The Public School Word-book / A conribution to to a historical glossary of words phrases and turns of expression obsolete and in current use peculiar to our great public schools together with some that have been or are modish at the universities

by John Stephen Farmer

Gold Hatband, subs. (old University).—A nobleman undergraduate; a TUFT (q.v.).

1628. Earle, Microcosmography. His companion is ordinarily some stale fellow that has been notorious for an ingle to GOLD HATBANDS, whom hee admires at first, afterwards scornes.

1889. Gentleman’s Mag., June, p. 598. Noblemen at the universities, since known as “tufts,” because of the gold tuft or tassel to their cap, were then known as GOLD HATBANDS.

Golgotha, subs. (old University).—The Dons’ gallery at Cambridge; also a certain part of the theatre at Oxford. [That is, “the place of skulls” (cf. Luke xxiii. 33 and Matt. xxvii. 33); whence the pun, Dons being the heads of houses.]

1730. Jas. Miller, Humours of Oxford, Act ii., p. 23 (2nd ed.). Sirrah, I’ll have you put in the black-book, rusticated—expelled—I’ll have you coram nobis at GOLGOTHA, where you’ll be bedevilled, Muck-worm, you will.

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1791. G. Huddesford, Salmagundi (Note on, p. 150). Golgotha, “The place of a Skull,” a name ludicrously affixed to the Place in which the Heads of Colleges assemble.

1808. J. T. Conybeare in C. K. Sharp’s Correspondence (1888), i. 324. The subject then of the ensuing section is Oxford News ... we will begin by GOLGOTHA.... Cole has already obtained the Headship of Exeter, and Mr. Griffiths ... is to have that of University.

Gomer, subs. 1. (Winchester).—A large pewter dish used in College. [Probably from its holding a homer or omer in measure: see quots.]

1610-31. Donne. Not satisfied with his GOMER of manna.