Gown, subs. (Winchester College)—1. Coarse brown paper. (obsolete).
2. (University).—The schools as distinguished from the town (q.v.)., e.g., Town and Gown.
1847. Thackeray, Punch’s Prize Novelists, ‘Codlingsby,’ p. 232. From the Addenbrooke’s hospital to the Blenheim turnpike, all Cambridge was in an uproar—the College gates closed—the shops barricaded—the shop-boys away in support of their brother townsmen—the battle raged, and the Gown had the worst of the fight.
1853. Bradley, Verdant Green, II., ch. iii. When Gown was absent, Town was miserable.
1891. Pall Mall Gaz., 30 May, p. 4, c. 3. Town and Gown joined in harmony. [[191]]
Gownsman (also Gown), subs. (university).—A student.
1800. C. K. Sharpe, in Correspondence (1888), i., 96. A battle between the gownsmen and townspeople … in spite of the Vice-Chancellor and Proctors.
1850. F. E. Smedley, Frank Fairleigh, ch. xxv. The ancient town of Cambridge, no longer animated by the countless throngs of gownsmen, frowned in its unaccustomed solitude.
1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford. The townsmen … were met by the gownsmen with settled steady pluck.
Grab, subs. (vulgar).—1. A sudden clutch.