*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.