Jack. See Black-jack.
Jackdaw, subs. (Christ’s Hospital).—Hertford for a London Blue (q.v.): obsolete.
c. 1800-29. The Blue-Coat Boy [More Gleanings from The Blue, 203]. Hertford boys called the London boys “JACKDAWS,” and those in London called those at Hertford “Hedgehogs.”
Jack-o’-Lantern, subs. (Eton and Harrow: obsolete).—A nocturnal form of “Hare and Hounds.”
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 312. But there was an ancient form of it [“Hare and Hounds”] at Harrow, so especially attractive as being pursued at unlawful hours and under unusual difficulties, that it deserves special mention. It was known also in former days at Eton, and in both schools went by the name of JACK O’ LANTERN. About seven o’clock on winter evenings, when it was quite dark, the boys, by sufferance on the part of the authorities, were let out from their several boarding-houses into the fields below the school. A stout and active runner started in advance, carrying a lantern, by the light of which the rest pursued him in full cry. He showed or concealed his light from time to time, and a great point of the sport was to entice the hounds into some pool or muddy ditch (which “Jack” himself has carefully avoided) by showing the light exactly in a line on the other side.
1885. Thornton, Harrow School, p. 276. Jack-o’-lantern was abolished by Dr. George Butler, but re-appeared in Dr. Longley’s time as one of those forbidden pleasures so dear to youth. Always played in the evening, and originally by sufferance of the authorities, the game in question was simply a run across country after a lantern carried by a swift-footed boy. Oftentimes would the luckless hounds be enticed into some slough of despond, and the performers return in a condition of mud which may find its equal on a wet football day or a paper-chase forty years later, but yet present no adequate idea of the confusion caused by the return from JACK-O’-LANTERN, of thirty or forty boys at night when in ordinary clothes. It is one of the most distinct evidences that no discipline existed when we read of such a proscribed saturnalia having occurred after lock-up in Dr. Longley’s time. But the fact has been communicated to us by Harrow men whose word is indisputable.
Jambi, subs. (Harrow).—Greek Iambics; an exercise in the Upper School.
Janny, subs. (Royal High School, Edin.).—A janitor.
Jark, subs. (Oxford).—A safe-conduct pass; a JASKER. [Cf. Jark = a seal.]
1818. Scott, Heart of Midlothian, xxix. Stay, gentlemen, ... this is a JARK from Jim Radcliffe.
Jarrehoe, subs. (Wellington).—A man-servant. Cf. Gyp and Scout.
Jericho, subs. (Oxford).—A low quarter of Oxford.
Jesuit, subs. (Cambridge).—A graduate or undergraduate of Jesus College.
1771. Smollett, Humphrey Clinker, To Sir W. Phillips, April 20. Direct your next to me at Bath; and remember me to all our fellow Jesuits.
1856. Hall, College Words and Phrases, p. 270, s.v.
Jib, subs. (Dublin).—A first-year’s man.
1841. Lever, Charles O’Malley, xiv. There [referring to Trinity College Freshmen] ... are JIBS, whose names are neither known to the proctor nor the police-office.
To be jibbed, verb. phr. (Christ’s Hospital).—To be called over the coals; to get into trouble. A Hertford word, the London equivalent being TWIGGED. Obsolete.
Jiffs, The (Christ’s Hospital). See Appendix.
c. 1890. More Gleanings from The Blue, 92. North is the “Hall playground” (I use the terrene names); south, the “Library”; east, the “Ditch”; and west, the “JIFFS.”
Jig, subs. (Winchester).—A clever man: fifty years ago it meant a swindler. The word has now the meanings (1) a low joke, (2) a swindle, (3) an object of sport.
1600. Heywood, 2 Edward IV., i. 1. There domineering with his drunken crew Makes JIGS of us.
1620. Cotgrave, Dictionarie, s.v. Farce ... the JYG at the end of an enterlude, wherein some pretie knaverie is acted.
1652. Stapylton, Herodion (quoted in Notions). Devising with his mates to find a JIGG, That he thereby might make himself a king.
Jimmy. All jimmy, adv. phr. (Cambridge).—All nonsense. [Cf. Jemmy-burty (Cambridge) = an ignis fatuus.]
Jink, subs. (Durham).—A dodge: at football.
Jockey, subs. (Winchester).—(1) To supplant; (2) to appropriate; (3) to engage: e.g. “He JOCKEYED me UP to books”; “Who has JOCKEYED my baker”; “This court is JOCKEYED.” Probably an extended use of the word borrowed from turf slang. Jockey not = the Commoner cry claiming exemption, answering to “feign” at other schools: of which the College “finge” seems a translation. The opposite of JOCKEY UP = to LOSE DOWN.—Notions.
1881. Felstedian, Nov. p. 75, “A Day’s Fagging at Winchester.” Here let me observe that only the præfects have separate basins to wash in; the juniors use the two stone conduits. As there are seven who are not præfects, there is rather a rush for them, so I JOCKEY (i.e. secure) one for the “candlekeeper” by turning on some water and putting his sponge into it.
John (Westminster).—See College John.
Johnian, subs. (Cambridge).—A student of St. John’s College: also JOHNIAN PIG or Hog—see Hog. Also as adj.: e.g. JOHNIAN blazer, JOHNIAN melody, &c.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Hog ... Johnian hogs, an appellation given to the members of St. John’s College, Cambridge.
1829. Praed, Poems, “The Vicar.” Sit in the Vicar’s seat: you’ll hear The doctrine of a gentle JOHNIAN.
1841. Westminster Review, xxxv. 236. The JOHNIANS are always known as pigs. They put up a new organ the other day which was immediately christened “Baconi Novum Organum.”
Joram, subs. (Winchester).—A tin beer-can, used in Commoners; a quart pot. [Var. dial. = a large dish or jug.] In College a Bob (q.v.) was used.
Jordan (Eton).—See Playing-fields.
Jossop, subs. (general).—Syrup; juice; gravy; sauce.
Jubilee, subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—A pleasant time: e.g. The town was all in a JUBILEE of feasts.—Dryden.
1772. G. A. Stevens, Songs Comic and Satyrical, p. 192. Day by day, and night by night, Joyful JUBILEES we keep.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester (1866), 216. Jubilee—Any time when there was nothing to do, either in the way of lessons or fagging.
June (Eton).—See Fourth of June.
Jungle, The (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—The Seminary wood.
1889. Stonyhurst Mag., iii. 347. The welcome shade of what was facetiously called THE JUNGLE.
Junior, subs. (Winchester).—All Inferiors except the seven Candlekeepers (q.v.) and Senior Inferior.
Adj. (Winchester).—Applied to all comparable objects. Of two neighbouring trees, the bigger is the “senior”: there are a “senior” and a “JUNIOR” end to a table, a room, &c. Tight junior = lowest of all.
1891. Wrench, Winchester Word-Book, s.v. Junior.... At about the end of the fifteenth century senior and JUNIOR superseded major and minor, before which the two sets of words seem to have been used concurrently.
Junior Hall (Shrewsbury).—See Senior Hall.
Junior Soph. See Soph.
Junket! intj. (Winchester).—An exclamation of self-congratulation: e.g. “JUNKET” I’ve got a “remi.” Hence to JUNKET OVER = to exult over. [Junketing = a merry-making.]
1630. Wadsworth [Wrench]. They made him oft-times go on foot, whilst they rode about JUNKETTING in his coach.
d. 1745. Swift, Works. Whatever good bits you can pilfer in the day, save them to JUNKET with your fellow-servants at night.