Habit, subs. (old University).—See quot.
1803. Gradus ad Cantabrigiam. Habit. College HABIT, College dress, called of old, livery: the dress of the Master, Fellows, and Scholars.
Hades, subs. (The Leys).—A W.C. Cf. Styx.
Haggory, subs. (Stonyhurst).—One of the gardens in the Higher Line (q.v.) playground, which the Irish boys in the early years of the century turned into a debating-place, to promote the views of O’Connell and his party. [A corruption of ἁγορά.]
Hairy, adj. (Oxford).—Difficult.
d. 1861. Arthur Clough, Long Vacation Pastoral. Three weeks hence we return to the shop and the wash-hand-stand-bason, Three weeks hence unbury Thicksides and HAIRY Aldrich.
1864. The Press, Nov. 12. Hairy for difficult is a characteristic epithet.
Half-faggot, subs. (Winchester).—See quot.
1881. Felstedian, Nov., p. 75, “A Day’s Fagging at Winchester.” At 6.15, when the first bell for chapel rings, I go round and wake up everybody; as the præfects like hot water for washing, I make up a fire, and put on the boilers; in other words, throw a bundle of sticks called a “HALF-FAGGOT” on the old-fashioned “dogs,” or uprights, which form the only fireplaces in chambers, coal not being in use.
Hall, subs. 1. (Oxford).—Dinner. Also as verb = to dine. [Taken in College Hall.]
1891. Harry Fludyer at Cambridge, 55. A lot of Freshmen got together after HALL (it was a Saint’s day, and they’d been drinking audit) and went and made hay in Marling’s rooms.
2. (Sherborne).—Evening preparation.
3. (Shrewsbury).—See Senior Hall.
To go on hall, verb. phr. (Winchester).—To fag: as a breakfast waiter.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 48. However, as boys came to school better scholars, and were consequently higher placed, fourth form fags grew scarce, and the junior fifth were ordered, as the phrase was, TO GO ON HALL. One champion stood upon his rights, and refused; the indignant prefect proposed to thrash him publicly; the juniors rose in a body and pinioned the prefects. Fond mammas, and other declaimers against school tyranny, will regret to hear that this spirited resistance was not appreciated by Dr. Williams; after a patient hearing of the pleas on both sides, he supported the prefect’s authority (it may be concluded that they had not really exceeded it), and six of the ringleaders were expelled.
Hall-crier, subs. (Shrewsbury).—See quot.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 249. And two HALL-CRIERS (or latterly one), whose chief business was to read out at breakfast time lists of the fags on duty for cricket or football, descriptions of lost articles, &c. &c. This office in former days had commonly to be performed under a fire of such missiles as came handiest—amongst them often the regulation iron spoons supplied for the bread-and-milk breakfast which was the fare in the rougher days of Shrewsbury. Each proclamation began in due form with “Oh yes! oh yes! (Oyez! oyez!)” and ended with “God save the King (or Queen)! and d—— the Radicals!”
Hall-fagging, subs. (Charterhouse).—A duty imposed on sixteen of the lowest boys in each House. They have to attend in Hall, usually four at a time, and carry out orders, while the monitors have breakfast and tea. There was no need for this duty at Old Charterhouse, fags being always at hand. At New Charterhouse this was not always the case; they were often playing at football or cricket, or sitting in the library. Monitors, therefore, arranged the system of HALL-FAGGING. Latterly it has become usual to send into Hall fags who have offended against monitorial discipline, have been talkative in Banco, or noisy in the cubicles. Where such culprits are available the regular fags are exempt.—Tod.
Halve, subs. (Charterhouse).—A half-holiday: on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Halves (pron. Hāves), subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—Half-Wellington boots, which were strictly Non licet (q.v.).
Hand. To HAND UP, verb. phr. (Winchester).—To give information against; to betray.
Handball, subs. (Stonyhurst).—(1) The Stonyhurst form of Fives. Also (2) the ball used in playing; (3) the wall against which the game is played; and (4) the courts into which the wall and ground are divided.
