Part 6
1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, p. 297. The intention of these CHARITY-REMOVES (as they are called) is to prevent boys of dull abilities being continually outstripped in the race of promotion by boys younger than themselves; but practically the cases are very few of boys who would be left in the same Form for above three quarters; and even then the promotion is removed if the boy has been “notoriously and ostentatiously” idle.
*Charity-tails*, _subs._ (Harrow).—_See_ TAILS.
*Charlies*, _subs._ (Winchester: obsolete).—Thick gloves made of twine. [Introduced by a Mr. Charles Griffith: hence the name.]
*Chase*, _verb_ (Christ’s Hospital).—To abscond; to run away; as from school.
1844. _Reminis. of Christ’s Hospital_ [_The Blue_, Aug. 1874]. At length, to the consternation and perplexity of the authorities, and the delight, admiration, and envy of the fellows, this incorrigible character capped all his former misdeeds by an act of pluck and daring which gained for himself, from that time forth, all the honours of a hero—he CHASED.
*Chaw*, _subs._ 1. (University).—A trick; a device; a sell.
2. (Harrow).—A CAD (_q.v._); any non-member of the school. Whence WORKER-CHAW = the boy who runs messages, &c., for the work-shop. Also as _verb_ (football), to play roughly. TO BE CHAWED = to be injured.
*Check-nights*, _subs._ (Eton).—Rehearsals of the FOURTH OF JUNE (_q.v._) performance. Held every alternate Saturday in the boating season, when the crews rowed up to Surly in their uniform and there regaled themselves—the staple luxury being ducks and green pease. These suppers were open to much objection, and the custom has lately been done away with.—_Etoniana_ (1865).
*Cheese*, _subs._ (Schools and University).—An adept; one who “takes the shine out of another”; at Cambridge an overdressed dandy = a HOWLING CHEESE.
1864. HEMYNG, _Eton School-days_. “Do you know Homer, Purefoy?” asked Chudleigh. “No, I have not looked at the lesson yet.” “I am sure I don’t know why you ever do; you are such a CHEESE. I want you to give me a construe.”
*Chemmy*, _subs._ (Manchester Grammar).—Chemistry.
*Chief*, _subs._ (Sherborne).—The Head-master.
*Child*, _subs._ (Winchester: obsolete).—1. A scholar on the foundation.
1547. Inj. Ed. VI. Commiss. [_William of Wykeham_, 152]. Item: that all graces to be said or sung at meals within the said College, and other prayers which the said scholars or CHILDREN are bound to use shall be henceforth sung or said evermore in English.
_d._ 1711. KEN, _Manual ... for the use of ... Winchester College_. If you are a Commoner, you may say your prayers in your own Chamber; but if you are a CHILD or a Chorister, then to avoid the interruptions of the Common Chambers, go into the Chappel, between first and second Peal in the morning, to say your Morning Prayers, and say your Evening Prayers when you go _Circum_.
1891. WRENCH, _Winchester Word-Book_, s.v. CHILD. The word “Scholar,” as used by Ken, included the three classes—“Children,” Commoners, and Choristers; and it is observable that, though it has been adopted of late officially to designate the “Children” exclusively, this usage has not extended to the school. “CHILD” has fallen into desuetude, but its place has not been supplied by any other term.
2. _See_ quot. 1891.
1822. NARES, _Glossary_, s.v. CHILD ... The “CHILDREN of the Chapel” signifies the boys of the Chapel.
1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, p. 64. One table, by a curious traditionary custom, is called the CHILDREN’S table—the electors present each choosing one of the junior scholars for their CHILD, and presenting him with a guinea and a luxurious dinner at this privileged table.
1891. WRENCH, _Winchester Word-Book_, s.v. CHILD. Each of the ELECTORS (_q.v._) might choose a Scholar on the foundation to attend upon him (a nominal duty in recent times) at election time. These were known as Warden’s CHILD, Warden of New College’s CHILD, &c. Of late the Head Master always chose for his CHILD the head scholar in Cloisters, and the Warden the second. Each CHILD received a guinea from the Elector who appointed him. The Children got off all fagging on DOMUM DAY (_q.v._); at Election Dinner they sat at the same table with Writers and Election Grace Singers, where the fare was better than that served to the scholars generally; and they had wine and dessert afterwards in CHILD’S-room in the Warden’s house. Warden’s CHILD had during the following year the duty of applying to the Head Master for every REMEDY (_q.v._), and half-remedy that came in the ordinary course. In applying he used the set phrase, “The Præpostors’ duty, and they would be obliged for a remedy” (or “half-remedy”). Whenever the application was something more than a mere form, it was made by the Præfect of Hall, _e.g._ where a leave out day disturbed the ordinary arrangements of the week.
