B, subs. (Harrow).—A standard in Gymnasium the next below the A (q.v.). See Appendix.
Bacca. See Action.
Bacchus, subs. (Eton).—A copy of verses. See quot.
1865. Etoniana, 27. On Shrove-Tuesday verses were written [c. 1561] in honour or dispraise of Bacchus—“because poets were considered the clients of Bacchus”—and those composed by the senior boys were fixed on the inside of the folding-doors of the hall, as was the old fashion in all schools and colleges. This custom was continued almost into modern days, and though the subject was changed, the copy of verses was still called “a BACCHUS.” When Pepys paid a visit to the school in 1665, he found the subject given out for that year was the one topic of absorbing interest—the Plague.
Back. To BACK UP, verb (Winchester).—To call out: e.g. “Why didn’t you BACK UP? I should have come.” [In College various times are BACKED-UP by Junior in Chambers, such as “Three quarters!” “Hour!” “Bells go single!” “Bells down!”]
Back Alley (The Leys: obsolete).—A passage dividing “Upper” and “Lower” Quadrangle: now done away with.
Backings-up, subs. (Winchester).—Half-burned fagot-ends. [Backing (prov. in Linc., Leices., and North country) = slack; small-coal; turf.]
Backs, subs. (Cambridge).—A favourite walk with undergraduates.
1891. Harry Fludyer at Cambridge, 23. I’m in training now for the Lent races, and have to be out for a walk in the BACKS before breakfast every morning.
Badger, subs. (Wellington).—A member of the Second XV. at football. [A “badge” is bestowed when permission is given to play in this team.]
Bag, subs. (Westminster).—Milk.
Bags (or Bags I), intj. (common).—Used to assert a claim to some article or privilege. Analogous school slang is FAINS or FAIN IT (q.v.) for demanding a truce during the progress of a game, and which is always granted by the opposing party. In other schools pike I or PRIOR PIKE serve to lay claim to anything, or for asserting priority. Also BAR: e.g. “He wanted me to do so and so, but I BARRED not.” Cf. Fain.
Bags’-stile, subs. (Rugby).—See quot.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, 363. On the Dunchurch Road there was a stile long known as BAGS’ STILE; here a certain set of boys, of whom Lyttelton was one [c. 1793], used to sit and “chaff” the passing “bagsmen”—for the commercial travellers to Rugby then rode with actual saddle-bags; and this practice led to terrible fights occasionally with the aggrieved riders.
Bake, verb (Winchester).—To rest; to sit or lie at ease. Hence BAKER (q.v.); BAKESTER (obsolete) = a sluggard; BAKING-LEAVE (q.v.); BAKING-PLACE (q.v.); BAKER-LAYER (q.v.). [North. Dial. beak = to bask in the heat. Jamieson, beik, beke, beek = to bask.]
1360. Ywaine [Ritson, E. M. R.]. And ligges BEKEAND in his bed.
d. 1395. Barbour MS. Ane Inglis man, that lay BEKAND Hym be a fyr.
1577. Kendall [Wrench]. At home we take our ease And BEAKE ourselves in rest.
1648. Symmons, Vindication of Chas. I. Wherefore if that Pope of Rome when he lay BEAKING himself in the midst of his luxuries, had cause to cry out, Heu quantum patimur pro Christo.
d. 1758. Ramsay, Works. She and her cat sit BEEKING in her yard.
Baker, subs. (Winchester).—A cushion; also anything used to sit or kneel upon, as a blotting-book, &c. [Bakers were of two kinds: that used in “College” was of large size, oblong in shape, and green in colour. The other, used in “Commoners,” was thin, narrow, much smaller, and of red colour.] Hence BAKER-LAYER (obsolete) = a Junior who used to take a Prefect’s green BAKER in and out of Hall at meal-times.
Baker-layer. See Baker.
Baking-leave, subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—1. Permission to BAKE (q.v.) in a study in Commoners, or in a Scob (q.v.) place in College. 2. Leave to sit in another’s Toys (q.v.).
Baking-place, subs. (Winchester).—Any place in which to BAKE (q.v.), or in connection with which BAKING-LEAVE (q.v.) was given.
Balbus, subs. (University).—A Latin prose composition. [From the frequency with which Balbus is quoted in Arnold’s well-known text-book, Latin Prose Composition.]
