Part 3

*Bible-Clerk*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A College Prefect in full power, appointed for one week. Formerly (with OSTIARIUS, _q.v._) he kept order in school, and assisted at floggings. He now reads lessons in Chapel, and takes round ROLLS (_q.v._). He is absolved from going up to BOOKS (_q.v._) during his term of office. The Prefect of HALL need not act as BIBLE-CLERK unless he likes, and the Prefect of School may choose any week he pleases; the rest take weeks in rotation, in the order of their Chambers in College.

15 [?]. CHRIS. JOHNSON [WRENCH]. In Testamento Veteri caput alter in Aulâ Clarâ voce legit, qui BIBLIOCLERICUS inde Dicitur; hebdomadam propriis habet ille Camænsis.

_c._ 1840. MANSFIELD, _School-Life at Winchester College_, p. 103. Order was kept during school hours by the BIBLE-CLERK and Ostiarius, two of the Præfects, who held these offices in rotation—the former lasting for a week, the latter for one day only. They paraded School armed with sticks, and brought up to the Head and Second Masters (who alone had the power of flogging) the names of the delinquents which had been “ordered” for punishment; the names of the more heinous offenders being confided to the BIBLE-CLERK, the others to the Ostiarius.

1847. HALLIWELL, _Archaic Words_, s.v. BIBLE. A great book. (_A.-N._) The term was constantly used without any reference to the Scriptures. _Ibid._, s.v. BIBLE-CLERKSHIP. A very ancient scholarship in the Universities, so called because the student who was promoted to that office was enjoined to read the Bible at meal-times.

1864. _Blackwood’s Magazine_, XCV., p. 73. [At dinner] portions of beef were served out to the boys ... the BIBLE-CLERK meanwhile reading a chapter from the Old Testament. _Ibid._, p. 87. An hour ... is expected to be employed in working under the superintendence of the BIBLE-CLERK, as the Præfect in daily “course” is termed, who is responsible for a decent amount of order and silence at these hours.

1878. ADAMS, _Wykehamica_, p. 59. There appears to have been no regular BIBLE-CLERK.... From this it has been inferred that the institution of these offices must have been subsequent, and (some think) long subsequent, to the Founder’s time.

*Bibler.* _See_ BIBLING.

*Bibling* (or *Bibler*), _subs._ (Winchester: obsolete).—A flogging of six strokes. Hence BIBLING-ROD = the instrument used in BIBLING: it consisted of a handle with four apple twigs in the end twisted together. It was first used by Warden Baker in 1454, and is represented in the _Aut Disce_. BIBLING UNDER NAIL = a BIBLING administered for very heinous offences after an offender had stood under NAIL (_q.v._).

1864. _Blackwood’s Magazine_, XCV., p. 79. Underneath is the place of execution, where delinquents are BIBLED. _Ibid._, p. 72. It need hardly be said that it [the rod] is applied in the ordinary fashion: six cuts forming what is technically called a BIBLING—on which occasions the Bible-Clerk introduces the victim; four being the sum of a less terrible operation called a “scrubbing.”

1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, p. 37. Underneath is the place of execution, where delinquents are BIBLED; and near it is a socket for a candle-sconce, known as the “nail,” under which any boy who has been detected in any disgraceful fault—lying, &c.—is placed as in a sort of pillory to await his punishment; a piece of ancient discipline for which happily there is seldom occasion.

*Bicker*, _subs._ (Royal High School, Edin.).—A fray between the boys of the school and the town boys, or KEELIES (_q.v._); generally waged with the aid of stones (_cf._ GEORGE BORROW’S _Lavengro_, ch. vii.; also SCOTT, _Redgauntlet_, ch. i.). In the present Rector’s boyhood these school fights were often waged with “Cowts,” made of a rope twisted firmly into a thick end, with about four feet attached with which to swing it.

... _Cursor Mundi_, MS. Coll. Trin. Cantab., f. 87. And for she loveth me out of BIKER, Of my love she may be siker.

