To beat a paper, is to get more than full marks for it. In explanation of this "apparent Hibernicism," Bristed remarks: "The ordinary text-books are taken as the standard of excellence, and a very good man will sometimes express the operations more neatly and cleverly than they are worded in these books, in which case he is entitled to extra marks for style."—Five Years in an Eng. Univ., Ed. 2d, p. 238.
2. This name is applied at Yale College to the printed scheme which is used at the Biennial Examinations. Also, at Harvard College, to the printed sheet by means of which the examination for entrance is conducted.
PARCHMENT. A diploma, from the substance on which it is usually printed, is in familiar language sometimes called a parchment.
There are some, who, relying not upon the "parchment and seal" as a passport to favor, bear that with them which shall challenge notice and admiration.—Yale Lit. Mag., Vol. III. p. 365.
The passer-by, unskilled in ancient lore,
Whose hands the ribboned parchment never bore.
Class Poem at Harv. Coll., 1835, p. 7.
See SHEEPSKIN.
PARIETAL. From Latin paries, a wall; properly, a partition-wall, from the root of part or pare. Pertaining to a wall.—Webster.
At Harvard College the officers resident within the College walls constitute a permanent standing committee, called the Parietal Committee. They have particular cognizance of all tardinesses at prayers and Sabbath services, and of all offences against good order and decorum. They are allowed to deduct from the rank of a student, not exceeding one hundred for one offence. In case any offence seems to them to require a higher punishment than deduction, it is reported to the Faculty.—Laws, 1850, App.
Had I forgotten, alas! the stern pariètal monitions?
Harvardiana, Vol. III. p. 98.
The chairman of the Parietal Committee is often called the Parietal Tutor.