Waffle,verb(Durham).—To talk nonsense. [North dial.waffle= to wave, to fluctuate;waffler(Camb.) = a person who is very weak;waffy(Linc.) = insipid.]
Walking-days,subs.(Stonyhurst: obsolete).—Several days allowed to a new boy during which he was initiated into the ways of the house by an old boy.
Wall,subs.(Eton).—Seequot.
1890.Great Public Schools, 26. There are, as is well known, two [football] games played at Eton—one at theWALL, the other in theFIELD. The first is only played by a very limited number of boys, for there is but oneWALL; the game is of a mysterious and intricate nature, and the uninitiated spectator cannot as a rule even see how a point (called aShy) is obtained. Indeed were it not for the time-honoured match between Collegers and Oppidans on St. Andrew’s Day, the game would probably become obsolete.... The EtonFIELDgame has, in the opinion of the writer [the Rev. Sydney R. James], merits, as a game for boys, superior to those of any other kind of football. In it speed and skilful dribbling and accurate kicking have their due success, but strength and dogged perseverance and pluck are not left out in the cold.
Verb(Oxford).—To confine to College.
Wallyford,subs.(Loretto).—The usual run on a wet whole school-day: about 3-1/2 miles.SeeLong Wallyford.
Wanker,subs.(Felsted).—A bloater. [From “stinker”—“stwanker”—“wanker.”]
1892.Felstedian, Oct., 105. My name it is “WANKER”; a leaner or lanker, Salter or ranker, fish never swam.Ibid., June 1897, p. 100. He sniffs. “’Eugh,WANKERSagain.”
Warden, subs. (Winchester).—See quot.
c.1840.Mansfield,School-Life at Winchester(1866), 27. The chief of the whole establishment is theWARDEN, who has nothing to do with the teaching of the boys; he admits and when necessary expels them, confers on them the dignity of “Præfect,” listens to their complaints, and, in fact, in all matters appertaining to the management of the school and the society is omnipotent.
Wash,subs.(Derby).—School tea or coffee.SeeRock.
Washing-drawer,subs.(Winchester).—In College, a box to hold toilet requisites.
Washing-stool,subs.(Winchester).—In College, a Præfect’s table.
1881.Felstedian, Nov., p. 74, “A Day’s Fagging at Winchester.” I remember that the Senior Præfect is going to get up to mug early before chapel, and I have to call him and take his WASHING-STOOL (a rough wooden table generally used for putting washing basins on, which, when covered with a cloth, serves as a writing-table) out into Chamber Court.... Here let me observe that only the præfects have separate basins to wash in; the juniors use the two stone conduits.
Watch,subs.(Westminster).—A junior who has to remain in College during play-hours to answer inquiries, receive messages, and so forth, performing, in fact, the duties of a servant.
Watch.To watch out,verb. phr.(Winchester).—To field: at cricket.
Water,subs.(Westminster).—Boating.
1881.Pascoe,Everyday Life in Our Public Schools. Boating, orWATER, as it is called at Westminster, is in a very flourishing condition.
Weekites(Charterhouse).—SeeOut-houses.
Westminster Customs.SeeCap;Challenge;Early;Play;Monos;Pancake;Shadow;Silver-penceandWestminster Play. Besides these are others worthy of mention:—
1.The College Waistcoat.—A remarkable and original service was, up to the date of the Public Schools Commission, exacted of a Westminster junior. He was supposed to be a treasury of small conveniences for his seniors’ use in and out of school. He wore a college waistcoat of peculiar pattern, in the pockets of which he had to carry about and produce immediately on legal demand—the items are recorded in the published evidence—two penknives, two pieces of india-rubber, two pencils, two pieces of sealing-wax, two pieces of pen-string, two dips (q.v.), two dip-corks, two wedges, two pieces of gutta-percha (for putting on the points of foils), and any number of pens. Besides, he had to carry a portfolio containing a sufficiency of “quarterns” of paper.
2.Latin Formulæ.—Quaint old Latin formulæ continued in use at Westminster, unchanged since its earliest foundation. While the school is at morning lesson, themonitor ostii(seeMonos) watches the clock, and at half-past eleven comes to the monitor of school and announces the time. The monitor goes to the head-master’s desk, makes his bow, and says, “Sesqui est undecima.” At a quarter to twelve he makes the further announcement, “Instat duodecima.” When twelve o’clock has struck he says again, “Sonuit duodecima;” at a quarter-past twelve, “Prima quarta acta est;” at half-past, “Sesqui est duodecima,” at which welcome words books are shut, and the whole school is dismissed. The same formalities, with the necessary variations, are repeated during afternoon lessons. Before dinner the Captain calls out two boys of the Second Election, one to say grace—“Age gratias”—and the other to repeat the proper responses—“Agite responsa;” and when dinner is over, before grace again, he pays even the juniors the compliment of asking whether they have had enough—“Satisne edistis et bibistis?” to which the compulsory answer is made—in old times too often by hungry lips—“Satis edimus et bibimus.” Every night at ten o’clock the monitor of chamber gives the order for the juniors to put out the lights and go to bed—“Extinctis lucernis intrate lectos.” It is only within the last generation or two that the rule of speaking Latin exclusively, both by boys and masters, during school hours has fallen into abeyance.
