pater, mater

»I say to myself I’ll do a thing, but the mater talks and talks, and——.» (Sketches 41. 12.)

A young gentleman.

»I promised the Mater I would, and I did.» (Sketches 80. 30.)

The same.

»The Mater gave me half-a-crown a week for pocket-money.» (Sketches 81. 9.)

The same.

»The pater came to the conclusion that it was time he laid down a dog.» (Novel Notes 48. 18.)

The same.

The commonest familiar names for the parents on the lips of the average public schoolboy.