*Chince* (or *Chinse*), _subs._ (Winchester).—A chance. [Apparently a corrupted form of the word.]
*Chinner*, _subs._ (Winchester: obsolete).—A grin.
*Chip-entry*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—_See_ quot.
1884. _Stonyhurst Mag._, June, p. 294. The old kitchen was very near the site of the present one, but a part of it jutted into what is now the end of the Higher Line Washing-place. Just outside this was a flight of old oaken steps leading to the refectory. Beyond these stairs, leading out to the back, there was a very old round-headed oaken door, which is now in the buttery; it is about three hundred years old. This was called CHIP-ENTRY.
*Chips*, _subs._ (Wellington).—A kind of grill. [From its hardness.]
*Choice*, _subs._ (Harrow).—A candidate in course of trial for an Eleven (House or School), and who has not got his CAP (_q.v._), FEZ (_q.v._), or FLANNELS (_q.v._).
*Chorister*, _subs._ (Winchester).—_See_ quots.
_c._ 1840. MANSFIELD, _School-Life at Winchester_ (1866), 33. Besides the Warden, Fellows, masters, and boys, there were twelve “CHORISTERS,” who must by no means be omitted, as they formed an important part of the internal economy. I suppose they were called CHORISTERS because they had not to sing; certainly if ever that was a part of their duty, it had entirely lapsed. Their office was to wait on boys, in hall and chambers, till seven o’clock, and especially to go on errands in the town,—the boys themselves never being allowed to go there, except when invited by friends on Saints’ days. These little CHORISTERS wore chocolate-coloured tail-coats and trousers, with metal buttons; and, on the whole, I think their life must have been a weary one.... _Ibid._, 189. The CHORISTERS really do sing now, and have not to run errands in the town for boys, but wait on them in the hall instead.
1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, p. 22. The Bible-clerk meanwhile reading aloud a chapter from the Old Testament, the CHORISTERS waited at table. An antiphonal grace and psalm were sung, after which the CHORISTERS and college servants took their dinner.
*Chouse*, _subs._ (Eton and Winchester).—A shame; an imposition. Hence CHOUSER. [A derivative of chouse = trick; swindle: _see_ quot. 1890.]
1864. _Athenæum._ When an Eton boy says that anything is “a beastly CHOUSE,” he means that it is a great shame; and when an Eton peripatetic tradesman is playful enough to call his customer “a little CHOUSER,” he means that a leaf has been taken out of his own book by one on whom he has practised.
1883. BRINSLEY RICHARDS, _Seven Years at Eton_. The boy ... was told that what he had done was an awful CHOUSE.
1890. _Hist. Eng. Dict._ [MURRAY], _s.v._ CHOUSE. “As to the origin of the Eng. use, Gifford (1814), in a note on the quot. from Ben Jonson, says, ‘In 1609, Sir Robt. Shirley sent a messenger or CHIAUS to this country, as his agent from the Grand Signior and the Sophy to transact some preparatory business.’ The latter ‘CHIAUSED the Turkish and Persian merchants of £4000,’ and decamped. But no trace of this incident has yet been found outside of Gifford’s note; it was unknown to Peter Whalley, a previous editor of Ben Jonson, 1756; also to Skinner, Henshaw, Dr. Johnson, Todd, and others who discussed the history of the word. Yet most of these recognised the likeness of CHOUSE to the Turkish word, which Henshaw even proposed as the etymon on the ground that the Turkish CHIAUS ‘is little better than a fool.’ Gifford’s note must therefore be taken with reserve.”
*Christians*, _subs. pl._ (Cambridge).—Fellows of Christ’s College. [Derivation obvious.]
*Christopher* (Eton).—An old inn in Eton Street.
1865. _Etoniana_, 23. On the great festivals ... they had permission to spend part of the day in a country walk; not without a strong caution (so similar are the temptations of schoolboys and the anxieties of masters in all ages) against turning into taverns and beer-shops by the way. The “Tap” and the CHRISTOPHER had their earlier prototypes....
*Chuck*, _subs._ (Westminster). _See_ quot.
1864. HOTTEN, _Slang Dict._, s.v. A schoolboy’s treat.
*Chucks!* _intj._ (general).—A signal of a master’s approach. A French equivalent is _Vesse!_
*Circum.* TO GO CIRCUM, _verb. phr._ (Winchester). _See_ quot.
