Chapter XVI: Conclusion

If I could only flatter myself that any of my readers have felt one quarter of the pleasure in reading my little book that I have derived from writing it, I should be more than satisfied. On looking it over, however, I have some misgivings; I fear that those who know not Winchester may think the subject too trivial for illustration, and that Wykehamists may regret that so good a subject has been so indifferently handled.

It has surprised me to find how many occurrences, names, words, and faces that for years had lain dormant in my mind, started up again in my memory, as I sauntered through Chambers, School, and Meads; how strange was the sensation to be looked at as a stranger, in a place every stone of which was as familiar to me, nay, I may say more familiar to me, than any other spot in the world. The boys, their names, their dress, their games, their quaint language, (of which I have endeavoured to draw up a glossary,) all seem unchanged; and even I fancied that I myself was once more a Junior, till mechanically snatching at a ball rolling past me, my vertebræ most disagreeably reminded me what o’clock it was.

It has often occurred to me how very remarkably the relative positions of boys change in after-life; and if all those who were my school-fellows could be collected together how differently we should regard each other. Such a gathering would be of course impossible, even if death had not cut short the career of very many; scattered through every portion of the globe, working hard in their different professions, or vegetating in luxurious ease or careless indolence, how contrary to all our expectations has many a one turned out; some, neglected and despised while at school, have risen to eminence, while others, whose early youth seemed to give bright promise, have never raised their heads above the common throng. This change is even more remarkable in the physical appearance of individuals than in their moral character. I am myself, in some respect, an example of this. I left school when I was seventeen, if anything rather smaller than other boys of my age; some years after I was at a ball at Glasgow, when I saw a little officer whose face was perfectly familiar to me, and I perceived that mine was not strange to him, so we soon fraternized; I found that my friend was Long Eves, as we used to call him from his being so tall. I am no giant, and I now found that I had overtopped him by a head. At Oxford I found men who, when at Winchester with me, could have thrashed me with one hand, but who then, if engaged in such a contest, would I think have preferred the use of three.

But I must not quit my subject altogether without noticing some of the more important changes that have taken place in the institutions of the College since the time when I was first admitted. I will mention them in the same order that I observed when treating of them as they were in my time.

The Choristers are now no longer mere fags to the boys, but really do sing, and have had a handsome school built for their accommodation. The old Commoners’ buildings were removed in my time, and replaced by a more commodious and hideous structure, in which for some time the head-master received boarders. These have all migrated to four masters’ houses in Culver’s Close. They still call themselves Commoners, so that, for purposes of athletic competitions, &c., the school is divided into College, Commoners, and Houses (these latter being the occupants of the other five masters’ houses not in Culver’s Close). The building which was vacated by Commoners has been adorned and renovated by Mr. Butterfield, and now presents quite a respectable appearance. In it the new Library and various lecture rooms are located. The College boys are still 70 in number, but the number in Commoners and Houses has more than doubled since 1836, when there were about 120 (I believe at one time they dwindled down to 65). There are now about 350, and, if more masters’ houses were built, this number might be greatly increased. There are now nine masters’ houses, in each of which from 35 to 40 boys are accommodated, and the number of applications from anxious parents who wish to get their boys into the school is so excessive as to cause great embarrassment to the masters and much disappointment to the candidates.

In College the office of Præfect of Tub has been abolished, and a Præfect of Library installed in his place. There are now only two half remedies (Tuesdays and Thursdays) in each week; but Thursday is a whole remedy in the Summer term, and there is a vacation of three weeks at Easter. Going in procession to “Hills” is discontinued, and the boys may go where they like (except into the town) out of school hours. Watching-out at cricket is considerably limited, and “kicking-in” at football entirely abolished. The College Chambers[13] (except Fourth) are removed to the two storeys above, which were supposed to be occupied by the Fellows, but were hardly ever used by them. In the new Chambers there is every necessary appliance for decency and comfort, so that the Junior in winter has no longer to rub his miserable little nose with a bit of ice, and think he is washing himself, but can revel in any amount of fresh water indoors. The old Chambers are mostly used as studies, book-chambers, and toy-time as before; but one is used as a laundry and another as a dressing-room after football, cricket, &c. The boys have tea found for them in Hall, instead of having to go to sick-house for it. The dinner takes place at one o’clock. The boys get crockery instead of trenchers to eat their meals off, and knives and forks to eat them with.[14] Prime joints are carved by the servants, and a master is present. The pandemonium which took place when I was a Junior at the six o’clock dinner has happily entirely departed. At supper gaslight illumines the Hall, instead of the feeble flickering of a few dips. The ceremony of the oath is abolished. The Morning Service in chapel is at 7.50, on Saturday evenings at 5.30, on Sundays at 9, 11, and 5, and on Saints’ days at 9 A.M. Only the members of the Choir wear surplices. The boys only go to Cathedral on the second Sunday in each month.

School is now kept closed, and is only opened for concerts, lectures, &c. Its appearance has much changed. The seats and the fixed forms which supported them are swept away, a handsome organ is erected at the east end, and the “Tabula Legum” has been moved to another position over the entrance-door. The mouldings of the cornices are picked out in colour, the wainscoting varnished; and the magnificent room presents a great contrast to what it was when it was the only living room for the boys in play as well as in school hours.