1887. Stonyhurst Mag., iii. 18, “Stonyhurst in the Fifties.” On Whit-Saturday HANDBALL came in. We had on that morning 2-1/2 hours’ school ... and having gone up to the study-place to put away our books were let out by schools to run for places. In the old playground there stood one of the present HANDBALLS, one side of it belonging to the Higher Line, and one to the Lower. Of the Higher Line HANDBALLS [on each side of this HANDBALL—the wall—were two HANDBALLS or courts] one belonged to Rhetoric and one to Poetry. Of the Lower Line HANDBALLS one to Grammar and one to Rudiments. There were besides in both Higher and Lower Lines, other inferior HANDBALLS in the wall which separated the playground from the garden, where the rails now stand. They were called “The Pavilions,” and each contained three courts. Those in the Higher Line were common property, the Lower Line ones belonged to Rudiments, Figures, and Elements. Syntax had thus no HANDBALL and Rudiments had two. In the Higher Line possession of the HANDBALL always went to the first comers, those who first “touched-in” having it. In the Lower Line during after-dinner recreation (at least in the large HANDBALLS) it went by order of Compositions.
Handing-up, subs. (Harrow).—A form of Lynch law inflicted [up to the second quarter of the century] by monitors on a boy known to have been guilty of any highly disgraceful conduct reflecting on the character of the school—stealing, for example. The monitors satisfied themselves, after careful inquiry, of the guilt of the accused, and called him before an assembly of the Upper School in Butler’s Hall, where he received from each monitor a certain number of blows with a study toasting-fork. The punishment was severe, but merciful to the delinquent as an alternative in some cases to expulsion if the charge had been brought before the head-master.—Thornton.
Harder, subs. (Harrow).—Racquets: as opposed to Squash (q.v.); also a racquet ball. Whence HARDER-COURT = the racquet court.
Hard-up, adv. (Winchester).—Abashed or out of countenance; exhausted (as in swimming).
Harlequin, subs. (Winchester).—The wooden centre of a red indiarubber ball.
Harry-soph, subs. (Cambridge: obsolete).—See Soph.
1795. Gent. Mag., p. 20. A HARRY, or ERRANT SOPH, I understand to be either a person, four-and-twenty years of age, and of an infirm state of health, who is permitted to dine with the Fellows, and to wear a plain, black, full-sleeved gown; or else he is one who, having kept all the terms, by statute required previous to his law-act, is hoc ipsa facto entitled to wear the same garment, and thenceforth ranks as bachelor, by courtesy.
1803. Gradus ad Cantabrigiam. Harry soph, or HENRY SOPHISTER; students who have kept all the terms required for a law act, and hence are ranked as Bachelors of Law by courtesy. They wear a plain, black, full-sleeved gown.
Hash, verb (general).—To study hard; TO SWAT (q.v.).
Hasher, subs. 1. (Charterhouse).—A “made” dish.
2. (Charterhouse).—A football sweater—tight-fitting, with the colours running round in horizontal lines. In 1863 football shirts were introduced in place of HASHERS.
Hat, subs. (Cambridge).—A gentleman commoner. [Who is permitted to wear a hat instead of the regulation mortar-board.] Also GOLD HATBAND.
1628. Earle, Microcosmographie, “Young Gentleman of the Universitie” (ed. Arber, 1868). His companion is ordinarily some stale fellow that has beene notorious for an ingle to GOLD HATBANDS, whom hee admires at first, afterwards scornes.
1803. Gradus ad Cantabrigiam. Hat Commoner; the son of a nobleman, who wears the gown of a Fellow Commoner with a HAT.
1830. Lytton, Paul Clifford, ch. xxxii. I knew intimately all the HATS in the University.
1841. Lytton, Night and Morning, Bk. I. ch. i. He had certainly nourished the belief that some one of the HATS or tinsel gowns, i.e. young lords or fellow.
Hatch, subs. (Winchester).—A flood-gate. [Hatch = a flood-gate (Bailey); also var. dial. = a garden-gate, wicket-gate, or half-door.]
Hatch-thoke, subs. (Winchester).—A Founder’s Commemoration-day. [Thoke = to lie late in bed; an old custom being to lie in bed till breakfast on such occasions, names being called at HATCH in Commoners.]