1870. Quarterly Review. Balbus was in constant use.
Ball. Call the ball! phr. (Stonyhurst).—The “Foul!” of Association Football.
Balls, subs. (Winchester).—A Junior in College collects footballs from the lockers in school and takes them through at 6 o’clock to the Ball-keeper in Commoners to be blown or repaired. The Ball-keeper is an Inferior who, for service in looking after cricket and foot-balls, is exempted from KICKING-IN (q.v.) and WATCHING-OUT (q.v.).
Bally, subs. (Sherborne: obsolete).—Ball court, the old name for the Fives’ courts; there was a game, evidently like fives, played at Sherborne against the north transept of the church as early as 1585. The word has long ago passed out of use.
Banco, subs. (Charterhouse).—Evening preparation at House under the superintendence of a monitor; the Winchester Toy-time (q.v.).
1900. Tod, Charterhouse, 81. At old Charterhouse monitors had unlimited powers.... They were seldom interfered with by any master; for instance, the visit of a house master to BANCO was intensely resented. There was a “boule” in the Sixth Form of 1872, as to what a monitor should do who was thus insulted. Should he at once put his cap on, and take no notice of the master? or would it be more dignified to walk straight out of the room? Ibid., 84. The chief duties of a monitor now are to keep BANCO, and to see that order is preserved in the cubicles, and in his house generally. Banco is the time from 7.30 to 8.55 every week-day evening except Saturday, and from 8.15 to 8.55 on Sundays, when the Under School sit in Long Room and prepare their work for the next day. The keeping of BANCO is a fine exercise in discipline for the monitor, and a very convenient arrangement for the house master. It is a tradition that a monitor helps every Under School boy with his work during BANCO if he can. Ibid., 95. The term BANCO was suggested by H. W. Phillott, afterwards Canon of Hereford ... in 1832, or a little later.
Bandy, subs. (Stonyhurst: nearly obsolete).—The Stonyhurst form of Hockey: prominent in the Tichborne trial, when the Claimant at first thought it a nickname, and afterwards a part of the College buildings.
1823. Nares, Glossary, s.v. Bandy-ball. A Yorkshire game, played with a crooked bat and a ball. It is the same as the Scottish game of golf. See Stowe’s Survey, ed. 1720, i. 251.
1847. Halliwell, Archaic Words, s.v. Bandy. A game played with sticks called BANDIES, bent and round at one end, and a small wooden ball, which each party endeavours to drive to opposite fixed points. Northbrooke, in 1577, mentions it as a favourite game in Devonshire. It is sometimes called BANDY-BALL, and an early drawing of the game is copied in Strutt’s Sports and Pastimes, p. 102.
Bangy (or Bangay), subs. (Winchester).—Brown sugar. Also as adj. = brown. Hence BANGAY BAGS (or BANGIES) = brown-coloured trousers. Wrench says the strong objection to these in former times probably arose from Tony Lumpkin coming to school in corduroys. [Suggested derivations are: (1) from Bangalore, a coarse-sugar growing country; (2) bhang = hemp; (3) banjy (Essex) = dull, gloomy.] A brown gate formerly leading from Grass Court into Sick House Meads was known as the Bangy Gate. The term is now often applied to the gate by Racquet Court into Kingsgate Street.
Bar. To bar out, verb. phr. (Royal High School, Edin.: obsolete).—To lock or barricade the doors to exclude the masters. This custom has been practically extinct since the day that Bailie John Macmorrane was shot by a pupil, William Sinclair, son of the Chancellor of Caithness, while endeavouring to get the door battered down (Sept. 15, 1595).
Barbar, subs. (Durham).—A candidate for scholarship from another school. [That is, “barbarian” = foreigner.]
Barber, subs. (Winchester).—A thick fagot or bough; one was included in each bundle. Also any large piece of wood.
Verb (University).—To work off impositions by deputy. [Tradition relates that a learned barber was at one time frequently employed as a scapegoat in working off this species of punishment inflicted on peccant students.] Also TO BARBERISE.
1853. Bradley (“Cuthbert Bede”), Verdant Green, xii. As for impositions, why ... ’Aint there coves to BARBERISE ’em for you?
Barge, subs. (Sherborne).—Small cricket: played, with a stump for bat, against a wall.
Verb (Charterhouse).—To hustle; TO MOB UP (q.v.); TO BRICK (q.v.).
