House-washing, subs. (Rugby: obsolete).—A sort of compressed paper-chase, backwards and forwards in a short distance over Clifton Brook, a tributary of the Warwickshire Avon. [The name suggests that this was not a dry process; each House as a rule had a HOUSE-WASHING in the Easter term.]
Housey, adj. (Christ’s Hospital).—Belonging or peculiar to the Hospital. The reverse of Towney = of the town.
Housle, verb (Winchester).—To hustle. [Dial.: cf. doust = dust; fousty = fusty; rousty = rusty, &c.]
Huff, subs. (Winchester).—Strong ale brewed by the College. [A survival: also HUFF-CAP.]
1579. Fulwell, Art of Flattery. Commonly called HUFCAP, it will make a man look as though he had seene the devil.
1586. Holinshed, Description of England. These men hale at HUFF-CAP till they be red as cockes, and little wiser than their combes.
1602. Campion, English Poesy (Bullen, Works, 1889, p. 247). Hunks detests when HUFFCAP ale he tipples.
1614. Greene, Looking-Glass [Dyce], p. 127. The ale is strong ale, ’tis HUFCAP; I warrant you, ’twill make a man well.
1640. Taylor, Works. And this is it, of ale-houses and innes, Wine-marchants, vintners, brewers, who much wins By others losing, I say more or lesse, Who sale of HUFCAP liquor doe professe.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life, p. 180. Washed down by libations of HUFF.