1581. RICHE, _Farewell to Militarie Profession_. My captaine, feelyng suche a BICKERYNG within himself, the like whereof he had never indured upon the sea, was like to bee taken prisoner aboard his owne shippe.

1585. _Nomenclator._ Naturæ et morbi conflictus, Aurel. κρίσις. The conflict or BICKERMENT of nature and sicknesse.

1823. NARES, _Glossary_, s.v. BICKERING and BICKERMENT. Skirmishing.

1847. HALLIWELL, _Archaic Words_, s.v. BICKER. To fight; to quarrel; to act with hostility. _Ibid._, BICKERMENT. Conflict. _Ibid._, s.v. BIKERE. To skirmish; to fight; to quarrel. Also a substantive, a quarrel. (_A.-S._) _Cf._ _Leg. Wom._, 2650; _Piers Ploughman_, p. 429; MINOT’S _Poems_, p. 51; _Arthour and Merlin_, p. 206.

*Biddy*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A bath in College. [Fr. _bidet_.]

*Big*, _adj._ (Harrow).—Upwards of sixteen years of age; as “only able to go in for BIG sports.” _See_ SMALL.

*Big-game*, _subs._ (Harrow: obsolete).—The chief football game.

1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, p. 312. There is now a spacious piece of ground kept for the especial purpose, where as many as six separate games can be played at once, besides four smaller grounds belonging to different houses. The BIG-GAME, in which only the _élite_ of the school players take part, is managed by the monitors under very stringent regulations. [Now called Sixth Form game.—ED.]

*Big-school*, _subs._ (King Edward’s, Birm.).—The room in which the school assembles for prayers, or on any occasion when it is addressed as a whole by the Head Master. The room is also used for teaching, though not so entirely so as twenty-five years ago.

*Big-side*, _subs._ (Rugby and elsewhere).—The combination of all the bigger fellows in the school in one and the same game or run. Also the ground specially used for the game so denominated. Hence BIG-SIDE run = a paper-chase, in which picked representatives of all Houses take part, as opposed to a House run. _See_ LITTLE-SIDE.

1856. HUGHES, _Tom Brown’s School-days_, vii. “Well, I’m going to have a try,” said Tadpole; “it’s the last run of the half, and if a fellow gets in at the end, BIG-SIDE stands ale and bread and cheese and a bowl of punch; and the Cock’s such a famous place for ale.”

*Bill*, _subs._ 1. (Eton).—A list of the boys who go to the Head Master at 12 o’clock; also of those who get off ABSENCE (_q.v._): _e.g._ an eleven playing in a match are thus exempt. _See_ Appendix.

c. 1850. BRODRICK, _Memories and Impressions_. ... It is credibly reported of Mr. Cookesley—who, in spite of a tendency to buffoonery, was an inspiring teacher—that he addressed a remarkably stupid boy in the following terms: “I tell you what it is, sir, if you ever show me up a copy of your own verses again, I’ll put you in the BILL” (an Etonian euphemism for a capital punishment). “Why, a great strong fellow like you can have no difficulty in getting a decent copy of verses written for him, and if you ever again bring me one of your own concoction I’ll have you flogged.”

1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, p. 100. Bagshawe even went so far as to rebuke one of the monitors for rising in Mr. James’ presence; and when told that it was by Mr. Busby’s order, desired him to write that down on his BILL; a proceeding equivalent, as Mr. Busby declared, and as Westminster and Eton men will perhaps agree, to ordering the head-master up for corporal punishment.

1876. BRINSLEY RICHARDS, _Seven Years at Eton_. Some of the small boys whom this delightful youth tempted to ape his habits, had often occasion to rue it when they staggered back to College giddy and sick, carrying with them a perfume which told its tale to their tutors, and caused them to be put in the BILL.