Barn, The (Charterhouse).—A temporary wooden building, constructed in 1876 to meet deficiencies in class-room accommodation. It stood on the site now occupied by the Museum. It disappeared in 1884.
Barnet, intj. (Christ’s Hospital: obsolete).—Nonsense! Humbug!
Barn-school, subs. (Rugby).—See quot.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, 367. Dr. James found there [Rugby in 1777] 52 boys; in five years he had raised them to 165. The one large schoolroom was no longer sufficient ... a new building was added.... Even the new schools overflowed, for the members rose in time to near 300; and the head-master was obliged to migrate into a barn adjoining the Dunchurch Road.... There for more than twenty years successive head-masters taught the two senior forms.... Connecting these buildings with the three schools adjoining the old manor-house was a line of cow-sheds, which served as a shelter in rainy weather.... Such was the Rugby of 1809; for it was not till long afterwards that barn and cow-sheds disappeared, though the present school buildings were begun in that year.
Barracks, subs. (Loretto).—A Form occasionally interpolated between Nippers (q.v.) and Fourth. [In the Sixties a master at Loretto was known as the Captain, and when the first overflow from the school-house took place, the house in which a few boys slept, and over which he was master, was called the Garrison. The adjoining house was afterwards occupied and was called the BARRACKS. Whence the interpolated Form, which for a time had for its schoolroom a room at that house, getting the name of the Barracks Form. The name clung to it when moved to one of the regular schoolrooms.]
Barter, subs. (Winchester).—A half volley at cricket. Also as verb. [From Warden Barter, who was famous in the cricket-field for dealing with such balls.]
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, 65. None showed more enthusiastic interest in these [Public School Cricket] matches than the late excellent Warden, Robert Speckott Barter.... He seldom missed a match at Lord’s from the time he played in the school eleven himself. He was a tremendous hitter in his day; and the remarkable punishment which he dealt out to the ball, when he was lucky enough to catch it on the “half-volley,” has given to a long hit of this character at Winchester (and even elsewhere) the name of a BARTER.
Bartlemytide, subs. (general: old).—The summer holiday.
Base, subs. (Harrow).—A goal: at football.
Basinite, subs. (Charterhouse: obsolete).—A hot-water fag: he had to get hot water and towels ready for a monitor when he descended to wash in COCKS (q.v.).
Bat-mugger, subs. (Winchester).—A wooden instrument used in oiling cricket-bats.
Battal, subs. (Harrow and Charterhouse).—Battalion drill for the Rifle Corps: usually (at Harrow) in the evening. [The second is the syllable accentuated.]
Battler, subs. (general).—A student. See Battlings.
Battlings (or Battels), subs. (general).—An allowance, in money or kind; apparently originally intended to supplement the meagre fare of fast-days. Cf. quots. Hence TO BATTEL = to take provisions from the buttery.
1607. Wentworth Smith, Puritan [Malone, Suppl., ii. 543]. Eat my commons with a good stomach, and BATTLED with discretion.
1611. Cotgrave, Dict.... To BATTLE (as scholars do in Oxford), être debiteur au collège pour ses vivres. Ibid., Mot usé seulement des jeunes écoliers de l’université d’Oxford.
16 [?]. Account rendered to Arch. of York [William of Wykeham and His Colleges]. Item for BATTLINGS on fasting days with the lent. 0. 9. 8. [i.e., 9s. 8d.]
1678. Phillips, Dict., s.v. Battel. In the University of Oxford is taken for to run on to exceedings above the ordinary stint of the appointed Commons.
1744. Salmon, Present State of Univ., i. 423. Undergraduates consisting of Noblemen, Gentlemen-Commoners, Commoners, Scholars of the Foundation, Exhibitioners, Battlers, and Servitors.... The Commoners, I presume, are so called from their Commoning together, and having a certain portion of Meat and Drink provided for them, denominated Commons.... The Battlers are entitled to no Commons, but purchase their Meat and Drink of the Cook and Butler.
1786-1805. Tooke, Purley, 390, s.v. Battel, a term used at Eton for the small portion of food which, in addition to the College allowance, the Collegers receive from the Dames.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 184. The expense was defrayed by the boys subscribing the last three BATTLINGS (i.e. the weekly shilling allowed each boy). This was rather an illusory coin, for we seldom actually fingered it, as some one of the College servants generally had a kind of prescriptive right to a benefit; and whenever Saturday arrived, Præfect of Hall’s valet was sure to come round to ask the boys if they would give their BATTLING to Rat Williams, or Dungy, or Pulver, or Long John, or some other equally deserving individual.
