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

1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends, p. 464 [ed. 1862]. That same afternoon Father Dick, who as soon Would KNOCK IN or “cut chapel,” as jump o’er the moon, Was missing at vespers—at complines—all night! And his monks were of course in a deuce of a fright.

1853. Cuthbert Bede, Verdant Green, I. xi. At first, too, he was on such occasions greatly alarmed at finding the gates of Brazenface closed, obliging him thereby to KNOCK IN.

1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, p. 458 [ed. 1864]. There’s twelve striking. I must KNOCK IN. Good night. You’ll be round to breakfast at nine?

2. To knock out, verb. phr. (Oxford).—To leave college after hours: of out of college men only. See Knock in.

1861. H. Kingsley, Ravenshoe, vii. Five out-college men had KNOCKED OUT at a quarter to three, refusing to give any name but the dean’s.

1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, xlv. p. 503 [ed. 1864]. “Hullo!” he said, getting up; “time for me to KNOCK OUT, or old Copas will be in bed.”

3. To knock up, verb. phr. (Christ’s Hospital).—To gain a place in class: e.g. I KNOCKED UP, and “I KNOCKED Jones UP.” The Hertford equivalent is OX UP (q.v.). Both forms are now obsolete.

Knuckle. To knuckle down, verb. phr. (Winchester).—To kneel.

1748. Dyche, Dict. (5th ed.). Knuckle-down (verb) to stoop, bend, yield, comply with, or submit to.