1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, p. 23 [_temp._ 1570]. At five the school was dismissed, and the whole resident society—warden, fellows, masters, and scholars—went in procession round the cloisters and the whole interior circuit of the college, which was called GOING CIRCUM. Thus they passed into the hall, where a supper of mutton was served—one dispar to every three boys.
*Clacken*, _subs._ (Royal High School, Edin.).—A wooden bat about two feet long with a thin handle and rounded head (_e.g._ [Illustration] ), flat on both sides, originally used for the game of _hails_. The game is no longer played at the school, but survives in the Edin. Academy. [A “Hail” in Scotland denotes the place from which a ball is driven off at the commencement of a game. “Clacken” is from “clack,” the clapper of a mill.]
*Clarian*, _subs._ (Cambridge).—A member of Clare Hall, Cambridge; also GREYHOUND (_q.v._).
1889. C. WHIBLEY, _Cap and Gown_. E’en stuke-struck CLARIANS strove to stoop.
*Classicus*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A Junior in each PART (_q.v._): his duty is to get lessons set, &c. CLASSICUS-PAPER = CUSE (_q.v._).
*Clean-straw*, _subs._ (Winchester).—Clean sheets. [Before 1540 the beds were bundles of straw on a stone floor. At that date Dean Fleshmonger put in oaken floors, and provided proper beds, such as existed in 1871 in Third, and later in the case of the Præfect of Hall’s unused beds in Sixth. The term is never used in reference to mattresses of any kind, straw or other.] The dormitory arrangements are now thoroughly modernised.
*Clipe*, _verb_ (general).—To tell tales; to “split”; to peach.
*Clodding*, _subs._ (Rugby).—A ceremony of initiation [put down by Dr. Wooll, _temp._ 1808-28] performed on those who were promoted into the Fifth. They had to run along the course of a small gutter which flowed from the cow-sheds (_see_ BARN-SCHOOL), through a double line of boys, who pelted them with clods of clay moistened in that not very delicate stream. Unpopular boys had these clods specially hardened for their benefit—it was even said with stones inside. On promotion from the Fourth to the Remove a boy had to run the gauntlet up and down the big school between a double line of his fellows, armed with handkerchiefs tied in “Westminster knots.” He was allowed to protect himself with books stuffed inside his trousers; but the punishment was fearful.—COLLINS.
*Cloister-peals*, _subs._ (Winchester).—_See_ PEALS.
*Cloister-roush*, _subs._ (Winchester: obsolete).—_See_ quot.
_c._ 1840. MANSFIELD, _School-Life at Winchester College_, p. 117. We had some singular customs at the commencement of Cloister time. Senior part and Cloisters, just before the entrance of the Masters into School, used to engage in a kind of general tournament; this was called CLOISTER-ROUSH.
*Cloisters*, _subs._ (Winchester).—The name given to Middle and Junior Part of Fifth BOOK (_q.v._), when combined together in CLOISTER-TIME (_q.v._).
1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, p. 24. But the younger commoners probably seldom came into school, being taught chiefly in the chamber of the warden or fellow under whose charge they were placed; and in summer-time the whole of the scholars usually adjourned for lessons into the adjacent CLOISTERS: a delightful arrangement, from which the latter portion of the “long-half” is still called CLOISTER-TIME.
*Cloister-time*, _subs._ (Winchester).—Ten or twelve weeks at the latter end of Long Half, commencing about Whitsunday and ending at STANDING-UP WEEK (_q.v._).
*Clow*, _subs._ (Winchester).—Pronounced _clō_. A box on the ear. [Possibly from _clout_. HALLIWELL, _clow_ (Cumberland) = to scratch. Also _clew_ (Glouc.) = a blow.] Also as _verb_: it was customary to preface the action by an injunction to “hold down.”
_c._ 1840. MANSFIELD, _School-Life at Winchester College_, p. 140. The juniors did not get much fun out of the regular games, as their part consisted solely in kicking in the ball, and receiving divers kicks and CLOWS in return for their vigilance. _Ibid._, p. 39. Nor, when ordered to “hold down” (_i.e._ put your head in a convenient position) for a CLOW, would the victim dare to ward off the blow.
*Club-keeper*, _subs._ (Harrow).—A Captain of the side in a game: at cricket or football.
1820-5. WORDSWORTH [_Letter_, 1889]. The old ground which we played upon was too much upon a slope, and when I was one of the CLUB-KEEPERS, and head of the eleven, a considerable sum was spent in endeavouring to improve it, and we succeeded in levelling a sufficient space for a tolerably good wicket.
