The Public School Word-book: A conribution to to a historical glossary of words phrases and turns of expression obsolete and in current use peculiar to our great public schools together with some that have been or are modish at the universitiesFarmer, John Stephen
History
The Public School Word-book: A conribution to to a historical glossary of words phrases and turns of expression obsolete and in current use peculiar to our great public schools together with some that have been or are modish at the universities
Farmer, John Stephen
Endowed public schools (Great Britain); English language -- Great Britain -- Slang -- Dictionaries; Students -- Great Britain -- Language
1898. ALDEN, _Oxford Guide_, 52. Brasenose Hall (thirteenth century)
is said to have derived the name from its occupying the site of a
_brasen-hus_ or brewhouse. Over the old entrance-gate is the
representation of a _brazen nose_, probably added at a much later
date, when punning rebuses of this kind were in fashion.
*Brasser*, _subs._ (Christ’s Hospital: obsolete).—A bully.
*Bread-and-beer*, _subs. phr._ (Stonyhurst).—The name given to
the snack which boys may take at five o’clock.
*Bread-boy*, _subs._ (Christ’s Hospital).—_See_ quot.
1798. Narrative “Christ’s Hospital, Three quarters of a Century ago”
[_Chelmsford Chronicle_ (1875), Ap. 16]. The breakfast-bell rang about
seven, when we all went into the hall, the nurses following, with boys
from each ward (called BREAD-BOYS) carrying large baskets on their
shoulders containing bread, which were taken to the head of each
table, where stood the nurse, who, after “grace,” went down the table,
serving out to each boy half of a twopenny loaf of bread. “Well,”
you’ll say, “but where’s the butter?” None was allowed—nothing but
bare bread. Those who had been sparing over night to save a portion of
the small piece of cheese they had for their supper, pulled it out of
their pockets. Sometimes a great fellow would make a little boy always
supply him with cheese of mornings, out of the piece the poor fellow
had had for his supper the night previous. Beer we had certainly,
served out in wooden vessels of an extraordinary shape, called
“piggins”; about six of them for four boys to drink out of, but such
beer! The piggins were seldom replenished, for we could not drink it.
We used to call it “the washings of the brewers’ aprons.”
1900. _Pall Mall Gazette_, 20th March, 3. 2. “A Lenten Supper.” Last
of all the BREAD-BOY hoists the tall bread-basket shoulder high and
bows round with it, never failing to raise a laugh as well as a
basket.
*Bread-picker*, _subs._ (Winchester: obsolete).—A Junior
appointed by the four senior Præfects in Commoners: at one
time to put candles in outhouses; but formerly the word is
supposed to relate to the duty of securing bread when served
out. The office exempted from fagging at meal times.
*Brekker*, _subs._ (Harrow).—Breakfast.
1898. _Stonyhurst Mag._, Dec., p. 149, “Life at Oxford.” Each
undergraduate has two rooms, a bedroom and a sitting-room. In these he
lives, studies, and, with the exception of evening dinner in the Hall,
has his meals. He is thus able to entertain. The fashionable meal to
which to invite a friend is breakfast, or vernacularly BREKKER.
*Brew*, _verb._ 1. (Marlborough).—To make afternoon tea.
2. (Harrow).—To knock about; to damage.
3. (Harrow).—To cook. Hence, as _subs._ = a mess, or
self-cooked meal.
*Brick*, _verb_ (Charterhouse).—To hustle; TO MOB UP (_q.v._);
TO BARGE (_q.v._).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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