Habit,subs.(old University).—See quot.
1803.Gradus ad Cantabrigiam.Habit.CollegeHABIT, College dress, called of old, livery: the dress of the Master, Fellows, and Scholars.
Hades,subs.(The Leys).—A W.C.Cf.Styx.
Haggory,subs.(Stonyhurst).—One of the gardens in theHigher Line(q.v.) playground, which the Irish boys in the early years of the century turned into a debating-place, to promote the views of O’Connell and his party. [A corruption of ἁγορά.]
Hairy,adj.(Oxford).—Difficult.
d.1861.Arthur Clough,Long Vacation Pastoral. Three weeks hence we return to the shop and the wash-hand-stand-bason, Three weeks hence unbury Thicksides andHAIRYAldrich.
1864.The Press, Nov. 12.Hairyfor difficult is a characteristic epithet.
Half-faggot,subs.(Winchester).—Seequot.
1881.Felstedian, Nov., p. 75, “A Day’s Fagging at Winchester.” At 6.15, when the first bell for chapel rings, I go round and wake up everybody; as the præfects like hot water for washing, I make up a fire, and put on the boilers; in other words, throw a bundle of sticks called a “HALF-FAGGOT” on the old-fashioned “dogs,” or uprights, which form the only fireplaces in chambers, coal not being in use.
Hall,subs.1. (Oxford).—Dinner. Also asverb= to dine. [Taken in College Hall.]
1891.Harry Fludyer at Cambridge, 55. A lot of Freshmen got together afterHALL(it was a Saint’s day, and they’d been drinking audit) and went and made hay in Marling’s rooms.
2. (Sherborne).—Evening preparation.
3. (Shrewsbury).—SeeSenior Hall.
To go on hall,verb. phr.(Winchester).—To fag: as a breakfast waiter.
1867.Collins,The Public Schools, p. 48. However, as boys came to school better scholars, and were consequently higher placed, fourth form fags grew scarce, and the junior fifth were ordered, as the phrase was,TO GO ON HALL. One champion stood upon his rights, and refused; the indignant prefect proposed to thrash him publicly; the juniors rose in a body and pinioned the prefects. Fond mammas, and other declaimers against school tyranny, will regret to hear that this spirited resistance was not appreciated by Dr. Williams; after a patient hearing of the pleas on both sides, he supported the prefect’s authority (it may be concluded that they had not really exceeded it), and six of the ringleaders were expelled.
Hall-crier,subs.(Shrewsbury).—Seequot.
1867.Collins,The Public Schools, p. 249. And twoHALL-CRIERS(or latterly one), whose chief business was to read out at breakfast time lists of the fags on duty for cricket or football, descriptions of lost articles, &c. &c. This office in former days had commonly to be performed under a fire of such missiles as came handiest—amongst them often the regulation iron spoons supplied for the bread-and-milk breakfast which was the fare in the rougher days of Shrewsbury. Each proclamation began in due form with “Oh yes! oh yes! (Oyez! oyez!)” and ended with “God save the King (or Queen)! and d—— the Radicals!”
Hall-fagging,subs.(Charterhouse).—A duty imposed on sixteen of the lowest boys in each House. They have to attend in Hall, usually four at a time, and carry out orders, while the monitors have breakfast and tea. There was no need for this duty at Old Charterhouse, fags being always at hand. At New Charterhouse this was not always the case; they were often playing at football or cricket, or sitting in the library. Monitors, therefore, arranged the system ofHALL-FAGGING. Latterly it has become usual to send into Hall fags who have offended against monitorial discipline, have been talkative inBanco, or noisy in the cubicles. Where such culprits are available the regular fags are exempt.—Tod.
Halve,subs.(Charterhouse).—A half-holiday: on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Halves(pron.Hāves),subs.(Winchester: obsolete).—Half-Wellington boots, which were strictlyNon licet(q.v.).
Hand.ToHAND UP,verb. phr.(Winchester).—To give information against; to betray.
Handball,subs.(Stonyhurst).—(1) The Stonyhurst form of Fives. Also (2) the ball used in playing; (3) the wall against which the game is played; and (4) the courts into which the wall and ground are divided.