2. (Harrow).—The “call-over” of the whole school on half-holidays; at 4 P.M. in summer, at 4.15 P.M. in other terms. Whence BILL-BOOK = the book—the list of the school in order of forms—from which BILL is called; BILL-ORDER = the order of the school as in the BILL-BOOK; BILL-MONITOR = a member of the “First Fourth” who is in charge of the paper on which monitors sign their names during BILL. Also used at Westminster.

1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, p. 284. His pupils were chiefly boys of rank, and during Thackeray’s time had been exempted from appearing at BILLS. Sumner stopped this privilege, to the great disgust of Dr. Glasse and some of his aristocratic friends. Earl Radnor even threatened to “ruin the school” if Sumner refused to give way; but the new head-master was firm. Lord Dartmoor, on the other hand, supported him, and removed his sons into his House from Glasse’s, who was beaten in the struggle, and left Harrow. _Ibid._, 293. At the time of his appointment he was only twenty-six, but his reputation as a scholar stood very high. It is enough to say that under his rule Harrow has increased in numbers, and certainly not lost in reputation. The last BILL-BOOK contains 492 names.

1899. _Public School Mag._, Dec., p. 446. The uniformity of daily life at Harrow was interrupted by a pleasant interlude not long ago. The Chinese Ambassador paid a visit to the school. His Excellency made an inspection of the school buildings, and was finally cheered at BILL.

*Bill-brighter*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A small fagot used for lighting coal fires in kitchen. [From a servant, Bill Bright, who was living in 1830.]

_c._ 1840. MANSFIELD, _School-Life at Winchester College_, p. 89. The Kitchen is a spacious apartment with a vaulted roof, occupying the entire height of the building on the west side of the quadrangle, and at least half its length; here we might see a few Fags endeavouring to coax Jem Sims, John Coward, or Mother Mariner (the cooks) for an extra supply of mashed potatoes, till Kitchen is cleared by the exasperated Manciple, who has just detected a delinquent in the act of secreting under his gown an armful of the small faggots used for lighting the Kitchen fires (called BILL BRIGHTERS), an opportunity for purloining which was never allowed to slip by a Junior of a properly regulated mind.

*Bim* (or *Bimb*), _verb_ (Tonbridge).—To cane. Hence BIMB-STICK = a cane.

*Binge*, _subs._ (Oxford).—A drinking-bout. [_Binger_ (Linc.) = tipsy.]

*Birch-broom Race*, _subs. phr._ (Winchester).—_See_ TORCH-RACE.

*Birch-room*, _subs._ (Westminster).—_See_ quot.

1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, p. 178. Behind is the “French room,” once known as the BIRCH-ROOM (in which those useful implements were manufactured and used), where a bench is carefully preserved bearing the name of “John Dryden,” no doubt cut by the poet himself, as the style of the letters corresponds with his date.

*Bird*, _subs._ (Durham).—A credulous boy; one easily cajoled; a “soft.”

*Bishop*, _subs._ (Winchester).—The sapling with which a fagot is bound together.

*Bite*, _intj._ (Charterhouse and Christ’s Hospital).—_Cave!_

*Black*, _subs._ (Rugby).—A nickname.

1856. HUGHES, _Tom Brown’s School-days_, I. vi. “There’s plenty of youngsters don’t care about it,” said Walker. “Here, here’s Scud East—you’ll be tossed, won’t you, young un?” Scud was East’s nickname, or BLACK, as we called it, gained by his fleetness of foot.

*Black Book, The* (Charterhouse).—_See_ EXTRA.

*Black-hole*, _subs._ (Shrewsbury).—_See_ quot.

1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, p. 241. There used to be a small four-square apartment, not much larger than a Punch-and-Judy box, lighted by a single narrow loop-hole—a receptacle for the flogging-block and other like apparatus. This was known as the BLACK-HOLE, or sometimes more familiarly as “Rome’s Hole,” from a traditionary culprit who had been a very regular occupant.