The area of College Meads has been much extended by throwing down the walls which separated it from “Long” and “sick house” Meads. A racket and fives courts have been erected by the Ridding family for the benefit of the School. There is a large gymnasium, and very extensive buildings erected for additional accommodation for invalids. A splendid additional cricket-ground has been laid out adjoining the old Meads, which together make, I fancy, the finest playground attached to any school in the world.

The glories of the old Election week have altogether vanished. The election to Winchester is still in the middle of July; and there is a dinner in Hall on Domum Day, but there are very few old Wykehamists in attendance. The parents and tutors of the candidates for election muster strong for the examinations, which last three days; and the ordeal they have now to pass through is very different indeed from that which I have described as taking place when I was a candidate. The distinction and privileges of Founders’ kin are entirely abolished. Commoners are admitted to Election Chamber, and have an equal chance with College boys of getting scholarships at New College.[15]

Besides all these alterations in the buildings and regulations,[16] there are many fresh institutions which are sources of great interest to the boys. There is a Rifle Corps, a Debating Society, Shakespeare Society, Glee Club, Chapel Choir, a Boat and a Golf Club. Golf, however, is not allowed in the Summer term.

On the whole, I do not think it would be a great exaggeration to say that there have been more changes in the school arrangements since 1835 than took place in the whole period from the foundation to that date.

As regards the changes that have been enforced on the College by the Government, I feel myself incompetent to form an opinion. I have heard them both extolled and vituperated by individuals whose opinions are worthy of respect, and who have the welfare of the school at heart. At any rate, I earnestly hope that the good effects expected by the former will be fully realised, and the forebodings of the latter prove illusory. I have little doubt myself that as long as the moral and physical wellbeing of the boys is so carefully looked after as it now is, that Wykeham’s College will continue to maintain its high reputation; and though but few of her sons may dazzle the world by their wealth, rank, or power, the majority may yet, at any rate, prove always by their manly and honourable bearing, that they know the meaning of the motto of their illustrious founder,

NOTE.

Mr. Wrench has recently published a “Dictionary of Winchester Slang,” which has probably had a wide circulation among Wykehamists. He has given a list of all the words he could collect, used in days before my time, and those of more recent coinage. In the following Glossary I have strictly confined myself to those in use while I was in the school. It interested me much to learn from Mr. Wrench’s book, not only the number of quite new words (for instance, the title of his work—“Notions”—was invented subsequent to my period), but also the change in the meaning of several of the words which are still used.

GLOSSARY OF WORDS, PHRASES, AND CUSTOMS, PECULIAR TO WINCHESTER COLLEGE.[17]

⁂ _The few woodcuts interspersed through the Glossary are not such faithful representations as the author could have wished. However, they serve in some measure to explain the various colloquialisms._

A.

_ABROAD_—A boy was said “_to come Abroad_” when he returned to his school duties after having been “Continent,” (_v. inf._)

_ABS._—Was written after a boy’s name on a Roll, (_v. inf._,) to show that he was _absent_ from Chapel or Hills, or from any place, where names had been called.

_AD PORTAS_—A Latin oration addressed by the Præfect of Hall to the Electors, under Middle gate, at the commencement of Election week.

_AMEN CHAPEL_—A long service performed on the four days set apart for commemorating the Founder, and on the anniversary of his death.

_APPLE-PIE DAY_—The last Thursday in Short half, on which we had apple-pies for dinner.

B.

_BAKER_—Anything (such as a cushion or blotting-book) placed on a form to sit upon.

_BANGIES_—Drab trousers; so called from

_BANGY_—Brown sugar.

_BARTER_—A half-volley (cricket term), so called from the late Warden, who was celebrated for the vigour with which he disposed of a ball of this description.

_BATLINGS_—The boys’ weekly allowance of one shilling.

_BEESWAXERS_—Thick laced boots.

_BEEVER-TIME_—A quarter of an hour’s relaxation allowed to the boys in the middle of afternoon school in summer, to give them an opportunity of disposing of

_BEEVERS_—A portion of bread and allowance of beer laid out in hall at the time above mentioned; from the French _boire_, _buveur_.

_BIBLE CLERK_—An office held by the Præfects in full power in rotation; it lasted for a week. The duties were to collect the Verse and Prose tasks; to keep order in School; to give in the names of those boys who were condemned to be “Bibled,” (_v. inf._,) and afterwards assist at their execution; to take the place of the Præfect of Hall when absent, &c., &c.

_BIBLER, or BIBLING_—A flogging of six cuts, when the Bible Clerk and Ostiarius laid bare a hand’s-breadth of the small of the victim’s back.

_BILL BRIGHTERS_—Small faggots used for lighting kitchen fire.

_BLOW_—To blush.

_BLUCHERS_—Præfects not in full power; a metaphor taken from the half boot.

_BOB_—A large white jug, holding about a gallon.

_BONER_—A blow given with the fist on the lowest vertebra.

_BOOK_—The School was divided into three classes, called Sixth, Fifth, and Fourth Book. The Præfects formed the former. Fifth Book was divided into Senior, Middle, and Junior Part. The remaining lower boys constituted Fourth Book.

_BOOKS, THE_—The prizes given to the two boys at the head of each Part at the end of each Half; they used at one time to be given by the Duke of Buckingham, now by Lord Saye and Sele. Also anybody who had got the largest score on his side in a cricket match, was said “to have got Books.”

_BOOKS CHAMBERS_—Certain hours on a Remedy, (_v. inf._,) during which the boys had to attend in School, no Master being present.