1887.Stonyhurst Mag., iii. 18, “Stonyhurst in the Fifties.” On Whit-SaturdayHANDBALLcame in. We had on that morning 2-1/2 hours’ school ... and having gone up to the study-place to put away our books were let out by schools to run for places. In the old playground there stood one of the presentHANDBALLS, one side of it belonging to the Higher Line, and one to the Lower. Of the Higher LineHANDBALLS[on each side of thisHANDBALL—the wall—were twoHANDBALLSor courts] one belonged to Rhetoric and one to Poetry. Of the Lower LineHANDBALLSone to Grammar and one to Rudiments. There were besides in both Higher and Lower Lines, other inferiorHANDBALLSin the wall which separated the playground from the garden, where the rails now stand. They were called “The Pavilions,” and each contained three courts. Those in the Higher Line were common property, the Lower Line ones belonged to Rudiments, Figures, and Elements. Syntax had thus noHANDBALLand Rudiments had two. In the Higher Line possession of theHANDBALLalways went to the first comers, those who first “touched-in” having it. In the Lower Line during after-dinner recreation (at least in the largeHANDBALLS) it went by order of Compositions.
Handing-up,subs.(Harrow).—A form of Lynch law inflicted [up to the second quarter of the century] by monitors on a boy known to have been guilty of any highly disgraceful conduct reflecting on the character of the school—stealing, for example. The monitors satisfied themselves, after careful inquiry, of the guilt of the accused, and called him before an assembly of the Upper School in Butler’s Hall, where he received from each monitor a certain number of blows with a study toasting-fork. The punishment was severe, but merciful to the delinquent as an alternative in some cases to expulsion if the charge had been brought before the head-master.—Thornton.
Harder,subs.(Harrow).—Racquets: as opposed toSquash(q.v.); also a racquet ball. WhenceHARDER-COURT= the racquet court.
Hard-up,adv.(Winchester).—Abashed or out of countenance; exhausted (as in swimming).
Harlequin,subs.(Winchester).—The wooden centre of a red indiarubber ball.
Harry-soph,subs.(Cambridge: obsolete).—SeeSoph.
1795.Gent. Mag., p. 20. AHARRY, orERRANT SOPH, I understand to be either a person, four-and-twenty years of age, and of an infirm state of health, who is permitted to dine with the Fellows, and to wear a plain, black, full-sleeved gown; or else he is one who, having kept all the terms, by statute required previous to his law-act, ishoc ipsa factoentitled to wear the same garment, and thenceforth ranks as bachelor, by courtesy.
1803.Gradus ad Cantabrigiam.Harry soph, orHENRY SOPHISTER; students who have kept all the terms required for a law act, and hence are ranked as Bachelors of Law by courtesy. They wear a plain, black, full-sleeved gown.
Hash,verb(general).—To study hard;TO SWAT(q.v.).
Hasher,subs.1. (Charterhouse).—A “made” dish.
2. (Charterhouse).—A football sweater—tight-fitting, with the colours running round in horizontal lines. In 1863 football shirts were introduced in place ofHASHERS.
Hat,subs.(Cambridge).—A gentleman commoner. [Who is permitted to wear a hat instead of the regulation mortar-board.] AlsoGOLD HATBAND.
1628.Earle,Microcosmographie, “Young Gentleman of the Universitie” (ed.Arber, 1868). His companion is ordinarily some stale fellow that has beene notorious for an ingle toGOLD HATBANDS, whom hee admires at first, afterwards scornes.
1803.Gradus ad Cantabrigiam.Hat Commoner; the son of a nobleman, who wears the gown of a Fellow Commoner with aHAT.
1830.Lytton,Paul Clifford, ch. xxxii. I knew intimately all theHATSin the University.
1841.Lytton,Night and Morning, Bk.I. ch. i. He had certainly nourished the belief that some one of theHATSor tinsel gowns,i.e.young lords or fellow.
Hatch,subs.(Winchester).—A flood-gate. [Hatch = a flood-gate (Bailey); also var. dial. = a garden-gate, wicket-gate, or half-door.]
Hatch-thoke,subs.(Winchester).—A Founder’s Commemoration-day. [Thoke= to lie late in bed; an old custom being to lie in bed till breakfast on such occasions, names being called atHATCHin Commoners.]