1853. Bradley, Verdant Green, II. vii. [Note]. Battels are the accounts of the expenses of each student. It is stated in Todd’s Johnson that this singular word is derived from the Saxon verb, meaning “to count or reckon.” But it is stated in the Gentleman’s Magazine for 1792, that the word may probably be derived from the Low-German word bettahlen, “to pay,” whence may come our English word tale or score.
1864. Household Words, p. 188. The business of the latter was to call us of a morning to distribute amongst us our BATTLINGS, or pocket-money.
1880. Trollope, Autobiogr., i. 13. Every boy had a shilling a week pocket-money, which we called BATTELS. [This is probably a misprint—the Winchester term, as that used at other schools, is BATTLING. It was advanced out of the pocket of the Second Master.]
1886-87. Dickens, Dictionary of Oxford and Cambridge, p. 16. Battels is properly a designation of the food obtained from the College Buttery. An account of this, and of the account due to the Kitchen, is sent in to every undergraduate weekly, hence these bills also are known as BATTELS, and the name, further, is extended to the total amount of the term’s expenses furnished by the College. In some Colleges it is made essential to the keeping of an undergraduates’ term that he should BATTEL, i.e. obtain food in College on a certain number of days each week.
1889. Murray, Hist. Eng. Dict., s.v. Battels. Much depends on the original sense at Oxford: if this was ‘food, provisions,’ it is natural to connect it with “BATTLE,” to feed, or receive nourishment.... It appears that the word has apparently undergone progressive extensions of application, owing partly to changes in the internal economy of the colleges. Some Oxford men of a previous generation state that it was understood by them to apply to the buttery accounts alone, or even to the provisions ordered from the buttery, as distinct from the “commons” supplied from the kitchen; but this latter use is disavowed by others, ... but whether the BATTELS were originally the provisions themselves, or the sums due on account of them, must at present be left undecided.
Baulk, subs. (Winchester).—A false report. This is SPORTED (q.v.), not spread.
Beak, subs. (Harrow).—A master. Form-beak = Form-master.
Beanfielder, subs. (Felsted: obsolete).—A long hit: at cricket.
Bearded Cad, subs. (Winchester).—A porter employed by the College to convey luggage from the railway station to the school. [The term originated in an extremely hirsute individual, who, at one time, acted in the capacity.]
Beards! intj. (The Leys: obsolete).—An ejaculation of surprise.
Beast, subs. (Cambridge).—A student who, having left school, goes up to Cambridge to study before entering the university. [Because (so it is stated) he is neither man nor boy.]
Bedmaker (or Bedder) subs. 1. (Cambridge).—A charwoman; a servant who makes beds and does other necessary domestic duties for residents in College.
1891. Harry Fludyer at Cambridge, 6. Remember me most kindly to Mrs. Bloggins. I shall never forget how good she was when we were at Cambridge last term.... These BEDMAKERS are kind souls after all.
2. (Oxford).—Bedder = a bedroom.
Beef Row, subs. (Shrewsbury).—See quot.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, 247. The dinners themselves [c. 1800-40] were fairly good, with the exception of the “boiled beef” days, which were highly unpopular. The beef was probably good enough, but it was cured with saltpetre, and the consequent redness was, in the boys’ eyes, objectionable. Remonstrances had been made in vain; and the result was something like a school rebellion, well remembered as the BEEF ROW. By concerted arrangement, on one day the boys in every hall rose from the table in a body, and left the masters and the boiled beef in sole occupation. Butler was indignant; he came into each of the halls after locking up, and demanded from the heads of the school a public apology for the insult, giving them an hour for consideration, and placing before them the alternative of immediate dismissal. The boys held together, and, early the next morning the whole of the Sixth Form, comprising no less than three who were to be future heads of Colleges, were started by chaise or coach for their respective homes. The rest of the boys declared themselves en revolte; they would not go into school, and the masters walked about the court alternately threatening and persuading. At last a gentleman in the town, an old Shrewsbury boy, much respected, harangued the rebels, and persuaded them to surrender. Some sort of concession seems almost to have been made by a portion of the absent Sixth Form under home influence, and the affair ended in the return of all the exiles.
