Rabbiter, subs. (Winchester).—A blow, delivered by the side of the hand, on the back of the neck: as in killing a rabbit.
Rabbit-Skin, subs. (University).—The academical hood. Hence TO GET ONE’S RABBIT-SKIN = to obtain the B.A. degree. [Because trimmed with rabbit fur. Also CAT’S-SKIN.]
Rack, subs. (Winchester).—A DISPAR (q.v.), or portion consisting of a joint (or chop) from a neck or loin of mutton. [Rack (Halliwell) = the neck of mutton or pork; also (Johnson) = a neck of mutton cut for the table.]
1594. Lyly, Mother Bombie, iii. 4. Lu. And me thought there came in a leg of mutton. Dro. What, all grosse meat? a RACKE had beene dainty.
1706. Coles, Eng. Dict., s.v. Rack.... Probably from hracca, Saxon, the back of the head.
... May, Accomplished Cook, 57. Then again, put in the crag end of the RACK OF MUTTON to make the broth good. Ibid., p. 25. Take two joynts of mutton, RACK and loin.
Rag, subs. (University).—1. An undergraduate’s gown.
1899. Answers, 14th Jan., 1. 1. This matter of the RAG is hedged about with many unwritten laws. One who has mastered these will never go to breakfast in another man’s rooms in cap and gown.... Nor will he wear the RAG in the theatre, which is strictly barred.
2. A jollification.
1900. Daily Mail, 10th Mar., 2. 4. There was keen excitement at Cambridge yesterday when the magistrates proceeded to deal with the last two prosecutions of students arising out of the notorious RAG in celebration of the relief of Ladysmith.
Ragged-soph. See Soph.
Ramrod (or Raymonder), subs. (Winchester).—A ball bowled all along the ground.—Mansfield (c. 1840).
Range, verb (The Leys).—To play football in the small walled playground.
Rattle, subs. (Stonyhurst).—The hour of rising: e.g. “I got up at the RATTLE.” [From the instrument by which the boys are called.]
Rawcliffe’s, subs. (Stonyhurst).—An old tuck-shop: recently obsolete.
Rawk. See Rorke.
Reader, subs. (Winchester).—See quot.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester (1886), 228. Reader—An office in the gift of every Præfect in Senior Fardel (q.v.), which excused the recipient from watching out at Cricket. His business was to read out aloud the translation of any book his Master was cramming for Election examination.
Reading-shelf, subs. (Winchester).—A shelf with a drawer fixed inside the head of a boy’s bed, on which to place a candle for nocturnal studies.—Mansfield (c. 1840).
Recker, The (Harrow).—The town recreation-ground: here are held the school sports.
Rector. 1. See Regent.
2. (Stonyhurst).—The Head-master. See Day.
Regent, subs. (Royal High School, Edin.: obsolete).—An assistant master: the Head-master was called “Maister” or “Principal Maister”; now “Rector.”
Remedy, subs. (Winchester).—A holiday. See Work, quot. 1891.
1484. Chapter Register of Southwell Minster. Nota generaliter. Ministri Ecclesiæ non vacant scolæ grammaticali. Magister grammaticalis non attendit debitis horis doctrinæ suorum scolarium in scola; et quam pluries indiscrete dat REMEDIUM suis scolaribus diebus ferialibus, quod quasi ad tempus nichil addiscunt, expendendo bona suorum parentum frustra et inaniter; et non locuntur latinum in scola sed anglicum.
d. 1519. Dean Colet, Statutes of St. Paul’s School. I will also that they shall have no REMEDYES. Yf the Maister granteth any REMEDYES he shall forfeit 40s., totiens quotiens, excepte the Kyng, or an Archbishopp, or a Bishop present in his own person in the Scole desire it.
1530. Thomas Magnus, Endowment Deed, Newark Grammar School. Thomas Magnus ordeyneth ... that the said maisters shall not be myche inclyned nor gyven to graunt REMEDY for Recreacyon or Dispoorte to their scolers unless it be ones in a wooke upon the Thuysday or Thursday, or that further REMEDY be requyred by any honorable or worshipfull Person or Personage, &c. &c.