_BOOKS, UP TO_—A Part (_v. s._) was said to be so, when it was ranged on the “Rows” (_v. inf._) before a Master, for the purpose of repeating a lesson.

_BOOTS AND LEATHERS_—A Commoner Peal, (_v. inf._)

_BREADPICKERS_—A nominal office, one being in the gift of each of the four senior Commoner Præfects, which excused the holder from fagging.

_BROCK_—To teaze, chaff, or _badger_.

_BROLLY_—An umbrella.

_BRUM_—Without money.

_BULKY_—Generous.

C.

_CANDLEKEEPERS_—The seven Inferiors (_v. inf._) who had been in College the longest time. They were excused from all fagging, though if there was an absolute dearth of Juniors, Præfects in full power had (though they rarely exercised it) the right to fag them. They were allowed a Breakfast fag in Hall, and a Valet (_v. inf._) in Chambers; and the Senior Candlekeeper had the power of fagging the twenty Juniors on the School side of Seventh Chamber Passage Gate.

_CANDLESTICKS_—Candidates for admission into College.

_CARGO_—A hamper of eatables sent to a boy by his friends.

_CAT’S HEAD_—A Dispar, (_v. inf._,) the end of a shoulder of mutton.

_CHAMBER DAY_—A day on which access was allowed to Chambers during the whole day.

_CHILD_—Each of the Electors appointed one; his principal duty was to pocket a sovereign.

_CHINTZ_—A chance.

_CLASSICUS_—The boy who at the end of the week has the smallest score in the

_CLASSICUS PAPER_—The book in which, each day after morning school, the position of each boy in his Part was marked, the lowest being marked one, and so on. The Classicus had to get the lessons set, as well as the Themes for composition.

_CLEAN STRAW_—Clean sheets.

_CLOISTERS_—The name given to Middle and Junior Part of Fifth Book, when combined together in

_CLOISTER TIME_—Ten or twelve weeks at the latter end of Long Half, commencing about Whitsunday and ending at Standing-up week, (_v. inf._)

_CLOISTER ROUSH_—An annual engagement between Cloisters and Senior Part in School at the beginning of Cloister Time.

_CLOW_—A box on the ear.

_COLLEGE WARE_—Crockery that fell without breaking.

_COMMON TIME_—The Short Half, and beginning of Long, up to Easter Time.

_COMMONERS_—The boys not on the foundation. Also the building they lived in.

_COMMONER GRUB_—An entertainment given by Commoners to College after the cricket matches.

_COMMONERS SPEAKING_—The day on which the speakers selected from among the Inferiors declaimed.

_CON_—A blow on the head given with the knuckles or any other hard substance, derived from κoνδυλον, a knuckle.

_CONDUIT_—A water tap.

_CONTINENT_—A boy was said to go _Continent_ when he left School for Sick-house.

_COURSE, IN_—The two Præfects of Chapel are said “to be in Course” on alternate weeks, when they have to call names at the end of the service. The Præfects in each Chamber are “in Course” in rotation, during which time they are especially responsible for what goes on within their jurisdiction. A new boy on his arrival was not liable to be fagged for the first fortnight; when his fagging commenced he was said to be “in Course.”

_COURSEKEEPER_—An office in the patronage of the Commoner Præfects, the duties of which were principally connected with the organisation of the fagging department. He was required to have been three years in the school, to be of reasonable bodily strength, and in Middle Part. His privileges were numerous, the principal being that he was allowed to fag. When he ascended into Senior Part his duties ceased, but his privileges remained; he was then called “Ex-Coursekeeper.”

_CROCKETTS_—Miniature Cricket, played with a stump and a five’s ball. Also, when a boy had got no runs in a cricket match, or had failed in a lesson of Standing Up, (_v. inf._,) he was said to have “got Crocketts.”

_CROPPLED_—To be floored in any examination.

_CUD_—Pretty, Nice.

_CUSE PAPER_—The same as Classicus Paper, (_v. sup._)

_CUT IN A BOOK_—A method of drawing lots. A certain letter was fixed on, (_e.g._, the first in the second line on the left page,) each boy then turned over a leaf, and whoever turned over the leaf in which the corresponding letter was nearest to A, won.

D.

_DEPUTY_—The Junior Candlekeeper, who had the organisation of the Fagging department, and assisted the Senior Candlekeeper in thrashing the Juniors in Hall.

_DISPAR_—The rations of meat served out for dinner: derived either from “Dispertio,” to divide, or “Dispar,” uneven.

_DOCK A BOOK_—To tear out the leaves.

_DOLE_—A stratagem; a clever invention, trick, or dodge.

_DOMUM_—A Latin canticle, supposed to have been written by a boy who was not allowed to go home for the holidays. The tradition says that he carved it on a tree, and then committed suicide. On the last Friday in Long Half, after Election, a kind of festival was held in the evening, when numbers of people came into College, and “Domum” was sung over and over again in School, Meads, and the principal Quadrangle. Ten minutes before the time for descending Hills, the three Juniors in College had to walk round and across Hills, calling “Domum,” as a signal to the boys to prepare to start.

E.

_ELECTION_—The examination of Præfects and Senior Part for New College; and of Candidates for admission to Winchester.

_ELECTORS_—The Warden and two Fellows of New College; and the Warden, Sub-warden, and Head-master of Winchester, who conducted the examination above mentioned.