Beeswaxers, subs. (Winchester).—Thick boots for football. [Pronounced Bĕswaxers.]
Behind, subs. (Eton and Winchester).—A back at football. At Eton SHORT BEHIND and LONG BEHIND: usually abbreviated to “short” and “long.” At Winchester, SECOND BEHIND and LAST BEHIND. These answer to the half-back and back of Association football. At Winchester, in the Fifteens, there is also a THIRD BEHIND.
Up behind, phr. (The Leys).—Out of bounds: at back of College.
Behind one’s Side. See Side.
Bejant, subs. (Aberdeen).—A new student: one of the first or lowest class. See Semi-bejants, Tertians, and Magistrands.
Belial, subs. (Oxford).—Balliol College.
Bells. Bells go single, phr. (Winchester).—A single bell is rung for five minutes before the hour at which chapel commences. For College evening chapel three three’s are rung, and then follows a “bell,” one for every man in College—70. Bells down = see quots.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 62. The junior in chamber had a hard time of it; ... while endeavouring to get through his multifarious duties, he had to keep a sharp ear on the performance of the chapel bell, and to call out accordingly, “first peal!” “second peal!” and BELLS DOWN!
1878. Adams, Wykehamica, p. 256. At a quarter to six the peal again rang out, and the cry of BELLS GO was sounded in shrill tones through every chamber of College and Commoners.... After ten minutes the peal changed, and only a single bell continued to ring. This was notified by the cry BELLS GO SINGLE, and five minutes afterwards, by that of “BELLS DOWN.”... Presently the head-master ... would descend from his library: or the second master ... would appear at the archway near Sixth Chamber, and the warning voice would be heard “Gabell,” or “Williams through,” “Williams,” or “Ridding in.” Straightway there would be a general rush, the college-boys darting across the quadrangle in the rear of the Præfect of Chapel; while the Commoners hurried in, keeping up a continuous stream from their more distant quarters.
Belly-hedge, subs. (Shrewsbury).—An obstruction of such a height that it can easily be cleared: of school steeplechases. [That is, about belly high.]
Belows, subs. (Rugby).—See Cap (3).
Bender, subs. (common).—The bow-shaped segment of a kite.
1873. Dr. Blackley, Hay Fever, p. 145. The first kite was six feet in length by three feet in width, and was made of the usual form, namely, with a central shaft or “standard,” and a semicircular top or BENDER.
Bene-book, subs. (Charterhouse).—See quot.
1900. Tod, Charterhouse, 131. Besides prizes, BENE-BOOKS are awarded to the Sixth Forms on the following system: Every boy generally does four classical exercises a week, viz., Greek and Latin prose, Greek and Latin verse, and one mathematical exercise; these are marked, according to their merit, B, b, sb, s, vs, m, M; that is to say, Big bene, bene, satis bene, satis, vix satis, male, Big male.... A BENE-BOOK (value 12s. 6d.) is earned by the winner of two BENES a week throughout the quarter. There used to be a yet higher mark, i.e., B†, or a Write-out, which counted four. A B† denoted that the composition to which it was attached was worthy of being written out in a book kept with a view to forming a new edition of “Sertum Carthusianum.” There are many volumes of old Write-out books on the shelves of the library, but for years no addition has been made to them. The Write-out is quite obsolete.
Bevers, subs. (general).—An afternoon meal or refreshment; a snack between meals. Whence (Winchester) BEVERS (or BEVER-TIME) = an interval from 4.30 to 5 in afternoon school, observed (says Wrench) long after the distribution of bread and beer had ceased on whole school-days. [See Beaumont and Fletcher, i. 20; Ford, i. 392; Florio, in v. Merénda; Cooper, in v. Antecænium; Stanihurst’s Descr. of Ireland, p. 18; Nomenclator, p. 79; Sir John Oldcastle, p. 42; Howell, sect. 43; Middleton’s Works, iv. 427, v. 141.]
1580. Lingua [Dodsley, Old Plays (Reid, 1825), v. 148]. Appetitus. Your gallants never sup, breakfast, nor BEVER without me.
