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
*Cave*, _intj._ (Eton).—“Beware!” A byword among boys out of
bounds when a master is in sight. [From the Latin.]
*Cedar*, _subs._ (Eton).—A pair-oared boat inrigged, without
canvas, and very “crank.” [No longer in use.]
*Certificate Good-day*, _subs. phr._ (Stonyhurst).—_See_
GOOD-DAY.
*Chaff*, _subs._ (Christ’s Hospital).—A small article or
plaything. Also as _verb_ = to exchange; to barter. [A.S.
_chaffere_ = to deal, exchange, or barter: as _sub._ =
merchandise. Also (North) _chaffle_ = to haggle.]
1388. WIMBELTON, _Sermon_ [MS. Hatton, 57, p. 4]. If thou art a
margchaunt, disceyve not thi brother in CHAFFARYNG.
1440. _Promptorium Parvulorum_ [MS. Harl. 221, ff. 206]. Rooryne or
chaungyne on CHAFFARE for another.
1450. _MS._ Bibl. Reg. 12 B. i. f. 19. _Emere vel vendere_, Anglice to
CHAFFARYN.
1844. _Reminis. of Christ’s Hospital_ [_The Blue_, Aug. 1874].
Pocket-knives, combs, “precious” marbles, tops, and all the other
numerous nondescript articles which go to make up the CHAFFS of a
Blue.
1877. BLANCH, _Blue-Coat Boys_, 96. CHAFF me your knife.
_Adj._ Pleasant; glad. Also CHAFFY. [Possibly, in this
sense, a memory of chaff = banter.] Whence, CHAFF FOR YOU =
“So much the better for you.” _Cf._ VEX.
_Intj._ An exclamation of joy or pleasure.
*Challenge*, _subs._ (Westminster).—The entrance examination for
Queen’s Scholarship. _See_ quot. [In ancient times (_vide_
STOW) St. Peter’s was one of the three great schools whose
scholars were accustomed on the days of their patron Saints
to challenge each other to a contest of grammar and
versification, which was apparently the earliest form of
what was afterwards developed not only into the Westminster
CHALLENGE, but into the Eton MONTEM (_q.v._).]
1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, p. 182. He undergoes a very
severe examination, called the CHALLENGE, the form of which must have
been preserved from Queen Elizabeth’s days, and is the last surviving
relic of the old scholastic disputations.
*Chamber-day*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A day on which access
was allowed to CHAMBERS (_q.v._) during the whole
day.—MANSFIELD.
*Chambers*, _subs._ (Winchester).—The College bedrooms: in
Commoners called GALLERIES (_q.v._). [CHAMBER is commonly
dialectical for bedroom.] _See_ ELECTION CHAMBER.
*Charity-remove*, _subs._ (Harrow).—A “remove” assigned to boys
who have remained in the Form below for several successive
school quarters.
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