COACHING. A cant term, in the British universities, for preparing a student, by the assistance of a private tutor, to pass an examination.
Whether a man shall throw away every opportunity which a university is so eminently calculated to afford, and come away with a mere testamur gained rather by the trickery of private coaching (tutoring) than by mental improvement, depends, &c.—The Collegian's Guide, p. 15.
COAX. This word was formerly used at Yale College in the same sense as the word fish at Harvard, viz. to seek or gain the favor of a teacher by flattery. One of the Proverbs of Solomon was often changed by the students to read as follows: "Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood; so the coaxing of tutors bringeth forth parts."—Prov. xxx. 33.
COCHLEAUREATUS, pl. COCHLEAUREATI. Latin, cochlear, a spoon, and laureatus, laurelled. A free translation would be, one honored with a spoon.
At Yale College, the wooden spoon is given to the one whose name comes last on the list of appointees for the Junior Exhibition. The recipient of this honor is designated cochleaureatus.
Now give in honor of the spoon
Three cheers, long, loud, and hearty,
And three for every honored June
In coch-le-au-re-a-ti.
Songs of Yale, 1853, p. 37.
See WOODEN SPOON.
COFFIN. At the University of Vermont, a boot, especially a large one. A companion to the word HUMMEL, q.v.
COLLAR. At Yale College, "to come up with; to seize; to lay hold on; to appropriate."—Yale Lit. Mag., Vol. XIV. p. 144.
By that means the oration marks will be effectually collared, with scarce an effort.—Yale Banger, Oct. 1848.