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

Hodman (Oxford).—A scholar from Westminster School admitted to Christ Church College.

1728. Bailey, Eng. Dict., s.v. Hodman.

1847. Halliwell, Arch. Words, s.v.... A nickname for a Canon of Christ Church.

Hog, subs. (Cambridge: obsolete).—A student of St. John’s. Also Johnian Hog. See Crackle, Bridge of Grunts, and Isthmus of Suez.

1690. Diary of Abraham de la Pryme (Surtees Society, No. 54), quoted in Notes and Queries, 6 S., xi. 328. For us Jonians are called abusively HOGGS.

1795. Gent. Mag., lxv. 22. The JOHNIAN HOGS were originally remarkable on account of the squalid figures and low habits of the students, and especially of the sizars of Saint John’s College. [Another story of how name originated is given in detail in Gent. Mag. (1795), lxv. 107.]

1889. Whibley, In Cap and Gown, p. 28. An obsolete name for members of St. John’s College, Cambridge.

Hog Tower, subs. (Stonyhurst).—A coaching room off Rhetoric school-room. [So called (1) because part of a tower, and (2) because the Rhetoricians (q.v.) originally wished to use it for other “more profitable” purposes than for study.]

Hoi Polloi, subs. phr. (University).—The candidates for ordinary degrees. [From the Greek.] Cf. Gulf.

Hol, subs. (Harrow).—A holiday. Whence HOL-TAG = holiday task.