Haul, verb (University).—To summon before the Proctor for misdemeanour. Whence HAULABLE, adj., used of those whose society authorities deem undesirable for the men: e.g. they’re HAULABLE = those caught with them will be proctorised.
1891. Harry Fludyer at Cambridge, 89. At last they were caught trying to drive in through the big gate of John’s. Next day they were HAULED and sent down.
To haul up, verb. phr. (Harrow).—To have a boy up to House out of school-hours, to say “turned” repetitions.
Haves. See Halves.
He, subs. (Charterhouse).—A cake. Young he = a small cake; a FISH-HE = fish-cake. See She.
Head, subs. (Tonbridge).—The chief cricket-ground.
Health Walk, subs. (Stonyhurst).—When the weather has been bad for some time, the boys are freed on the first fine day for “HEALTH WALKS.” The name seems still to be surviving, through more often the boys have football than walks on such occasions.
Heder, subs. (Winchester).—A plunge, feet foremost. Fr. une chandelle.
Hedgehog, subs. (Christ’s Hospital).—A London nickname for a Hertford Blue (q.v.). See Appendix.
c. 1800-29. The Blue-Coat Boy [More Gleanings from The Blue], 203. Another isolated statement of interest (unknown, perhaps, to some), is that “Hertford boys called the London boys, ‘Jackdaws,’ and those in London called those at Hertford ‘HEDGEHOGS’;” hedgehog boys and pigtailed masters!
Heifer, subs. (Charterhouse: obsolete).—A charwoman.
Hell, subs. (Winchester).—A shady nook near Third Pot, famous for a profusion of violets. [Dial. (Hants) = a dark, wooded place: originally (Skeat) a hidden place.]
Hell-and-neck boy, subs. phr. (Royal High School, Edin.: obsolete).—A venturesome boy who had frequently climbed the Kittle-nine-steps (q.v.).
Hell Hole and “Hell’s Gates,” subs. (Stonyhurst).—The name of some foundations of an old factory built on the Hodder.
High (The), subs. (Oxford).—High Street. Cf. The Broad, the Turl, the Corn, &c.
High, subs. (Christ’s Hospital).—A fruit-pie. See Low.
c. 1890. More Gleanings from The Blue, 92. Those greedy gluttons who during life had lain in wait for monied comrades, assailing them with importunate entreaties or even with open violence. Now they outstretched bony hands in vain for juicy “HIGHS,” which mocked and eluded their grasp; bottles of ginger-beer and cherries hovered above their skinny lips, as erst in “cherry-bob,” but never were they granted taste or sip of cool beverage or dainty morsel.
Higher Line, subs. (Stonyhurst).—The three highest classes.
High-master, subs. (St. Paul’s and Manchester Grammar).—The Head-master: at Manchester the term was used in the earliest statutes of the school (1515). See Sur-master.
Hills, subs. 1. (Winchester).—St. Catharine’s Hill. Hence, TO SHIRK HILLS = see quot.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life, p. 28. Some of his principal duties were to take the boys “on to HILLS,” call names there, &c.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester, 214. HILLS—St. Catherine’s Hill, a green hill about one mile and a half from College, about five hundred feet high, and near the top surrounded by a deep trench, the remains of an old Roman camp. The boys had to ascend this twice a day on whole Holidays and Remedies, once before breakfast, and again at half-past two. In the summer they also went out in the evening, but did not ascend Hills, but disported themselves below. These sorties were called “going on to HILLS,” the evening expedition being called “Underhills.” Ibid., iii. Ordinary offences of a trifling character, such as being late for Chapel or “SHIRKING HILLS” [i.e. evading going Hills], were punished by the infliction of an imposition—generally thirty lines of Virgil, English and Latin.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 24. Tuesdays and Thursdays were partial holidays, on which the boys went out to the HILLS twice; once in the morning, returning at nine to breakfast, and again in the afternoon, coming off at three. There they played at quoits, football, and something which seems to have borne a resemblance to cricket.
2. (Cambridge).—The Gogmagog Hills; a common morning’s ride.—Gradus ad Cantab.
Hiss (The), subs. (Winchester).—The signal given at the commencement of school hours when a Master was coming in.—Mansfield (c. 1840).
