1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 349. In this room [Over-School] it was that, in the latter half of the last century, the punishment of ASH-PLANTING used to take place. It was inflicted by order and in the presence of a judicial committee of the præposters (Sixth Form) for some few grave offences against the recognised internal discipline of the school, e.g. personal assault upon one of their body by a mutinous fag—an offence which would still be severely punished by the masters, if not by the Sixth themselves. Three ash-saplings were used; in theory, at least, the two first were to be broken upon the person of the culprit. The punishment was severe—perhaps unjustifiably so; but it had the character of being only inflicted in extreme cases, and with strict justice, and was not regarded as a cruelty in the school.
Athens (Eton).—A bathing-place.
1865. Etoniana, p. 162. No boy is now allowed to go into a boat until he has passed an examination in swimming before a committee of masters at ATHENS or at Cuckoo Weir.
Audit-ale (or Audit), subs. (Cambridge).—A special brew of ale, peculiar to Trinity College. [First-made draught on AUDIT days.]
1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends, “Lay of St. Dunstan.” The “Trinity AUDIT ALE” is not come-at-able, as I’ve found to my great grief when dining at that table.
1876. Trevelyan, Life of Macaulay (1884), ch. iv. p. 127. A glass of the AUDIT ALE, which reminded him that he was still a Fellow of Trinity.
1891. Harry Fludyer at Cambridge, 55. A lot of Freshmen got together after Hall (it was a Saints’ day, and they’d been drinking AUDIT) and went and made hay in Marling’s rooms.
Aul. præ, subs. (Winchester).—Prefect of Hall. [Abbreviation of Præfectus Aulæ.]
Ave Maria Lane (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—A walk in the playground.