*Black-jack*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A large leathern beer jug used in College. It holds two gallons. In olden times BLACK-JACKS were in common use for small beer. [_See_ UNTON, _Inventories_, p. 1; BRAND’S _Pop. Antiq._, ii. 206; _Ord. and Reg._, p. 392; HEYWOOD’S _Edward IV._, p. 97. Also JACK: whence (Christ’s Hospital) JACK-BOY = a boy servitor of beer.]

15—. _Simon the Cellarer._ But oh, oh, oh! his nose doth show, How oft the BLACK-JACK to his lips doth go.

1592. NASHE, _Summer’s Last Will_ [DODSLEY, _Old Plays_ (1874), viii. 59]. Rise up, Sir Robert Toss-pot. [_Here he dubs Will Summer with the_ BLACK-JACK.]

1606. _Return from Parnassus_ [DODSLEY, _Old Plays_ (1874), ix. 207]. A BLACK-JACK of beer and a Christmas pie.

1630. TAYLOR, _Works_, i. 113. Nor of BLACK-JACKS at gentle buttery bars, Whose liquor oftentimes breeds household wars.

1690. B. E., _Dict. Cant. Crew_, s.v. JACK.

18[?]. T. WARTON, “The Happy Junior of Sixth Chamber.” Yet still with pleasure shall we think on The Junior’s happy life at Winton ... lozenges and snacks ... dispars, gomers, JACKS.

_c._ 1844. _Reminiscences of Christ’s Hospital_ (_The Blue_, Aug. 1874). By mistake the Cask was found to contain a fine old ale. The news soon spread from boy to boy and from ward to ward; and there was an extraordinary call upon the services of the JACK-BOYS, whose utmost exertions were scarcely equal to the demand. As might be expected, these latter took care of themselves upon the occasion.

*Black-sheep*, _verb_ (Winchester: obsolete).—To get above (or “jockey”) a fellow in Middle Part: of men in Junior Part.

*Black Tiger, The* (Rugby).—A nickname given to Dr. Ingles, head-master from 1793 to 1803.

*Blandyke* (Stonyhurst).—The monthly recreation day. [From the village of Blandyke (now Blandecques), a league from St. Omers, where was a country house or villa at which such days were spent during the summer months.] _See_ Appendix.

*Blazer*, _subs._ (originally Cambridge: now general).—A light jacket of bright colour. Originally applied to the bright red uniform of the Lady Margaret Boat Club of St. John’s College, Cambridge. [Prof. SKEAT (_N. and Q._, 7 S., iii. 436), speaking of the Johnian BLAZER, says it was always of the most brilliant scarlet, and thinks it not improbable that the fact suggested the name which subsequently became general.]

1880. _Times_, June 19. Men in spotless flannel, and club BLAZERS.

1885. _Punch_, June 27, p. 304. Harkaway turns up clad in what he calls a BLAZER, which makes him look like a nigger minstrel out for a holiday.

1889. _Daily News_, Aug. 22, p. 6, col. 6. DRESS BY THE SEA. SIR,—In your article of to-day, under the above heading, you speak of “a striped red and black BLAZER,” “the BLAZER,” also of “the pale toned” ones. This is worth noting as a case of the specific becoming the generic. A BLAZER is the red flannel boating jacket worn by the Lady Margaret, St. John’s College, Cambridge, Boat Club. When I was at Cambridge it meant that and nothing else. It seems from your article that a BLAZER now means a coloured flannel jacket, whether for cricket, tennis, boating, or seaside wear.—Yours faithfully, WALTER WREN.

1897. _Felstedian_, June, p. 99. The new football BLAZER is very handsome.

*Bleed*, _subs._ (Tonbridge).—One who is remarkably good at anything.