Haul,verb(University).—To summon before the Proctor for misdemeanour. WhenceHAULABLE,adj., used of those whose society authorities deem undesirable for the men:e.g.they’reHAULABLE= those caught with them will be proctorised.
1891.Harry Fludyer at Cambridge, 89. At last they were caught trying to drive in through the big gate of John’s. Next day they wereHAULEDand sent down.
To haul up,verb. phr.(Harrow).—To have a boy up to House out of school-hours, to say “turned” repetitions.
Haves.SeeHalves.
He,subs.(Charterhouse).—A cake.Young he= a small cake; aFISH-HE= fish-cake.SeeShe.
Head,subs.(Tonbridge).—The chief cricket-ground.
Health Walk, subs. (Stonyhurst).—When the weather has been bad for some time, the boys are freed on the first fine day for “HEALTH WALKS.” The name seems still to be surviving, through more often the boys have football than walks on such occasions.
Heder,subs.(Winchester).—A plunge, feet foremost. Fr.une chandelle.
Hedgehog,subs.(Christ’s Hospital).—A London nickname for a HertfordBlue(q.v.).SeeAppendix.
c.1800-29.The Blue-Coat Boy[More Gleanings fromThe Blue], 203. Another isolated statement of interest (unknown, perhaps, to some), is that “Hertford boys called the London boys, ‘Jackdaws,’ and those in London called those at Hertford ‘HEDGEHOGS’;” hedgehog boys and pigtailed masters!
Heifer,subs.(Charterhouse: obsolete).—A charwoman.
Hell,subs.(Winchester).—A shady nook near Third Pot, famous for a profusion of violets. [Dial. (Hants) = a dark, wooded place: originally (Skeat) a hidden place.]
Hell-and-neck boy,subs. phr.(Royal High School, Edin.: obsolete).—A venturesome boy who had frequently climbed theKittle-nine-steps(q.v.).
Hell Holeand “Hell’s Gates,”subs.(Stonyhurst).—The name of some foundations of an old factory built on the Hodder.
High(The),subs.(Oxford).—High Street.Cf.TheBroad, theTurl, theCorn, &c.
High,subs.(Christ’s Hospital).—A fruit-pie.SeeLow.
c.1890.More Gleanings fromThe Blue, 92. Those greedy gluttons who during life had lain in wait for monied comrades, assailing them with importunate entreaties or even with open violence. Now they outstretched bony hands in vain for juicy “HIGHS,” which mocked and eluded their grasp; bottles of ginger-beer and cherries hovered above their skinny lips, as erst in “cherry-bob,” but never were they granted taste or sip of cool beverage or dainty morsel.
Higher Line,subs.(Stonyhurst).—The three highest classes.
High-master,subs.(St. Paul’s and Manchester Grammar).—The Head-master: at Manchester the term was used in the earliest statutes of the school (1515).SeeSur-master.
Hills,subs.1. (Winchester).—St. Catharine’s Hill. Hence,TO SHIRK HILLS=seequot.
c.1840.Mansfield,School-Life, p. 28. Some of his principal duties were to take the boys “on toHILLS,” call names there, &c.
c.1840.Mansfield,School-Life at Winchester, 214.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 toHILLS,” the evening expedition being called “Underhills.”Ibid., iii. Ordinary offences of a trifling character, such as being late for Chapel or “SHIRKING HILLS” [i.e.evading going Hills], were punished by the infliction of an imposition—generally thirty lines of Virgil, English and Latin.
1867.Collins,The Public Schools, p. 24. Tuesdays and Thursdays were partial holidays, on which the boys went out to theHILLStwice; once in the morning, returning at nine to breakfast, and again in the afternoon, coming off at three. There they played at quoits, football, and something which seems to have borne a resemblance to cricket.
2. (Cambridge).—The Gogmagog Hills; a common morning’s ride.—Gradus ad Cantab.
Hiss(The),subs.(Winchester).—The signal given at the commencement of school hours when a Master was coming in.—Mansfield(c.1840).
c.1840.Mansfield,School-Life at Winchester[1866], 104. Just before school-time a boy was always stationed to watch the arrival of the Master, of which he had to give notice by emitting a loudHISS, upon which there was a general rush up to books; the previous uproar dwindled to a calm, and work began.