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester [1866], 104. Just before school-time a boy was always stationed to watch the arrival of the Master, of which he had to give notice by emitting a loud HISS, upon which there was a general rush up to books; the previous uproar dwindled to a calm, and work began.
Hivite, subs. (St. Bees’).—A student of St. Bees’ (Cumberland).
1865. John Bull, Nov. 11. To be a HIVITE has long been considered a little worse than a “literate.”... Of the value of some St. Bees’ testimonials we may form an estimate, &c.
Hobbs, subs. (Tonbridge).—A fad; a mental eccentricity. See Tachs.
Hobby, subs. (common).—A translation. To RIDE HOBBIES = to use CRIBS (q.v.).
Hockey-sticks and Fourpennies, subs. phr. (Charterhouse).—A kind of irregular cricket played at Old Charterhouse. The bats were huge bludgeons called hockey-sticks, but without any curve at the end; the balls were like large fives-balls, and a little smaller than a regulation cricket-ball; the wickets were usually coats or jackets; gownboy jackets were much the best, because they were stiff and easily stood upright; the pitch was either on the football ground, where there was no grass, or on a flagged pavement in cloisters.
Hodgsonites (Charterhouse).—See Out-houses.
Hodman (Oxford).—A scholar from Westminster School admitted to Christ Church College.
1728. Bailey, Eng. Dict., s.v. Hodman.
1847. Halliwell, Arch. Words, s.v.... A nickname for a Canon of Christ Church.
Hog, subs. (Cambridge: obsolete).—A student of St. John’s. Also Johnian Hog. See Crackle, Bridge of Grunts, and Isthmus of Suez.
1690. Diary of Abraham de la Pryme (Surtees Society, No. 54), quoted in Notes and Queries, 6 S., xi. 328. For us Jonians are called abusively HOGGS.
1795. Gent. Mag., lxv. 22. The JOHNIAN HOGS were originally remarkable on account of the squalid figures and low habits of the students, and especially of the sizars of Saint John’s College. [Another story of how name originated is given in detail in Gent. Mag. (1795), lxv. 107.]
1889. Whibley, In Cap and Gown, p. 28. An obsolete name for members of St. John’s College, Cambridge.
Hog Tower, subs. (Stonyhurst).—A coaching room off Rhetoric school-room. [So called (1) because part of a tower, and (2) because the Rhetoricians (q.v.) originally wished to use it for other “more profitable” purposes than for study.]
Hoi Polloi, subs. phr. (University).—The candidates for ordinary degrees. [From the Greek.] Cf. Gulf.
Hol, subs. (Harrow).—A holiday. Whence HOL-TAG = holiday task.
Holiday, subs. (Sherborne: obsolete).—A Saint’s day: sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
Hollis, subs. (Winchester).—A small pebble. [Said to be derived from a boy of that name.—Wrench.]
Holy Club (The), subs. (Oxford: obsolete).—A band of kindred spirits who gathered round John Wesley while at Lincoln College: in ridicule.
Home-bill, subs. (Charterhouse).—Food supplied by the butler at breakfast or tea, to supplement the bread-and-butter supplied by the house master. It consists of eggs, eggs and bacon, ham, or sausages at breakfast; of poached eggs, mince, sausages and potatoes, tongue, ham, brawn, beef, or pork-pie at tea. The price is usually 4d. for each HOME-BILL; in some houses 6d. is the charge for the Upper School.
Home-bug, subs. (Harrow).—A home boarder; a day boy.
Honour (Legion of). See Legion.
Honours, subs. (Stonyhurst).—Classes in which extra classics are read in the three highest Forms.
Hook, intj. (Oxford).—An expression implying doubt. [Query from the note of interrogation (?) or connected with “Hookey Walker.”]
1823. Bee, Dict. of the Turf, s.v. Hookey walker—and WITH A HOOK, usually accompanied by a significant upliftment of the hand and crooking of the forefinger, implying that what is said is a lie, or is to be taken contrariwise.
1843. Moncrieff, Scamps of London, i. 1. Bob. Will you have some gin? Fogg. Gin—yes! Bob (turning away). Ha—ha!—WITH A HOOK ... I wish you may get it.