1593. Rites Durham Cathedral Monastic Church [Surtees Society]. There was ... a garding and a bowling allie ... for the Novices sumetymes to recreate themselves when they had REMEDY of there master.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester (1866), 49. In the short half we had at least one “REMEDY,” and a half day every week, and in summer two always; they were on Tuesdays and Thursdays. These “REMEDIES” were a kind of mitigated whole holidays. We were supposed to go into school for an hour or two in the morning and afternoon; but as no Master was present, it didn’t come to much. This was called “Books Chambers.” Remedies were not a matter of right, but were always specially applied for by Præfect of Hall on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The custom was for him to waylay the Doctor on his way to morning chapel, and make the request, when, if granted, a gold ring was handed to the applicant, on which was engraved, “commendant rarior usus.” This ring was worn by the Præfect of Hall for the rest of the day, and returned by him to the Doctor at the beginning of middle school on the day following.
1891. Wrench, Winchester Word-Book, s.v. Remedy. A holiday in the half, with Books-chambers or Toy-time. Originally there was always one, and generally two REMEDIES in the week. Later every Tuesday in Easter-time and Cloister-time was a REMEDY, the Thursday’s REMEDY being often granted. Now Thursdays in Cloister-time only are REMEDIES proper in middle-school hours; there are on these days Morning-lines, and the afternoon is a half-holiday. Ascension-Day and the Queen’s Accession are holidays: all red-letter Saints’-days are Leave-out-days. Remedium seems to have been the original word for holiday: translated REMEDY.... The tradition of REMEDIES being granted by great persons survives in the custom of the Judges on Circuit demanding a Half-REMEDY.
Remi, subs. 1. (Westminster).—A holiday. Cf. Remedy.
2. (Winchester).—Remission (q.v.).
Remission (or Remi), subs. (Winchester).—See quot.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester (1866), 229. Remission—When owing to a Saint’s day having fallen on the day previous to that on which a Verse or Prose Task, or Vulgus, was due, the boys were excused from doing it, there was said to be REMISSION from it.
Rep, subs. 1. (Harrow and King Edward’s, Birm.).—A repetition.
1892. Anstey, Voces Populi, 65. It’s not in Selections from British Poetry which we have to get up for REP.
2. (King Edward’s, Birm.).—The REPRESENTATIVE elected by the Class to serve on the Committee of the School Club.
Repeal Garden, subs. (Stonyhurst).—One of the Higher Line Gardens. [Used for Irish declamation at the beginning of the century.] Obsolete.
Responsions. See Smalls.
Resurrection, subs. (Stonyhurst).—A sort of eat-all feast, consisting of a meeting to discuss the remnants of an Academy Do (q.v.) held on the previous day.
Rhetoric, subs. (Stonyhurst).—The Sixth Form. [From the chief work once studied in the form. Cf. Regulæ Professoris Rhetoricæ in the Ratio Studiorum Societatis Jesu.]
Rhetoric Good-day, subs. phr. (Stonyhurst).—See Good-day.
Rhetorician, subs. (Stonyhurst).—See Rhetoric.
Rigger, subs. (Durham).—A racing-boat.
Rinder, subs. (The Leys and Queen’s).—An outsider.
Riot Act, subs. (King Edward’s, Birm.).—A body of school rules, read over and commented upon by the Head Master on the first Wednesday afternoon in term before the whole school.
Ripping, subs. (Eton).—A ceremony incidental to the departure of a Senior Colleger for King’s College, Cambridge: when he has got King’s (q.v.) his gown has to be stitched up that it may be RIPPED afterwards by the Provost or his deputy.
Robinites (Charterhouse).—See Out-houses.
Rock, subs. 1. (Derby).—The school bread. See Wash.
2. (Winchester).—A medium-sized stone.
Rod-maker, subs. (Winchester).—The man who made the rods used in Bibling (q.v.).
Rogging, subs. (Stonyhurst).—Brook-fishing.