_END_—At dinner-time the Inferiors (_v. inf._) were divided into six companies, each being presided over by a Candlekeeper. These companies, and the tables at which they sat, were called “Ends.”

_EX-COURSEKEEPER_—(_V. sup._)

_EX TRUMPS_—Extempore.

F.

_FARDEL_—Sixth Book and Senior Part were divided into three Fardels (or parts) for the examination in Election week.

_FAT FLAB_—The name of a Dispar; part of the breast of mutton.

_FINJY_—When some one of a number of boys had something unpleasant to do, he who said “Finjy” last had to do it.

_FLESHY_—The name of a Dispar; a thick cut out of the middle of a shoulder of mutton.

_FORICUS_—Latrine.

_FOUNDER’S COM_—The four days on which there were festivals in commemoration of the Founder, when there was Amen Chapel, the Fellows and Masters gave a dinner in Common-room, and the Founders (_v. inf._) received a sovereign each.

_FOUNDER’S OB_—The Anniversary of the Founder’s death.

_FOUNDERS_—Boys who proved their descent from the Founder, and were afterwards elected (by vote among the Electors) as such. Only two were admitted each year; and only two were sent to New College, but these two were put at the head of the “Roll,” (_v. inf._,) whatever their previous position in Sixth Book might have been. They were not obliged to leave at the age of eighteen, as the other boys were, but were allowed to remain till they were twenty-five. They were supposed to have particularly thick skulls.

_FOUR-HOLED MIDDLINGS_—Ordinary walking shoes

_FOURTH BOOK_—All the boys below Junior Part the Fifth.

_FRAGMENT_—A private dinner-party given in Hall to a certain number of boys, by the Warden, or one of the Masters or Fellows.

_FRATER_—Brother.

_FROUT_—Angry.

_FUNCTIOR_—The rushlight in each chamber.

_FURKED_—To be expelled.

G.

_GAIN A YEAR BY ELECTION_—A boy (not being a Founder) was obliged to leave at the Election immediately succeeding his eighteenth birthday; he whose birthday came shortly after Election, was thus enabled to stay till he was nearly nineteen, and was so said “to gain a year.”

_GAGS_—Slang name for

_GATHERINGS_—Criticisms on some Greek or Latin author, written in Latin by Sixth Book and Senior Part, eight times in the year. In the other Parts an analysis of some history, in English, was so called.

_GATER_—A spring head-foremost into “Pot,” (_v. inf._,) over one of the projecting handles of the canal lock-gate.

_GATES_—When the boys were assembled together in Seventh chamber passage, preparatory to going on to Hills or Cathedral, they were said “to be at Gates.”

_GLOPE_—To spit.

_GOAL_—_1st_, The boy who stood at the centre of each end during a game of football, and acted as umpire. _2d_, The score made (three) when the ball was kicked between his legs, or over his head without his touching it.

_GOMER_—_1st_, A pewter dish; _2d_, A new hat. One of the Commoner Peals (_v. inf._) was “Gomer Hats.”

_GOWNER_—The Goal (_v. sup._) at football stood with his legs stretched out, and a gown rolled up in a ball at each foot. When the ball was kicked over either of these gowns, without Goal’s touching it, this counted two for the party who kicked it, and was called “a Gowner.”

_GREASER_—A mode of torture performed by rubbing a boy’s head hard with the knuckles.

_GROTIUS TIME_—From seven P.M. to a quarter before eight on Sundays, in Cloister time, when Sixth Book and Senior Part went into school to translate the work of that author.

_GROUND ASH_—A young ash sapling.

_GUTTER_—An abortive attempt at a Header, (_v. inf._,) ending in the performer falling flat on the water, instead of going in head-foremost.

H.

_HAVES_—Half Boots.

_HERE_—The call used by Commoner Præfects when they required the attendance of a Junior.

_HIGH-LOWS_—Very thick low shoes, NOT half boots.

_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.”

_HISS, THE_—The signal given at the commencement of school hours when a Master was coming in.

_HOLLIS_—An oval pebble.

_HOUSLE_—To hustle.

_HOT_—Football term. In Twenty-two and Twenty-two, (_v. inf._,) 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. This _mêlée_ was called a “Hot.”

_HOT END_—A half-burnt faggot stick, with one end red hot.

_HUFF_—Very strong College ale.

_HUSKY_—Gooseberry fool with the husks in.

I.

_INFERIOR_—Any boy not a Præfect.

J.

_JACK_—A large leather vessel for beer.

_JORAM_—A tin can for beer used in Commoners.

_JUBILEE_—Any time when there was nothing to do, either in the way of lessons or fagging.

_JUNKET OVER_—To exult or triumph over another person in a friendly manner,—_e.g._, “I Junket over you, old fellow; I have leave out to-morrow.”

_JUNIOR_—All Inferiors except the seven Candlekeepers and Senior Inferior. The word “Fag” was never used as a substantive except in combination with another word, as, “Breakfast Fag.” The verb and participle were in common use.

K.

_KICK IN_—In a game of football the bounds on each side were kept by a line of Juniors, whose duty it was to kick the ball in again whenever it passed outside the line.

_KICK OFF_—When the football was taken in hand and then kicked into the air; which was done after each Schitt, (_v. inf._,) Gowner, (_v. sup._,) or Goal, by the losing side, and whenever a ball that had been kicked up in the air had been caught by one of the other side.

