to move certain tubs, the use of which has long been discontinued, but the name remains.
*Tuft*, _subs._ (University).—A young nobleman, entered as a student at a university, so called from the TUFT or gold tassel worn on the cap. Also GOLD-HATBAND (_q.v._). Whence “tuft-hunter.”
*Tuz I*, _phr._ (Felsted).—The same as FAIN IT (_q.v._), BAGS I (_q.v._), &c.
*Twelve* (Harrow).—_See_ ante.
THE SCHOOL TWELVE, _subs. phr._ (Harrow).—The twelve best singers (bass and tenor voices singing in unison) in the school. Whence THE HOUSE TWELVE = the same in each House.
*Twug* (Harrow).—Caught. [The _past par._ of “twig.”]
*Vacation-shoes* (or *-clothes*), _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—Each boy is measured for these before the summer holidays.
*Victory-walk*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—A recognised reward given every half-term to the classes of the LOWER LINE (_q.v._). The system is as follows:—Each class is divided into two sides, ROMANS and CARTHAGINIANS, the boys being set one against another as rivals. When lessons are asked, the rivals are asked in pairs, and each tries to correct the other. A successful correction is called a VICTORY. At the end of the half-term these victories are counted: the side which has the greater total is freed some afternoon for a VICTORY-WALK.
*Vile-child*, _subs._ (Eton).—I am informed that this expression was only used by a particular tutor, and was never regarded as _peculiar_ to Eton phraseology.
*Vill*, _subs._ (Felsted).—The village of Felsted.
*Vish*, _adj._ (Christ’s Hospital).—Cross: the modern equivalent of PASSY (_q.v._). [That is, “vicious.”]
*Whopping*, _subs._ (Harrow).—1. A beating with a cane inflicted by a Monitor, Head of House, Sixth Form boy, &c., on a lower boy for a breach of discipline.
2. A MONITOR’S-WHOPPING—a more serious affair, only inflicted in grave cases; the delinquent is brought before the whole body of the Monitors in the Vaughan Library, and punishment given there.
*Wooden-spoon*, _subs._ (Cambridge).—The student last on the list of mathematical honours. _See_ TRIPOS, GULF, TWELVE APOSTLES, WRANGLER, &c.
Printed by BALLANTYNE, HANSON & CO. Edinburgh & London
Transcriber’s note:
Unusual and variable spellings, hyphenations, and capitalizations have been retained.
All upright instances of ‘Cf.’ italicized (Bicker, [The] Dark Walk, Poetry, Rhetoric)