1585. Nomenclator, p. 79. A middaies meale: an undermeale: a boire or BEAVER: a refreshing betwixt meales.
1597. Harrison, Desc. of England. Of old we had breakfastes in the forenoone, BEUARAGES or nuntions after dinner, and thereto reare suppers, generallie when it was time to go to rest, a toie brought into England by hardie Canutus; but nowe these are very well past, and each one, except some young hungrie stomach, that cannot fast till dinner-time, contenteth him self with dinner and supper.
1598. Florio, Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Merenda, Plauto. Propriè olim prandium dicebatur quod meridie daretur. Nonius cibum qui post meridiem sumitur interpretatur. ἑσπέρισμα. Le reciner.
1604. Marlowe, Dr. Faustus. Thirty meals a day and ten BEVERS.
1607. Beaumont and Fletcher, Woman Hater, i. 3. He is none of those same ordinary eaters, that will devour three breakfasts, and as many dinners, without any prejudice to their BEVERS, drinkings, or suppers.
1611. Cotgrave, Dict., s.v. BEVER. An afternoon’s nuncheon.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 83. In summer time we were let out of afternoon school for a short time about 4 P.M., when there was a slight refection of bread and cheese laid out in Hall. It was called BEEVER-TIME, and the pieces of bread BEEVERS.
1847. Halliwell, Archaic Words, s.v. BEVER. An intermediate refreshment between breakfast and dinner. The term is now applied to the afternoon snack of harvest-men and other labourers, and perhaps may be explained more correctly as any refreshment taken between the regular meals. Sometimes refreshments of drink, or drinkings, were called BEVERS; but potations were not BEVERS, as Mr. Dyce asserts.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools [Winchester], p. 23. School opened again at two o’clock; at half-past three came an interval called BEVER-TIME, when the boys had again bread and beer allowed them. 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.
1884. M. Morris, in English Illustrated Magazine, Nov., p. 73. [At Eton, we] came up from cricket in the summer afternoons for BEAVER.
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.
Bodleian, The (Oxford).—A famous library, popularly known as the Bodley, founded by Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, 1445-80. Despoiled in 1550 and again in 1556, it was restored and added to in 1598 by Sir Thomas Bodley. It now contains some 600,000 volumes, and is especially rich in manuscripts (some 30,000 volumes) and other literary treasures. James Russell Lowell, the distinguished American, says of this famous library: “Directly we enter, we are struck by the stillness and solemnity that reign around, helped by the dim light, the windows with painted glass, the ponderous shelves, the illuminated missals, the graduates or attendants conversing in low whispers or moving quietly about. For reading purposes the library is as free and as good as the library of the British Museum; with the advantages that you may be seated in front of a window commanding a beautiful garden prospect, that your arm-chair is not disturbed, that books are allowed to accumulate around you, and that you are not obliged to return them to the care of the custodian on leaving the library. The visitor will not fail to notice the portraits in the upper library, and especially to cast a grateful look at the fine portrait of Bodley. He will see the exercise-books used by Edward VI. and Elizabeth when children, and, close by, the autographs of distinguished visitors.”
Boiler, subs. (Winchester).—A plain coffee-pot used for heating water—fourpenny and sixpenny boilers, not from their price, but from the quantity of milk they held. το παν BOILERS = large tin saucepan-like vessels in which water for a BIDDY (q.v.) was heated.
Bolly, subs. (Marlborough).—Pudding.
Bom, subs. (The Leys).—A servant; a waiter. [A waiter was once dubbed “a vile abomination”; whence the contractions “vile bom” and “BOM.”]
Bond Street (Stonyhurst).—A walk along one side of the playground. Once obsolete but now restored, being applied to another walk.
Boner, subs. (general).—A sharp blow on the spine.
Bonner, subs. (Oxford).—A bonfire.
Bonnet. To hold the bonnets, verb. phr. (Royal High School, Edin.: obsolete).—To hold the bonnet or handkerchief used to divide High School boys when fighting.
Bonnet-fire, subs. (Royal High School, Edin.: obsolete).—The process otherwise known as “running the gauntlet.”
1812. Jamieson, Dict. Scottish Language, s.v.
Book, verb (Westminster).—See Pancake, and quot.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 172. They also claim a right to BOOK the performer (i.e. hurl a shower of books at him) if he fails more than once. This right was liberally exercised in 1865, when the wrath of the school had culminated owing to repeated failures in that and the previous year. The exasperated cook replied to the attack with his only available missile—the frying-pan—and a serious row was the consequence.