_KICK OVER_—To kick a ball up in the air, when it is rolling along, or lying on the ground. Considered very bad play.

_KID_—Cheese.

L.

_LAUNCH_—To drag a boy out of bed, mattress, bedclothes, and all.

_LOB_—A Tice. It will be observed by cricketers that this is not the ordinary meaning of the term, which, I believe, generally denotes any kind of slow, underhand ball. At Winchester a “Lob” may be delivered by a swift, round-hand bowler.

_LOBSTER_—To Cry.

_LOCKBACK_—A Holiday or Remedy, on which, from bad weather or any other cause, the boys did not go on to Hills, but remained on the school side of Seventh Chamber Passage gate.

_LOCKS AND KEYS_—Commoner Peal, (_v. inf._)

_LOGIE_—Sewerage.

_LOG POND_—A Sewer.

_LONG BOX_—A deal box for holding bats, stumps, and balls.

_LONG DISPAR_—Part of a loin of mutton.

_LONG FORK_—A stick used as a toasting-fork.

_LONG GRASS_—All meads except the paths and Turf, (_v. inf._)

_LONG HALF_—The Half which commenced in February, and ended in the middle of July.

_LONG MEADS_—A field between Sick-house and Commoners, now thrown into Meads. The time after dinner on summer evenings, when we went on to Underhills, was also so called.

M.

_MADE BEER_—College swipes bottled with raisins, sugar, nutmeg, and rice, which made it “up.”

_MAKE_—To appropriate any article.

_MASTER_—The title by which farmers, labourers, bargees, &c., were addressed by the boys.

_MATER_—Mother.

_MESS_—The Præfects’ tables in Hall were called “Tub, Middle, and Junior Mess” respectively. The boys who dined at each were also so named. Any number of boys who habitually breakfasted together were so called, with some distinguishing prefix, such as “Deputy’s Mess.” In Chambers, tea was called “Mess;” as was also the remains of a joint of meat. Lest the reader should make a “Mess” of all these different meanings, I will give a sentence in which they shall all figure: “Look there, Junior Mess has sat down at Tub Mess, but as they will find nothing left but a Mess, they had better go down to Chambers, as Mess is ready.”

_MIDDLE CUT_—A thick slice out of the centre of a leg of mutton.

_MIDDLE PART THE FIFTH_—Generally called Middle Part; the next Part below Senior Part the Fifth.

_MILK HOLE_—That part of a canal immediately below the lock-gates, where a hole has been formed by the rush of water from the lock.

_MONEY AND DIRECTION ROLLS_—Commoner Peal, (_v. inf._)

_MOUSE DIGGER_—A miniature pickaxe.

_MUG_—To read hard; also to pay great attention to anything; any one cleaning and oiling a bat was said to “Mug” it; a boy with carefully greased and brushed hair was said to have “mugged” hair.

_MUSTARD AND PEPPER KEEPER_—An appointment in the gift of Præfect of Hall, which exempted the holder from Watching out at Cricket or Kicking in at Football.

_MUTTONER_—A blow from a cricket-ball on the fingers, the bat being at the time clasped by them.

N.

_NAIL, TO STAND UP UNDER THE_—The punishment inflicted on a boy detected in a lie; he was ordered to stand up on Junior Row, (_v. inf._,) just under the centre sconce, during the whole of school time. At the close of it he received a “Bibler,” (_v. sup._)

_NESTOR_—Any boy who was past eighteen, or was old for his position in the school, or who was known to be much older than he looked.

_NIPPERKIN, THE_—A large stone jug for beer, of which there was one in each Chamber.

_NON HUSKY_—Gooseberry fool without the husks.

_NON LICET_—Used as an adjective, and applied to things which it was considered improper to use. A gate opening out of Meads was called “Non Licet Gate,” from a tradition that it was only opened when a boy was expelled.

O.

_OFF BAT_—The station of one of the field in a cricket match, called by the outer world “Point.”

_ON_—The word given by the Præfect of Hall for the boys to start to or from Hills, or to Cathedral. When any person or thing of importance was known to be likely to meet the boys when on Hills, the word was passed that he, she, or it was “On,”—_e.g._, “Ridsworth On,” “Snobs On,” “Badger On,” &c., &c.

_ORDER YOUR NAME_—An order given to a delinquent by the Head or Second Master, which was carried out by the boy requesting the Ostiarius (_v. inf._) to do so, the consequence of which was, that at the end of school that officer presented to the Master the victim’s name on a “Roll,” (_v. inf._,) who forthwith received a “Scrubbing,” (_v. inf._) When the words “to the Bible Clerk” were added, the business was confided to that officer, who, with the Ostiarius, officiated at the subsequent ceremony, which in this case was called a Bibler, (_v. sup._)

_OSTIARIUS_—An office held by the Præfects in succession. The duties were, to keep order in school, collect the Vulguses, and prevent the boys from shirking out. It is also the official title for the Second Master.

P.

_PACKING-UP_—Commoner Peal, (_v. inf._)

_PART_—Fifth Book was divided into Senior, Middle, and Junior “Part.”

_PARTY ROLL_—Commoner Peal, (_v. inf._)

_PATER_—Father.

_PAX_—Be quiet; Leave off. Also, a particular friend.