Westminster Play.—A Latin comedy, presented annually in the dormitory of St. Peter’s College, a custom dating from Queen Elizabeth’s days. The performances take place just before the Christmas holidays, the play being repeated three times. The cast is strictly confined to the forty scholars on the foundation. At the close of last presentation aCap(q.v.) is collected, the surplus of which, after paying expenses, is divided among the performers.
Wet-bob,subs.(Eton).—A rowing man.SeeDry-bob.
1839.C. T. Buckland,Eton Fifty Years Ago[1889,Macmillan’s, Nov.]. It was the ambition of most boys to be aWET-BOB, and to be “in the boats.” The school was divided betweenWET-BOBSand dry-bobs, the former taking their pleasure on the river, and the latter in the cricket-field.
Whale,subs.1. (Cheltenham).—Codfish.
2. (Royal Military Academy).—A sardine.
Whiter,subs.(Harrow).—A white waistcoat: this may be worn by those who have been three years in the school.
Whole,subs.(Harrow).—A whole holiday, or whole schoolday.
Wicker,subs.(Felsted: obsolete).—A hamper: as of provisions.
Wicket-cricket,subs.(Stonyhurst).—Cricket played with a stick or “wicket.”
Wilderness(The),subs.(Stonyhurst: obsolete).—The Dark Walk; a part of the garden.Cf.Gerard,Stonyhurst, p. 179.
Wilderness(Charterhouse).—A playing ground at Old Charterhouse before Thomas Sutton bought the estate: now a belt of trees to the south ofUnder-green(q.v.).
Wine,subs.(University).—A wine-party. Also asverb.
1853.Bradley,Verdant Green, vii. Now I’m going toWINEwith Smalls to-night.
Wise Men of the East,subs. phr.(Cambridge).—The last twelve in the MathematicalTripos(q.v.).
1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.Pluck.... These unfortunate individuals were designated by many opprobrious appellations, such as the Twelve Apostles, the Legion of Honour,WISE MEN OF THE EAST, &c.
Wooston,adv.(Christ’s Hospital).—Very:e.g.Woostona jolly fellow; aWOOSTONjolly fellow; I amWOOSTON, chaffy. [That is, “whore son.”—Guillemard.]
Work,subs.(Winchester).—Pain. Also asverb= to hurt.
14[?].Townley Mysteries, “Processus Noe.” My bonys are so stark No wonder if theyWARKFor I am full old.
14[?].Alexander[Ashmol.], line 531. So sareWERKIShire the wame.Ibid., line 539. OfWERKEwell ne I wede (am mad).
1469.Malory,Morte d’Arthur. But I may not stonde, myn hedeWERCHESsoo.
1750.Collier,Works. I gran an I thrutcht, till my armsWARTCHDagen.
1860. R.Brierly,Ab. in London. I shaked his hond till my armWARTCHT, then he shaked mine till his armWARTCHT.
1891.Wrench,Winchester Word-Book, s.v.Work. The use ofREMEDY(q.v.) for a holiday seems to imply thatWORKis a painful disease.
Worms,subs.(Winchester).—A trenched line on the turf: used as goal at football.Seequot.
1881.Pascoe,Life in Our Public Schools. Across the two ends of the ground a small trench is dug, about four inches wide and two deep, and a goal is obtained when the ball is fairly kicked across the trench (WiccamicéWORMS).
Wrangler,subs.(Cambridge).—The name given to those who are placed in the first class in the first or elementary portion of the public examination for honours in pure and mixed mathematics, commonly called the Mathematical Tripos, those placed in the second class being known as Senior Optimes, and those in the third class as Junior Optimes. Up to and including the year 1882, the student who took absolutely the first place in the Mathematical Tripos used to be termed Senior Wrangler; those who came next to him being second, third, fourth, &c., wranglers. Since then the title has been given to the student who takes the first place in Part I. of the Mathematical Tripos. The name is derived from the public disputations, in which candidates for degrees were formerly required to exhibit their powers.
1870.The Blue, March. We were rejoiced to hear of the University success of a late Grecian—G. A. Greenhill, who was announced as SecondWRANGLERin the late Mathematical Tripos at Cambridge. Further on in the month we heard of his being bracketed with Mr. Pendlebury (the SeniorWRANGLER) as Smith’s Prizeman, a thing seldom heard of at Cambridge, and never before has any Blue attained that high honour.
Wratislaw’s.SeePlanks.
Writer,subs.(Winchester).—A Junior acting as secretary to a College officer.
Wuggins,subs.(Oxford).—Worcester College;Botany-bay(q.v.).