Hivite,subs.(St. Bees’).—A student of St. Bees’ (Cumberland).
1865.John Bull, Nov. 11. To be aHIVITEhas long been considered a little worse than a “literate.”... Of the value of some St. Bees’ testimonials we may form an estimate, &c.
Hobbs,subs.(Tonbridge).—A fad; a mental eccentricity.SeeTachs.
Hobby,subs.(common).—A translation. ToRIDE HOBBIES= to useCRIBS(q.v.).
Hockey-sticks and Fourpennies,subs. phr.(Charterhouse).—A kind of irregular cricket played at Old Charterhouse. The bats were huge bludgeons called hockey-sticks, but without any curve at the end; the balls were like large fives-balls, and a little smaller than a regulation cricket-ball; the wickets were usually coats or jackets; gownboy jackets were much the best, because they were stiff and easily stood upright; the pitch was either on the football ground, where there was no grass, or on a flagged pavement in cloisters.
Hodgsonites(Charterhouse).—SeeOut-houses.
Hodman(Oxford).—A scholar from Westminster School admitted to Christ Church College.
1728.Bailey,Eng. Dict., s.v.Hodman.
1847.Halliwell,Arch. Words, s.v.... A nickname for a Canon of Christ Church.
Hog,subs.(Cambridge: obsolete).—A student of St. John’s. AlsoJohnian Hog.SeeCrackle,Bridge of Grunts, andIsthmus of Suez.
1690.Diary of Abraham de la Pryme(Surtees Society, No. 54), quoted inNotes and Queries, 6 S., xi. 328. For us Jonians are called abusivelyHOGGS.
1795.Gent. Mag., lxv. 22. TheJOHNIAN HOGSwere originally remarkable on account of the squalid figures and low habits of thestudents, and especially of thesizarsof SaintJohn’sCollege. [Another story of how name originated is given in detail inGent. Mag.(1795), lxv. 107.]
1889.Whibley,In Cap and Gown, p. 28. An obsolete name for members of St. John’s College, Cambridge.
Hog Tower,subs.(Stonyhurst).—A coaching room off Rhetoric school-room. [So called (1) because part of a tower, and (2) because theRhetoricians(q.v.) originally wished to use it for other “more profitable” purposes than for study.]
Hoi Polloi,subs. phr.(University).—The candidates for ordinary degrees. [From the Greek.]Cf.Gulf.
Hol,subs.(Harrow).—A holiday. WhenceHOL-TAG= holiday task.
Holiday,subs.(Sherborne: obsolete).—A Saint’s day: sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
Hollis,subs.(Winchester).—A small pebble. [Said to be derived from a boy of that name.—Wrench.]
Holy Club(The),subs.(Oxford: obsolete).—A band of kindred spirits who gathered round John Wesley while at Lincoln College: in ridicule.
Home-bill,subs.(Charterhouse).—Food supplied by the butler at breakfast or tea, to supplement the bread-and-butter supplied by the house master. It consists of eggs, eggs and bacon, ham, or sausages at breakfast; of poached eggs, mince, sausages and potatoes, tongue, ham, brawn, beef, or pork-pie at tea. The price is usually 4d. for eachHOME-BILL; in some houses 6d. is the charge for the Upper School.
Home-bug,subs.(Harrow).—A home boarder; a day boy.
Honour(Legion of).SeeLegion.
Honours,subs.(Stonyhurst).—Classes in which extra classics are read in the three highest Forms.
Hook,intj.(Oxford).—An expression implying doubt. [Query from the note of interrogation (?) or connected with “Hookey Walker.”]
1823.Bee,Dict. of the Turf, s.v.Hookey walker—andWITH A HOOK, usually accompanied by a significant upliftment of the hand and crooking of the forefinger, implying that what is said is a lie, or is to be taken contrariwise.
1843.Moncrieff,Scamps of London, i. 1.Bob.Will you have some gin?Fogg.Gin—yes!Bob(turning away). Ha—ha!—WITH A HOOK... I wish you may get it.
1870.Traill,Saturday Songs, p. 22. It’s go and go over the left, It’s goWITH A HOOK AT THE END.