_PEAL_—Epigrammatic praises or critiques in Latin, Greek, or English, on the Præfects, chaunted by Cloisters, just before school, at the commencement of Cloister Time. Also, on the three last Sundays of each Half, immediately after dinner, Commoners chaunted one of the following “Peals,” Packing up, “Party Rolls,” and “Money and Direction Rolls.” They also had other Peals which they emitted prior to the ceremony of “Sticking up,” (_v. inf._,) which were, “Locks and Keys,” “Boots and Leathers,” and “Gomer Hats.” The different bells that were chimed for Chapel were designated “First Peal,” “Second Peal,” &c.

_ΠEMΠE Mῶρον Προτερον_ (“Send the Fool farther”)—An imaginary book, in search of which a new boy was bandied about from one to another.

_PERCHER_—A mark (⸺|—) put after a boy’s name on a “Roll,” which showed that he had been absent from Chapel or Hills without leave; or that he had not done his Verse or Prose Task, or Vulgus. It was also often put by a Master in the margin of Gags, or a Verse or Prose Task, to indicate gross errors.

_PITCH UP_—To make a crowd; also to associate with any one in particular. As a substantive, it means a crowd, a number of things, and a companion.

_PLEDGE YOU_—An expression used when a boy wished to secure the next turn at anything which was in the use, enjoyment, or occupation of another, such as the next drink from a bob of beer, the next read of a newspaper, or the next occupation of a seat.

_PLANT_—To kick a football against a person.

_PLANTER_—A blow from a football.

_PONTO_—A ball made of hot bread kneaded hard.

_POSERS_—Two Fellows of New College who assisted at the examination at Election.

_POT_—A canal lock; the one just under Hills was generally meant when the word was used.

_PRÆFECTS_—The eighteen senior boys in College, and the twelve senior in Commoners. The ten senior of those in College were said to be in “Full Power,” and took the office of Bible Clerk in rotation; they all had the power of fagging the Juniors, but those not in full power were supposed not to have the right of fagging on the School side of Seventh Chamber Passage; practically, however, they always did. One of the Senior Præfects was called Præfect of Hall, and was responsible in a great measure for the conduct of the boys out of school. His duties and privileges were numerous. There was also a “Præfect of Tub,” who was supposed to see that the dinner was properly distributed; a Præfect of School, who had the care of that building; and two Præfects of Chapel, who, during alternate weeks, called names in Chapel. There were fees attached to all these offices; and all the Præfects had a certain number of boys allotted to them as Pupils, each of whom paid one guinea each Half.

_PROSE_—To lecture. As a substantive, a lecture.

_PROSE TASK_—A piece of Latin prose composition, which all the boys had to do once a week.

_PRUFF_—Hard, sturdy, insensible to pain, obstinate; a corruption of “Proof.”

_PULPITEERS_—In Cloister time, Sixth Book and Senior Part went up to Books together, and were so called.

Q.

_QUARTER OF PAPER_—A quarter of a sheet of foolscap, on which the Prose and Verse tasks were always written.

_QUILL_—To endeavour to curry favour with any one.

R.

_RABBITER_—A blow on the neck with the side of the hand, similar to the _coup de grâce_ ordinarily given by a keeper to put a rabbit out of its misery.

_RACK_—Part of a neck of mutton.

_RAMROD_, _RAYMONDER_—Names given to a ball bowled all along the ground.

_READER_—An office in the gift of every Præfect in senior Fardel, 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_—A shelf with a drawer fixed inside the head of a boy’s bed, on which to place a candle for nocturnal studies.

_REMEDY_—A kind of mitigated holiday, of which there was always one, and, generally, two a week. The boys went into school twice in the course of the day for an hour, (Books Chambers, _v. sup._,) but no Master was present. A Remedy was not a matter of course, but the Head Master was always asked by Præfect of Hall to give one while he was walking up and down “Sands” (the pavement of Quadrangle under Chapel windows) before morning chapel: if he intended to grant the request, he gave to the suppliant a ring engraved with the words, “_Commendat rarior usus_.” This ring he wore till the following day, and returned to the Head Master at Middle school.

_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.

_ROKER_—Anything wherewith to stir up anything else.

_ROLL_—Any list of boys’ names. “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” (_v. inf._;) the lists of the boys who had leave out on a Saint’s 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 delinquents, and many other similar papers, were all called “Rolls.”

_ROUSH_—A rush or charge by any man or beast, or of water.

_ROWS_—The fixed benches at each end of School, called respectively Senior, Middle, and Junior Row.

S.

_SS. AND TREES_—A scratch game of Football without chosen sides, or kicking in, so called after the goals, which were, at one end, two iron clamps fixed in the wall, shaped like the letter S, and at the other two trees.

_SCADGER_—A Ruffian.

_SCALDINGS_—A call of warning to get out of the way.

_SCHEME_—A method adopted by the boys for calling themselves in the morning. It was managed by cutting the Functior down to a length calculated to burn till the time required; paper was then placed round the socket, and a string attached to it, the other end of which passed through the head of a bed, and held suspended over the head of the sleeper a weight of books or cup of water. When the rushlight burned down it ignited the paper, which burnt the string, and so caused the weight to fall on the head of the boy beneath.

_SCHITT_—The score made (one) when the Football was kicked between the goal and the last of the line of the kickers in.

_SCOB_—An oaken box with a double lid. All the College boys and a few of the Commoner Præfects had one each, at which they sat in School. So called from the word Box spelt phonetically backwards.