Books, subs. (Winchester).—1. The prizes formerly presented by Lord Say and Sele, now given by the governing body, to the “Senior” in each division at the end of “Half.” 2. The school is thus divided:—Sixth Book—Senior and Junior Division; the whole of the rest of the School (but see quotations), is in Fifth Book—Senior Part, Middle Part, Junior Part, each part being divided into so many divisions, Senior, Middle, and Junior, or Senior, 2nd, 3rd, and Junior, as the case may require. Formerly there was also “Fourth Book,” but it ceased to exist about the middle of the Sixties.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 104. The school was divided into three classes, or BOOKS, as they were called. Of these, the Præfects formed one, Sixth Book; Fifth Book was subdivided into three parts, called respectively “Senior, Middle, and Junior part of the Fifth”; in speaking of them, the words “of the Fifth” were generally omitted. The rest of the boys made up “Fourth Book.”
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 24. The tiers of stone seats, which may still be noticed in the deep recesses of the windows, were the places in which the prefects sat when the boys were arranged in their respective BOOKS; the term still used at Winchester for what in other schools would be called “forms” or “classes.” There were then, as now, four BOOKS only, though the highest was and is numbered as the “sixth.” Then followed the fifth, fourth, and second fourth. The work of the sixth BOOK comprised Homer, Hesiod, Virgil, Cicero, Martial, and “Robinson’s Rhetoric.” Ibid., 36. Ninety feet long and thirty-six in breadth, it is sufficiently spacious to allow all the BOOKS to be assembled there without more confusion than is inseparable from the system of teaching so many distinct classes in a single room—an arrangement peculiar to Winchester alone amongst our large Public Schools.
1891. Wrench, Winchester Word-Book, s.v. Books. The name of the Classes into which the School is divided. The VIth, Vth, and IInd only remain. From Liber in the sense of Roll probably.
Up to books.—In class; repeating lessons; formerly UP AT BOOKS.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 101. At each end of school are three tiers of benches rising gradually one above the other,—that on the ground being called “Senior Row,” and the others “Middle” and “Junior Row” respectively. On these the Classes sit when UP AT BOOKS, i.e. when repeating lessons.
1847. Halliwell, Archaic Words, s.v. Book. This word was formerly used for any composition, from a volume to a single sheet, particularly where a list is spoken of. See the State Papers, i. 402.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 37. Three tiers of fixed seats rise against the wainscotted walls on the east and west, where the boys are arranged when UP TO BOOKS, the chairs of the different masters being in front of each.
1872. Walcott, Traditions and Customs of Cathedrals, “Statutes of Chichester Cathedral.” Four wax candles are always distributed at the end of Lauds, at the four uppermost BOOKS, to the Senior set of the BOOKS, to find the lights to the same BOOKS for that time. [Note to foregoing:—At Winchester College the Forms are still called BOOKS.]
1878. Adams, Wykehamica, 417, s.v.
1891. Wrench, Winchester Word-Book, s.v. Books. It has been suggested that this phrase arose from the school having originally to go up to the Donatus—the one book which College boasted; and an entry is extant of a three days’ remedy being entailed by the book going to be bound. The pluralization would be no more than an ordinary Wykehamical inflection.... The following mysterious use of Libri, however, suggests a much more probable origin. Chris. Johnson says: “Seu Chandlerus erat, seu Custos ordine primus, Durus ab inductis dicitur esse LIBRIS!” To which a contemporaneous note is appended: “Lectionum a cæna repetitiones instituisse creditur, quas Wiccamici materna lingua Libros dicunt.” What these “repetitiones” were is not clear; but they were some form of lesson which præ-Elizabethan Wykehamists had christened BOOKS in their materna lingua, and Johnson’s annotator thought the word strange enough to deserve a note. We may, therefore, very possibly be only perpetuating this word in our use of UP TO BOOKS.
Books Chambers.—Explained by quotations.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 103. On Remedies (a kind of whole holiday) we also went into school in the morning and afternoon for an hour or two without masters; this was called BOOKS CHAMBERS; and on Sundays, from four till a quarter to five.
1891. Wrench, Winchester Word-Book, s.v. Books-chambers. Hours of preparation in College: in the evening called Toy-time.
To get (or MAKE) BOOKS.—To get the first place, or to make the highest score at anything. Cf. Books, sense 1.