*Coach*, _subs._ (formerly University and Public Schools: now common).—A private tutor; and in a transferred sense one who trains another in mental or physical acquirements: _e.g._ in Sanskrit, Shakspeare, cricket, or rowing. Analagous terms are CRAMMER, FEEDER, and GRINDER. Also as _verb_ = to prepare for an examination by private instruction; to train: in general use both by coacher and coachee.
1846. THACKERAY, _Vanity Fair_, ch. v. The superb Cuff himself ... helped him on with his Latin verses, COACHED him in play-hours.
1850. F. E. SMEDLEY, _Frank Fairleigh_, ch. xxix. p. 240. Besides the regular college tutor, I secured the assistance of what, in the slang of the day, we irreverently termed a COACH.
1853. C. BEDE, _Verdant Green_, pt. I., pp. 63-4. “That man is Cram, the patent safety. He’s the first COACH in Oxford.” “A COACH,” said our freshman in some wonder. “Oh, I forgot you didn’t know college slang. I suppose a royal mail is the only gentleman COACH _you_ know of. Why, in Oxford a COACH means a private tutor, you must know; and those who can’t afford a COACH, get a cab, _alias_ a crib, _alias_ translation.”
1864. _Eton School-days_, ch. ix. p. 103. Lord Fitzwinton, one of the smallest and best COACHES—in aquatics—in the school.
1870. _London Figaro_, June 10, “Quadrille Conversation.” It is, we fear, Quixotic to hope that ladies and gentlemen invited to the same ball would COACH with the same master.
1871. _Times_, “Report of the Debate in House of Lords on University Test Bill.” The test proposed would be wholly ineffective; ... while it would apply to the college tutors, who had little influence over the young men, it would not affect the COACHES, who had the chief direction of their studies.
1889. _Pall Mall Gazette_, 29th Nov., p. 1, col. 3. The schoolmaster is concerned with the education of boys up to eighteen; all beyond that falls either to the COACH or the professor.
1891. _Harry Fludyer at Cambridge_, 15. Our COACH is always finding fault with me.
*Coaching*, _subs._ (Rugby: obsolete).—A flogging.
*Coat.* TO GET ONE’S COAT, _verb. phr._ (Harrow).—To be made a member of the “Sixth Form Game”; the equivalent of the “Twenty-two” at other schools: cricket.
*Cob*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A hard hit at cricket; a slogger: a recent introduction. Also as _verb_ (common), to detect; to catch.
_Verb._ 1. (Stonyhurst).—To purloin oranges, &c., after a DO (_q.v._): _e.g._ “COB for me,” sometimes whispered by an envious disappointed one to a fortunate friend as he goes into the “Do-room.”
2. (Harrow).—In the verbal sense of COB = to detect; to catch (_see_ subs., _ante_); the practice at Harrow is almost always to use the word in the passive, with “badly”: _e.g._ “I was badly COBBED ‘tollying-up’” (_q.v._).
*Cock*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—An elevation from which, at football, a GUARDER (_q.v._) kicks balls which “go out”: it corresponds to the “tee” at golf.
TO BE COCKED UP, _verb. phr._ (Charterhouse).—_See_ quot.
1900. TOD, _Charterhouse_, 85. Fags [at Old Charterhouse] had to fag in reality at cricket; they got COCKED UP if they cut, and they got COCKED UP if they missed a catch, or muffed a ball. A stump was always handy.
*Cock-house*, _subs._ (general). A champion house; as at cricket, football—anything.
1890. _Great Public Schools_, 95. (Harrow) The various Houses are divided into “Upper Round” Houses (being those which possess a member of the School Eleven at the beginning of the term), and “Lower Round” Houses (being those which possess no member of the School Eleven at the beginning of the term). The “Upper Round” Houses are drawn together, and play against each other; and the same course is pursued with regard to the “Lower Round” Houses. When all these ties are played off, the winner of the “Upper Round” plays the winner of the “Lower Round” for COCK-HOUSE. A silver challenge cup is presented to the COCK-HOUSE of the year.
1898. WARNER in _Harrow School_, 271. Coming back from the holidays a boy will eagerly discuss with his comrades the prospects of the term. Have they any chance of being “COCK-HOUSE” in football or cricket—and no chance is too small on which to build a mighty castle of hope.
*Cockloft, The* (Harrow).—A small room at the top of the Old Schools; in turn a school-room or the limbo for the SCHOOL-STOCK (_q.v._) of confiscated books.
*Cocks*, _subs._ (Charterhouse).—The old washing place. [Early in the century a leaden trough, into which six taps discharged water, was fixed in a corner of Writing School, behind a partition which was constructed to hold Gownboys Library. These taps suggested the term COCKS. Formerly Gownboys washed at the pump.]