_SCONCE_—To deprive a person of anything.

_SCRAPE OUT_—When a Præfect wished to go out of School, he scraped with his foot till he got a nod from the Master.

_SCRUBBING_—A flogging of four cuts.

_SCRUTINY_—At the commencement of Election week, the Electors summoned the seven Senior and seven Junior boys, and inquired of them if they had any complaints to make with regard to the arrangements made for their comfort.

_SEMPER_—Always. A very common prefix, _e.g._, a boy was said to be Semper Continent, Tardy, or ex Trumps if he was often at Sick House, or late for Chapel, or habitually went up to Books without having looked at his lessons. An official, who was always present at the College meetings, went by the name of “Semper Testis.”

_SENIOR PART, THE FIFTH_—The Part next below the Præfects, generally called Senior Part.

_SHIG_—A Shilling.

_SHORT HALF_—The Half-year commencing in September and ending at Christmas.

_SILVER FORK_—A wooden skewer used as a chop-stick when forks were scarce.

_SINES_—The loaves provided for breakfast in Commoners, probably derived from “Sine,” (without,) as the Juniors so often went without them.

_SIX AND SIX_—A game at Football, with six on each side.

_SKIMMER_—A method of entering the water when bathing; by just skimming beneath the surface, and rising again immediately.

_SKIN_—To take off a Jersey by pulling it inside out over the head.

_SKIRMISHING ON_—Running home from Hills when it came on to rain.

_SNACK_—A small Fives ball.

_SNAPPING UP FOR FALSE QUANTITIES_—When up at books, if any boy, when translating, made a false quantity, any other boy (however low down in the part) who could first correct him was allowed to go up above him. If, however, the Snapper up was himself wrong, he had to go to the bottom of the part.

_SOCIUS_—A Companion. Each boy was obliged to walk with one when going to or from Hills or Cathedral.

_SOCK_—To hit hard at Cricket; also, to win; in the passive voice, to be beaten.

_SOG_—A Sovereign.

_SOROR_—Sister.

_SPITE_—To dislike a person, and treat him accordingly.

_SPITING GABELL_—When a boy suffered some injury himself, in order to spite another person; or having in some way injured another, received punishment, he was said to be “Spiting Gabell.” Dr Gabell was formerly Head Master, and the extreme inexpediency of attempting to annoy him gave rise to the proverb.

_SPLICE_—To throw.

_SPORT_—To give away; also, to display any article of dress.

_SPREE_—Conceited, Cocky, Giving himself airs; when applied to a person; Smart, Stylish, when to a thing.

_SQUISH_—Very weak tea.

_STANDING-UP WEEK_—During the last week of Long Half, all the boys, except Sixth Book and Senior Part, had to say a number of lines by heart in eight lessons, which they were supposed to have learnt in the course of the previous year; this was called Standing up. Marks were given according to merit, and these marks had a very material effect on the respective position of the boys in their Parts.

]

_STICKING UP_—On the three last Fridays of each Half, a boy was selected by appointment of Commoner Præfects and Coursekeeper, and placed on the top of “Toys” (_v. inf._) in their Hall, and was pelted with “Pontos” (_v. sup._) by the rest. The following Peals were chanted previously, one on each day: “Locks and Keys,” “Boots and Leathers,” and “Gomer Hats.”

_STUCKLING_—A kind of mince-pie made of minced beef, caraway seeds, and apples, always served at the Election dinners.

_SUM_—I am. The answer made by each boy when names were called.

_SUPERANNUATE_—A boy who was obliged to leave at Election, owing to his being past eighteen years of age. “Founders” were not “Superannuate” till they were twenty-five.

_SUS_—The Juniors tea generally drunk out of a pint cup when in bed.

T.

_TAG_—A Football term. When a player has kicked the ball well forward, and has followed it, if it was then kicked back again behind him by the other side, he was then obliged to return to his original position with his own side. If the ball had, in the meantime, been again kicked in front of him, before he regained his position, and he was to kick it, it would be considered unfair, and he would be said “to Tag.”

_TARDY_—When a boy was too late to answer “Sum,” names being called.

_TEEJAY_—To take an interest in, and protect any one. The boy protected was called a “Teejay.” Derived from the French, _Protéger_, to protect.

_THICK-_-Stupid; very intimate. Used also as a substantive, thus a Dunce.

_THOKE_—To lie in bed late in the morning. As a substantive, the act of lying in bed late.

_THOKE UPON ANYTHING_—To dwell with satisfaction on a future pleasure.

_THOKER_—A thick piece of bread dipped in water, and then baked in the ashes.

_TIN GLOVES_—A new boy was fitted with a pair, by having the backs of his hands scored backwards and forwards two or three times with a “Hot End” (_v. sup._) The supposed object of the ceremony was to enable the victim to handle “Hot Ends” with impunity.

_TIZZY_—A Sixpence.

_TIZZY POOLE_—A Fives ball; so called, because they cost sixpence, and were sold by the Head porter, whose name was Poole.

_TOEFITIE_—To secure the toe of a sleeper in a noose of string.

_TOE PAN_—A large basin of red earthenware placed in each chamber, for washing the feet in.

_TOE PAN BOILER_—A tin vessel for boiling water, containing about three gallons.

_TOLLY_—A tallow candle.

_TOTHER_ SCHOOL—Any school not a public school.