Roke, verb (Winchester).—To stir: as a fire, a liquid, &c.
1375. Percival [Halliwell]. Were they wighte, were they woke, Alle that he tille stroke He made their bodies to ROKE.
1383. Chaucer, Canterbury Tales. Yet in our ashen cold is fyr i-REKE.
1847. Halliwell, Arch. Words, s.v. Roke.... To shake; to roll ... to stir liquids.
Roker, subs. (Winchester).—A ruler; a stick; a poker. See Roke. Flat-roker = a flat ruler.
Roll, subs. (Winchester).—A list of names.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester (1866), 230. The ROLL par excellence is the list of the boys who have passed their examination for New College, and of those who are to come in to Winchester. There is also a ROLL printed every November, which contains the name of every one connected with the School, from the Warden to the Choristers. The lists from which the Præfects of Hall and Chapel called names; the papers on which the names of the absentees on such occasions were written; the papers on which were written the “Standing up”; the lists of the boys who had leave out on a Saints’ day; the papers put on the Master’s desk when boys wished to go out of school; those handed to the Master at the close of School by the Bible-Clerk or Ostiarius with the names of the delinquents, and many other similar papers, were all called ROLLS.
To have a roll on, verb. phr. (Shrewsbury).—See quot.
1877. Pascoe, Every-day Life, &c. Anything approaching swagger is severely rebuked; there is no more objectionable quality than that understood by the expression “He’s got such a horrid ROLL ON.”
To roll in, verb. phr. (Harrow: obs.).—See quot.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, 316. Another ancient barbarism survived even long after Butler’s accession. There were in the head-master’s house two public rooms for the use of his boarders—the hall and the play-room. The latter was open to all, but the hall was regarded as a sort of club-room, which no boy was allowed to enter, except at dinner and supper time, until he had become a member by being ROLLED-IN. Any one who desired the privilege of admission (and none below the upper fifth were eligible), gave in his name to the head-boy some days beforehand, in order that due preparations might be made for the inauguration. Immediately a certain number of rolls (finds they were called—etymology unknown) were ordered at the baker’s, and rebaked every morning until they were pretty nearly as hard as pebbles. At nine o’clock on the morning fixed for the ROLLING-IN, the members of the hall ranged themselves on the long table which ran along one side of the room, each with his pile of these rolls before him, and a fag to pick them up. The candidate knelt, facing them, on a form close against the opposite wall, with his head resting on his hands, so as to guard the face, while they held, as well as they could, a plate on the top of the head by way of helmet. Thus protected, the head itself formed a mark for the very peculiar missiles which were ready to be aimed. When all was ready, a time-keeper, watch in hand, gave the word—“Now!” when fast and furiously—and very spitefully, if the boy was unpopular—the rolls were showered upon the devoted head for the space of one minute, neither more nor less. Such protection as the plate gave was soon lost by its being broken to pieces. It was, as may be imagined, a very severe ordeal, the bruises being very painful for weeks afterwards.
Roller, subs. (Oxford).—A roll-call.
Room, subs. (Stonyhurst).—In Stonyhurst nomenclature, ROOM as a place-name is modern. See Duchess’ Rooms, Duke’s Room, Place, &c.
Roosh, verb (Harrow).—To rush about.
Roost, verb (Derby).—To kick hard: at football. [? Root.]
Root-about, subs. (The Leys).—Promiscuous football practice. Also as verb.
Ropes, subs. (general).—A half-back at football.
Rorke (or Rawk), subs. (Tonbridge).—A navvy. [? Latin raucus. Cf. Rorker.]
Rorker, subs. (Derby).—A street boy; a cad. [? Latin raucus. Cf. Rorke.]
Rosh (or Roush), verb (Royal Military Academy).—To bustle; to horseplay. Hence STOP ROUSHING! = an injunction to silence.
Rotten. See Appendix.
Rotter, subs. (Tonbridge).—A boy who shirks his fair share: at games, &c.; a fainéant.