*Cocoa-club*, _subs._ (The Leys).—Afternoon tea, &c., at four in winter in House rooms or studies.
*Codd*, _subs._ (Charterhouse).—_See_ quot.
1854. THACKERAY, _The Newcomes_. Yonder sit some threescore old gentlemen, pensioners of the hospital; ... the Cistercian lads called these old gentlemen CODDS.
*Cog.* TO COG ON, _verb. phr._ (Durham).—To swindle; to cheat: _e.g._ “TO COG ON marks.” Also TO COCK ON.
*Coke on Littleton*, _subs. phr._ (Eton).—_See_ quot.
1743. DANIEL WRAY, _Letter_ from Cambridge [quoted in _Etoniana_ (1865), 70]. One blowing a chafing-dish with a surplice sleeve, another warming a little negus or sipping “COKE UPON LITTLETON,” _i.e._ tent and brandy.
*Coll*, _subs._ (United Services).—The College.
1899. _Public School Mag._, Nov., p. 345. To deal first with the outward appearance of the COLL.—(COLL, be it noted, not College.) “That long white barrack by the sea Stares blankly seaward still,” sings Kipling in one of his very early poems.
*Collections*, _subs._ (Oxford).—College Terminal Examinations.
1853. BRADLEY, _Verdant Green_, II. viii. Witless men were cramming for COLLECTIONS.
*College-John* (Westminster).—The porter and factotum of College: invariably so-called, whatever his name may be.
*Colleger*, _subs._ 1. (general).—A square cap; a MORTAR-BOARD (_q.v._).
2. (Eton).—A boy on the foundation as opposed to an OPPIDAN (_q.v._).
1899. _Public School Mag._, Nov., p. 367. The discussion continues as to whether the COLLEGERS should compete for the House Cup. As we have always said, this seems a ridiculous suggestion. If COLLEGE is on a separate foundation to the Oppidans, we can see no reason for them to desire to join in competing for Oppidan events.
1890. _Great Public Schools_, 14. Parents of independent means rejoice when their sons obtain places on the Foundation at Eton. Admitted after a severe competitive examination, and specially encouraged in the habits of industry, the seventy COLLEGERS generally win a large proportion of the prizes and other distinctions that are offered to Etonians, and maintain the high reputation of their old school in the class lists at Oxford and Cambridge.
*College-ware*, _subs._ (Winchester).—Crockery that falls without breaking.—MANSFIELD.
*Combie*, _subs._ (University).—The “Combination room,” a parlour in which college dons drink wine after Hall.
*Come.* COME UP! _intj._ (Sherborne).—The order given by the Captain of the Games, after 3 Roll on a half-holiday, to start the games at football.
*Come-up*, _subs._ (Stonyhurst).—A regulation as to the conditions by which one player might try to take the ball from another: football.
*Commoner*, _subs._ (general).—A boy not on the foundation. Whence (Winchester) COMMONERS = the building they lived in. [Now abolished as a residence and converted into class-rooms with a handsome library. The old building, which presented externally (_vide_ MANSFIELD) the appearance of an inferior workhouse, was successfully altered by Mr. BUTTERFIELD, and is now, in its architecture, worthy of its purpose and surroundings.]
1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, p. 26. Of the fellow-commoners, or COMMONERS, as they are now termed, who have so increased as to form a supplementary body of scholars doubling in number the College boys themselves, it will be necessary to give some account. Provision had been made in the original statutes for the reception and instruction of independent students to the number of ten, sons of noblemen or of “special friends” of the College, who, though not claiming the other advantages of the foundation, might yet wish to avail themselves of its sound teaching; with a proviso that these should not be in any way burdensome to the revenues.... In [Dr. Burton’s] time the College rose rapidly as a place of education for many of the young nobility, and the accommodations were found insufficient. He built what is now remembered by Wykehamists of the past generation as “OLD COMMONERS.” ... The number of COMMONERS gradually increased, until in 1820 they reached 135. “OLD COMMONERS” was pulled down in 1839-41 to make way for the present building, which was the result of a general Wykehamist subscription. _Ibid._, 115 [Westminster]. In every public school the masters were entirely dependent for any income beyond their statutable salaries on the liberality of the parents of those boys who were admitted as COMMONERS, or oppidans. _Ibid._, _Etoniana_, 10. [At Eton] there were two classes of these boys—“_generosorum filii Commensales_,” and simple “_Commensales_”—corresponding to the “gentleman-COMMONER” and “COMMONER” of Oxford; the former probably of higher social rank, paying more for their commons, and dining at a separate table.