_TOYS_—Bureaux in Chambers and Commoner’s Hall. Each boy had one, at which he sat during

_TOY TIME_—The period between dinner time and evening Chapel.

_TUB_—A chest in Hall, into which the Dispars not taken by the boys were put.

_TUB MESS_—The table at which the Senior Præfects sat in Hall.

_TU DOCES_—A (Thou) Teachest.

_TUG_—Old, Stale.

_TUGS_—Stale News. A common remark when a boy related anything known previously to the hearer.

_TUNDING_—A thrashing with a ground-ash inflicted by a Præfect. When any grave offence had been committed, and it was administered by Præfect of Hall on the raised dais at one end of Hall, it was called a “Tunding on top of Hall.”

_TURF_—A part of Meads, almost exclusively kept for Præfects to play Cricket on, and for the matches.

_TWENTY-TWO AND TWENTY-TWO_—A game at Football, with Twenty-two on each side.

_TWOSTER_—A stick spirally indented by a stem of ivy having grown round it.

V.

_VALET_—Every Præfect had a Junior in Chambers who acted in this capacity, made his tea or coffee, carried his things through from Chambers to School and back again, and looked after him in general.

_VARYING_—A short extempore composition in Latin verse, done without the aid of any books. It was always the last thing done at the close of the Election examination.

_VERSE TASK_—A composition of Latin verse done once a week by all the boys.

_VESSEL OF PAPER_—Half-a-quarter of a sheet of foolscap paper.

_VOLUNTARY_—A copy of verses written occasionally by some of the boys in Sixth Book and Senior Part _ex proprio motu_.

W.

_WARDEN’S PROG_, (_Progress_)—The visitation of the College estates by the Warden and Fellows.

_WASHING DRAWER_—An oaken dressing-case.

_WASHING STOOL_—The table at which each Præfect sat in Chambers.

_WATCHING OUT_—Fielding at Cricket. When a Junior made a catch, he was let off for the rest of the day.

_WORSTEDERS_—Very thick worsted stockings, worn at Football.

Y.

_YOLLY_—Yellow; also, a Postchaise, from that being their usual colour.

FOOTNOTES

[1] Three masters’ houses, for the reception of boys, have recently been opened outside the college walls.

[2] Since the above was written, I have been shown a little book, entitled “Ups and Downs of a Public School,” in which many of the incidents alluded to by me are very graphically described, especially “the play,” “the town and gown row,” and “the examination in election week.”

[3] This word being hitherto unwritten, I have endeavoured, unsuccessfully, to spell phonetically. It is derived from the French _proteger_, and the last syllable is pronounced as in that word. Its meaning is somewhat the same as that of the French word, but implies rather a greater amount of care and interest.

[4] The beds in Seventh were different from those described in Fourth, being made of iron, without any canopy, with deal boards at the side to keep the mattresses in their places.

[5] See “Ups and Downs of a Public School.”

[6] On Sundays the boys went to Cathedral, instead of Chapel, at half-past ten A.M.

[7] This refined method of tossing up was arranged as follows:—A certain letter (say the first of the third line) was fixed on, and each boy turned over a page in succession; he who turned over that one in which the corresponding letter was nearest to A, won; and _vice versâ_.

[8] See “Ups and Downs of a Public School.”

[9] See the full-page illustration of a “Hot,” drawn by Mr R. Holmes.

[10] I believe the word “continent” is derived from the Latin _contineo_, to keep in.

[11] See “Ups and Downs of a Public School.”

[12] This must not be confounded with the _Roll_ which was published every November, giving a list of the entire establishment of the College, commencing with the Warden, Head master, (Informator,) Second master, (Hostiarius,) the ten fellows, three chaplains, the under masters, the seventy scholars, the commoners, and the choristers.

[13] I very much wish that when the Chambers were changed and refurnished the curious old bedsteads had not been done away with: they were unique, and very comfortable.

[14] Bishop Shuttleworth, when he heard of this change, observed, “Diruit ædificat, mutat quadrata rotundis.”

[15] The examination for the Oxford scholarships takes place in December.

[16] There is one change of nomenclature made by the boys themselves (I suppose) that seems to me to be somewhat ridiculous. They speak of each other as “men;” surely “fellows” (the term used formerly) would be more appropriate.

[17] As the editor of the above Glossary has never seen any of the expressions written or in print, he has no rule to go by with respect to their orthography. He has, however, endeavoured to spell them as phonetically as the nature of our alphabet will allow. All slang words that are in common use elsewhere, and all names of persons and places, have been omitted. Compound words, such as “Long Fork,” “Chamber day,” &c., he has only put down under the initial letter of the first word. He has also omitted substantives formed from verbs by adding “ster,” such as “Brockster,” a person given to chaffing, from “to Brock;” “Mugster,” from “to Mug,” &c., &c. Many of the words are doubtless now obsolete, and it is probable that Wykehamists of older standing than the editor will miss several that they used to be familiar with; but, on the whole, it is believed this Glossary will be found pretty nearly correct for the period of from 1834-40.

[18] The picture is somewhat incorrect. Three or four bureaus, each about eight feet six inches high, stood against the wall, and the boys in ordinary jackets and waistcoats (not in tight jackets) threw at the victim from the front.

BALLANTYNE PRESS
PRINTED BY BALLANTYNE, HANSON AND CO.
EDINBURGH AND LONDON