*Bleyis-sylver* (or *Bent-sylver*), _subs._ (Royal High School, Edin.).—A gratuity given in olden times by pupils to masters. He who gave most was proclaimed “_victor_” or “king.” [BLEYIS is derived from _bleis_ = a torch or blaze (mod. Scot. _bleeze_). BLEYIS-SYLVER = silver given at Candlemas on the time of the bleeze. Dr. Jamieson (_Dict._) suggests _bent_ = Fr. _benit_, _i.e._ blessed, because money was given on a Saint’s day. Dr. STEVENS, the school historian, suggests _bent_ = coarse grass. In sixteenth and seventeenth centuries pupils had leave to go and cut this coarse grass to strew on floor of school. Afterwards annual holidays were instituted on first Mondays of May, June, and July, when a money payment was made to the master to purchase “bent.” (_Cf._ STEVENS’ _Hist. of High School_, p. 678.) This is more probable.]

*Block, The* (Eton).—A wooden step in the library of the Upper School upon which a boy set down for flogging kneels. He is “held down” by two junior Collegers, and the Sixth Form Preposter hands to the head-master the necessary birch or birches.

*Blockhouse*, _subs._ (Charterhouse).—A sick-house.

*Bloody Porch* (Harrow: obsolete).—_See_ quot.

1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, p. 320. Harrow fagging had no special reputation for cruelty; yet there are those living who can remember having been called out of their beds at night to have cold water poured down their backs—for no special reason, but as a part of the hardening process considered good for fags generally; or to start from Leith’s boarding-house in the dark, to go round the church-yard by the north porch—BLOODY PORCH, as it was called, from some obscure legend. Once a boy was sent upon this dreaded tour at night, when it so happened that there were a party concealed in the porch, watching the grave of a newly-buried relative—for these were the days of resurrection-men; they mistook the unfortunate fag for a body-snatcher, and fired at him, wounding him slightly, and frightening him almost to death.

*Blotch*, _subs._ (Harrow).—Blotting-paper.

*Blow*, _subs._ (old University).—A drunken frolic; a spree. [_Blowboll_ = a drunkard: _cf._ SKELTON (_Works_, i. 23), “Thou blynkerd blowboll, thou wakyst too late.”]

_Verb_ (Winchester).—To blush. _Cf._ BLUE = to blush, as in quot. 1709.

14[?]. _Torrent of Portugal_, 11. His browys began to BLOWE.

1645. HABINGTON, _Works_. Th’enamoured spring by kissing BLOWS soft blushes on her cheek.

1709. STEELE and SWIFT, _Tatler_, No. 71, p. 8. If a Virgin blushes, we no longer cry she BLUES.

*Blucher*, _subs._ (Winchester: obsolete: _ch_ hard).—A College præfect in half power. His jurisdiction did not extend beyond “Seventh Chamber passage,” though his privileges were the same as those of other præfects. These were eight in number.

_c._ 1840. MANSFIELD, _School-Life at Winchester College_, p. 30. The eight senior præfects were said to have “full power,” and had some slight privileges not enjoyed by the remaining ten, who were generally called BLUCHERS.

1864. _Blackwood_, p. 86. The remaining eight college præfects (called in Winchester tongue, BLUCHERS) have a more limited authority, confined to Chambers and the Quadrangle.

1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, p. 55. The remaining eight college prefects (called in Winchester tongue BLUCHERS) have a more limited authority, confined to chambers and the quadrangle; the form of making these is—“_Præficio te sociis concameralibus_.” At least two prefects are located in each of the seven chambers—one from the first seven in rank, and one from the next seven. The juniors are also divided into ranks of seven, and out of each rank the prefects, according to their seniority, chose one each to fill up the numbers in their own chamber; so that each chamber has, to a certain extent, ties and associations of its own.

*Blue*, _subs._ 1. (Christ’s Hospital).—A scholar of Christ’s Hospital; a blue-coat boy. [Derived from the colour of the clothes—a blue drugget gown or body with ample skirts to it, a yellow vest underneath in winter time, small-clothes of Russia duck, worsted yellow stockings, a leathern girdle, and a little black worsted cap, usually carried in the hand, being the complete costume. This was the ordinary dress of children in humble life during the reigns of the Tudors.] _See_ Appendix.

