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

Kings, To get kings, verb. phr. (Eton).—To obtain a scholarship at King’s Coll., Cambridge. See Ripping.

Kingsman, subs. (Cambridge).—A member of King’s College.

1852. Bristed, Five Years, 127. He came out the winner, with the KINGSMAN, and one of our three.

Kip, verb (Royal High School, Edin.).—To play truant. Common throughout Scotland. [Possibly from “skip.”]

Kish, subs. (Marlborough).—A cushion: in ordinary use doubled up under the arm for carrying school books, as well as for sitting on in Form or Hall. As verb = to use a cushion as a weapon of offence. See Compound-kish.

Kittle-nine-steps, subs. phr. (Royal High School, Edin.: obsolete).—A pass on the very brink of the Castle rock, to the north, by which it is just possible for a goat or a High School boy to turn the corner of the building where it rises from the edge of the precipice. See Hell-and-neck-boy.

Klondyke, subs. (The Leys).—A cross-country run to St. Botolph’s.

Knave, subs. (Christ’s Hospital).—A dunce: at Hertford, a KNACK.

Knock. To knock in, verb. phr. (Oxford).—1. To return to College after GATE is closed.

1825. English Spy, i. 155. “Close the oak, Jem,” said Horace Eglantine, “and take care no one KNOCKS IN before we have knocked down the contents of your master’s musical mélange.”