"Fins."—A term applied to the hands generally, of course to the hands of "plebes."
"Prelim."—A preliminary examination.
"Pred."—A predecessor.
"Pony."—A key, a corrigé.
"To bone."—To study, to endeavor to do well in any particular; for instance, to "bone demerits" is to strive to get as few as possible.
"To bone popularity."—This alludes to a habit practised, especially by, "yearlings" while in camp, and is equivalent to our every-day expression in civil life, viz., "to get in with."
"To bugle it."—To avoid a recitation. To avoid a recitation is an act seldom done by any cadet. It is in fact standing at the board during the whole time of recitation without turning around, and thus making known a readiness to recite. At the Academy a bugle takes the place of the bell in civil schools. When the bugle is blown those sections at recitation are dismissed, and others come in. Now, if one faces the board till the bugle blows, there is not then enough time for him to recite, and he is said to have "bugled it." Some instructors will call on any one who shows a disposition to do so, and will require him to tell what he knows about his subject.
"Busted," "broken."—These words apply only to cadet officers who are reduced to ranks.
"A cold case."—A sure thing, a foregone conclusion.
To "get chevrons."—To receive an appointment in the battalion organization. Each year, on the day the graduates receive their diplomas, and just after— possibly just before—they are relieved from further duty at the Academy, the order fixing the appointments for the next year is read, and those of the year previous revoked. It has been customary to appoint the officers, captains, and lieutenants from the first class, the sergeants from the second, and the corporals from the third. This custom has at times, and for reasons, been departed from, and the officers chosen as seemed best.