1870. Traill, Saturday Songs, p. 22. It’s go and go over the left, It’s go WITH A HOOK AT THE END.
Horse-box, subs. (The Leys).—A cubicle or recess in dormitory: about 5 or 6 feet high. Whence TO DO TEN HORSE-BOXES = to perform “Sinking-and-rising exercise” on the same.
Hot, subs. (Winchester).—1. A mellay at football. 2. A crowd. Hence to HOT UP (or DOWN) = to crowd; to mob.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester, 215. In Twenty-two and Twenty-two (q.v.) when the ball went out of bounds, it was brought in and placed between the two sides, who all clustered up close round, with their heads down, each party, by weight and kicking, trying to force the ball through the other.
1878. Adams, Wykehamica, p. 367. It would be replaced and a fresh HOT formed.
Hot-end, subs. (Winchester).—A half-burned faggot stick with one end red-hot.
Hots, subs. 1. (Felsted: obsolete).—Tarts; pastry, &c.
2. (Felsted).—Money: specifically “coppers.”
Whence TRAV-HOTS = travelling money.
1893. Felstedian, Mar., p. 20. I made two brackets in the workshop, they liked them awfully; I meant to get them something decent, but I hadn’t got any HOTS.
1893. Felstedian, July, p. 82. All right; it’s only a HOT. Did you hear what we did in our dormy last night?
1895. Felstedian, April, p. 44. Hots—“Hots” and “half-hots” very evidently “burn a hole in one’s pocket” if they are left there long enough.
Hot-tiger, subs. (Oxford: obsolete).—Hot-spiced ale and sherry.
Hound, subs. (Cambridge).—See quot.
1879. E. Walford, in Notes and Queries, 5 S., xii. 88. In the Anecdotes of Bowyer ... we are told that a HOUND of King’s College, Cambridge, is an undergraduate not on the foundation, nearly the same as a “sizar.”
House-captain, subs. (The Leys).—A boy, not in studies, responsible for order in House-room.
House-game, subs. (Harrow).—A game—football or cricket—in which the whole House play.
House-list, subs. (Harrow).—The printed list, in Bill (q.v.) order, of each House.
House-room, subs. (The Leys).—The Common Room of boys below VIth who have no studies.
House-singing, subs. (Harrow).—An informal concert at which school songs are sung collectively: held once a fortnight except in summer.
House-washing, subs. (Rugby: obsolete).—A sort of compressed paper-chase, backwards and forwards in a short distance over Clifton Brook, a tributary of the Warwickshire Avon. [The name suggests that this was not a dry process; each House as a rule had a HOUSE-WASHING in the Easter term.]
Housey, adj. (Christ’s Hospital).—Belonging or peculiar to the Hospital. The reverse of Towney = of the town.
Housle, verb (Winchester).—To hustle. [Dial.: cf. doust = dust; fousty = fusty; rousty = rusty, &c.]
Huff, subs. (Winchester).—Strong ale brewed by the College. [A survival: also HUFF-CAP.]
1579. Fulwell, Art of Flattery. Commonly called HUFCAP, it will make a man look as though he had seene the devil.
1586. Holinshed, Description of England. These men hale at HUFF-CAP till they be red as cockes, and little wiser than their combes.
1602. Campion, English Poesy (Bullen, Works, 1889, p. 247). Hunks detests when HUFFCAP ale he tipples.
1614. Greene, Looking-Glass [Dyce], p. 127. The ale is strong ale, ’tis HUFCAP; I warrant you, ’twill make a man well.
1640. Taylor, Works. And this is it, of ale-houses and innes, Wine-marchants, vintners, brewers, who much wins By others losing, I say more or lesse, Who sale of HUFCAP liquor doe professe.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life, p. 180. Washed down by libations of HUFF.
1878. Adams, Wykehamica, s.v. Huff, the strong ale brewed by the College.
Hum, verb (Derby).—To smell.
Hundred (The), subs. 1. (Loretto).—A long straight walk within the school grounds.
2. (Tonbridge: obsolete).—One of the lower football grounds. There were Upper, Middle, Lower, Fourth, and Fifth Hundreds. See Fifty.
Husky, subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—See quot.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life, p. 145. There were two kinds [Gooseberry fool] HUSKY and non-husky.