Rouge, subs. (Eton).—A point in the Eton game of football: 3 ROUGES = 1 goal. Cf. Scrouge.
Verb (Felsted).—To “rag”; to “scrag.” See subs.
1895. Felstedian, April, pp. 43-4. “Vic” ... entirely baffles me, and so does the expression TO ROUGE; but the fact that it occurs in the early numbers of the Felstedian—“we won the game by one goal, three ROUGES”—points to its origin.
Round-Othello, subs. (The Leys). A Leysian tuck-shop delicacy.
Roush, subs. (Winchester).—1. A rush, or charge: as by a man, a beast, or by water.
Rowing-man, subs. (University).—A spreester; a loose fish. [“Row” as in “bough.”]
Rows, subs. (Winchester).—The fixed benches at each end of School: called respectively Senior, Middle, and Junior ROW.
Rowsterer, subs. (Derby).—A cad.
Ruck. To ruck along, verb. phr. (Oxford).—To walk quickly.
Rudiments, subs. (Stonyhurst).—The Third Form.
Rug, subs. (Rugby).—A Rugbeian.
1892. Evening Standard, 25th Nov. 4, 5. The controversy was started by the death of one who succumbed to his exertions. “An Old Medical Rug” describes the sufferings he endured.
Rugger, subs. (general).—Football: the Rugby game.
1896. Tonbridgian, No. 339, 1124. At St. John’s, Sells has developed into a good RUGGER half, Pinching is one of the best forwards, and also plays Socker for the College at times.
1897. Felstedian, Nov., p. 194. As regards RUGGER the ’Varsity team have been somewhat under-rated.
Run. To run Cloisters, verb. phr. (Winchester).—A boy was said to run Cloisters when he obtained his remove from Junior Part to Senior Part at the end of Cloister-time (a period of ten or twelve weeks at the end of Long Half).
Run. See Race.
Runabout, subs. (Charterhouse).—An irregular form of football: formerly called Compulsory.
Running-stone, subs. (Stonyhurst).—A stone set at a distance from the CRICKET-STONE (q.v.), to and from which a batsman ran when making a score. See Stonyhurst-cricket.
1885. Stonyhurst Mag., ii. 85. The distance from the Cricket-stone to the RUNNING-STONE to be twenty-seven yards.
Rusticate, verb (common).—To send away a student for a time from a College or University by way of punishment; to SHIP (q.v.). Hence RUSTICATION.
1714. Spectator, No. 596. After this I was deeply in love with a milliner, and at last with my bedmaker, upon which I was sent away, or, in the university phrase, RUSTICATED for ever.
1779. Johnson, Life of Milton, par. 12. It seems plain from his own verses to Diodati, that he had incurred RUSTICATION; a temporary dismission into the country, with perhaps the loss of a term.
1794. Gent. Mag., p. 1085. And was very near RUSTICATION [at Cambridge], merely for kicking up a row after a beakering party.
1841. Lever, Charles O’Malley, lxxix. You have totally forgotten me, and the Dean informs me that you have never condescended a single line to him, which latter enquiry on my part nearly cost me a RUSTICATION.... Dear Cecil Cavendish, our gifted friend, slight of limb and soft of voice, has been RUSTICATED for immersing four bricklayers in that green receptacle of stagnant water and duckweed, yclept the “Haha.”
1841. H. Kingsley, Ravenshoe, ch. viii. Non-university men sneer at RUSTICATION; they can’t see any particular punishment in having to absent yourself from your studies for a term or two.
1850. F. E. Smedley, Frank Fairlegh, ch. xxx. Who, the landlord tells me, has just been RUSTICATED for insulting Dr. Doublechin.
1853. Bradley, Verdant Green, iv. “The Master ... said as how Mr. Bouncer had better go down into the country for a year, for change of hair, and to visit his friends.” “Very kind indeed of Dr. Portman,” said our hero, who missed the moral of the story, and took the RUSTICATION for a kind forgiveness of injuries.
1885. Daily Telegraph, Oct. 29. Students who are liable at any moment to be RUSTICATED.