B.
BAKER—Anything (such as a cushion or blotting-book) placed on a form to sit upon.
BANGIES—Drab trousers; so called from
BANGY—Brown sugar.
BARTER—A half-volley (cricket term), so called from the late Warden, who was celebrated for the vigour with which he disposed of a ball of this description.
BATLINGS—The boys’ weekly allowance of one shilling.
BEESWAXERS—Thick laced boots.
BEEVER-TIME—A quarter of an hour’s relaxation allowed to the boys in the middle of afternoon school in summer, to give them an opportunity of disposing of
BEEVERS—A portion of bread and allowance of beer laid out in hall at the time above mentioned; from the French boire, buveur.
BIBLE CLERK—An office held by the Præfects in full power in rotation; it lasted for a week. The duties were to collect the Verse and Prose tasks; to keep order in School; to give in the names of those boys who were condemned to be “Bibled,” (v. inf.,) and afterwards assist at their execution; to take the place of the Præfect of Hall when absent, &c., &c.
BIBLER, or BIBLING—A flogging of six cuts, when the Bible Clerk and Ostiarius laid bare a hand’s-breadth of the small of the victim’s back.
BILL BRIGHTERS—Small faggots used for lighting kitchen fire.
BLOW—To blush.
BLUCHERS—Præfects not in full power; a metaphor taken from the half boot.
BOB—A large white jug, holding about a gallon.
BONER—A blow given with the fist on the lowest vertebra.
BOOK—The School was divided into three classes, called Sixth, Fifth, and Fourth Book. The Præfects formed the former. Fifth Book was divided into Senior, Middle, and Junior Part. The remaining lower boys constituted Fourth Book.
BOOKS, THE—The prizes given to the two boys at the head of each Part at the end of each Half; they used at one time to be given by the Duke of Buckingham, now by Lord Saye and Sele. Also anybody who had got the largest score on his side in a cricket match, was said “to have got Books.”
BOOKS CHAMBERS—Certain hours on a Remedy, (v. inf.,) during which the boys had to attend in School, no Master being present.
BOOKS, UP TO—A Part (v. s.) was said to be so, when it was ranged on the “Rows” (v. inf.) before a Master, for the purpose of repeating a lesson.
BOOTS AND LEATHERS—A Commoner Peal, (v. inf.)
BREADPICKERS—A nominal office, one being in the gift of each of the four senior Commoner Præfects, which excused the holder from fagging.
BROCK—To teaze, chaff, or badger.
BROLLY—An umbrella.
BRUM—Without money.
BULKY—Generous.