1834. W. TROLLOPE (_Title_), Christ’s Hospital ... with Memoirs of Eminent BLUES. _Ibid._ At the Spital did they first earn the title of BLUE by appearing in raiment of that hue. Hitherto they had worn russet cotton. The bands are supposed to be a relic of the ruff, as the girdle was of the hempen cord. The ruff was regal, or reginal, and the cord monkish, so a BLUE hovers ’twixt palace and monastery (one picture pourtrays the dresses of the various Orders of Friars).

1877. W. H. BLANCH, _Blue-Coat Boys_, p. 33. To some extent it holds also with regard to Civil Engineers, amongst whom, however, one well-known name is that of a BLUE.

1895. _Gleanings from “The Blue”_ Dedication. To all BLUES Past and Present this Book is dedicated.

2. (University).—A member of the Universities of Oxford or Cambridge. [The colours for inter-University sports are dark and light blue respectively.]

TO GET ONE’S BLUE, _verb. phr._ (University).—To be selected as a competitor in inter-University sports: _cf._ “to get silk” (of Q.C.’s). [From the University colours.]

1899. _Stonyhurst Mag._, Feb., p. 194. The expression “to get a BLUE” is a phrase which is universally recognised as applying to the athletics and games of the sister Universities, Oxford and Cambridge, and to them only. As an ardent Oxford man I do not appreciate his compliment; as an old Stonyhurst boy, I cannot but deplore his servility.

*Blue-book*, _subs._ (Harrow).—A school register (alphabetically arranged) comprising name, form, house, tutor, age, term of coming, prizes, and honours.

*Bluer*, _subs._ (Harrow).—A blue flannel coat: worn by all going to FOOTER (_q.v._) in winter, and cricket in summer.

*B. N. C.*, _subs._ (Oxford).—The popular abbreviation of Brasenose College.

1885. _Daily News_, March 13, p. 5, col. 1. As when Corpus bumped B. N. C. years ago, and went head of the river, whereon a spirit of wrath entered into the B. N. C. men, and next night they bumped Corpus back again.

*Board.* TO KEEP ONE’S NAME ON THE BOARD, _verb. phr._ (Cambridge).—To remain a member of a College.

*Boat* (The Leys).—A shallow valley, in which football is played.

PROCESSION OF BOATS (Eton).—_See_ FOURTH OF JUNE.

TO SIT A BOAT, _verb. phr._ (Eton).—_See_ quot., and FOURTH OF JUNE. [Long since abandoned.]

1865. _Etoniana_, p. 170. The time-honoured custom of SITTING A BOAT must here claim mention. Some old Etonian, of generous and festive disposition (generally an old “oar”), signifies to the captain of a boat his intention of presenting the crew with a certain quantity of champagne. In return he is entitled to be rowed up to Surly in the boat to which he presents the wine; he occupies the coxswain’s seat, who kneels or stands behind him. This giver of good things is called, from this circumstance, a “sitter”; and the question, “Who SITS YOUR BOAT?” or, “Have you a sitter?” is one of some interest, which may often be heard addressed to a captain. The seat of honour in the ten-oar is usually offered to some distinguished old Etonian. Mr. Canning occupied it in 1824.

*Bob*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A large white beer-jug, about a gallon in capacity.

_c._ 1840. MANSFIELD, _School-Life at Winchester College_, p. 85. Each end and præfect’s mess had their beer served up in a large white jug, or BOB. The vessel used for the same purpose in Commoners’ was called a “Joram.”

1888. T. A. TROLLOPE, _What I Remember_. Only those “Juniors” attended whose office it was to bring away the portions of bread and cheese and BOBS of beer for consumption in the afternoon.

_See_ DRY-BOB; WET-BOB.

*Bod*, _subs._ (Oxford).—The Bodleian Library; also Bodley.

*Bodeites* (Charterhouse).—_See_ OUT-HOUSES.