Horse-box,subs.(The Leys).—A cubicle or recess in dormitory: about 5 or 6 feet high. WhenceTO DO TEN HORSE-BOXES= to perform “Sinking-and-rising exercise” on the same.
Hot,subs.(Winchester).—1. A mellay at football. 2. A crowd. Hence toHOT UP(orDOWN) = to crowd; to mob.
c.1840.Mansfield,School-Life at Winchester, 215. In Twenty-two and Twenty-two (q.v.) 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.
1878.Adams,Wykehamica, p. 367. It would be replaced and a freshHOTformed.
Hot-end,subs.(Winchester).—A half-burned faggot stick with one end red-hot.
Hots,subs.1. (Felsted: obsolete).—Tarts; pastry, &c.
2. (Felsted).—Money: specifically “coppers.”
WhenceTRAV-HOTS= travelling money.
1893.Felstedian, Mar., p. 20. I made two brackets in the workshop, they liked them awfully; I meant to get them something decent, but I hadn’t got anyHOTS.
1893.Felstedian, July, p. 82. All right; it’s only aHOT. Did you hear what we did in our dormy last night?
1895.Felstedian, April, p. 44.Hots—“Hots” and “half-hots” very evidently “burn a hole in one’s pocket” if they are left there long enough.
Hot-tiger,subs.(Oxford: obsolete).—Hot-spiced ale and sherry.
Hound,subs.(Cambridge).—Seequot.
1879.E. Walford, inNotes and Queries, 5 S., xii. 88. In theAnecdotes of Bowyer... we are told that aHOUNDof King’s College, Cambridge, is an undergraduate not on the foundation, nearly the same as a “sizar.”
House-captain,subs.(The Leys).—A boy, not in studies, responsible for order in House-room.
House-game,subs.(Harrow).—A game—football or cricket—in which the whole House play.
House-list,subs.(Harrow).—The printed list, inBill(q.v.) order, of each House.
House-room,subs.(The Leys).—The Common Room of boys below VIthwho have no studies.
House-singing,subs.(Harrow).—An informal concert at which school songs are sung collectively: held once a fortnight except in summer.
House-washing,subs.(Rugby: obsolete).—A sort of compressed paper-chase, backwards and forwards in a short distance over Clifton Brook, a tributary of the Warwickshire Avon. [The name suggests that this was not a dry process; each House as a rule had aHOUSE-WASHINGin the Easter term.]
Housey,adj.(Christ’s Hospital).—Belonging or peculiar to the Hospital. The reverse ofTowney= of the town.
Housle,verb(Winchester).—To hustle. [Dial.:cf.doust = dust; fousty = fusty; rousty = rusty, &c.]
Huff,subs.(Winchester).—Strong ale brewed by the College. [A survival: alsoHUFF-CAP.]
1579.Fulwell,Art of Flattery. Commonly calledHUFCAP, it will make a man look as though he had seene the devil.
1586.Holinshed,Description of England. These men hale atHUFF-CAPtill they be red as cockes, and little wiser than their combes.
1602.Campion,English Poesy(Bullen,Works, 1889, p. 247). Hunks detests whenHUFFCAPale he tipples.
1614.Greene,Looking-Glass[Dyce], p. 127. The ale is strong ale, ’tisHUFCAP; I warrant you, ’twill make a man well.
1640.Taylor,Works.And this is it, of ale-houses and innes, Wine-marchants, vintners, brewers, who much wins By others losing, I say more or lesse, Who sale ofHUFCAPliquor doe professe.
c.1840.Mansfield,School-Life, p. 180. Washed down by libations ofHUFF.
1878.Adams,Wykehamica, s.v.Huff, the strong ale brewed by the College.
Hum,verb(Derby).—To smell.
Hundred(The),subs.1. (Loretto).—A long straight walk within the school grounds.
2. (Tonbridge: obsolete).—One of the lower football grounds. There were Upper, Middle, Lower, Fourth, and Fifth Hundreds.SeeFifty.
Husky,subs.(Winchester: obsolete).—Seequot.
c.1840.Mansfield,School-Life, p. 145. There were two kinds [Gooseberry fool]HUSKYand non-husky.