1865. Etoniana, p. 70. The restrictions [temp. Eliz.] by which the masters were forbidden to take any fees (even from oppidans) was probably evaded, almost from the first, by the system then universal in all transactions of giving presents, under which heading the sons of wealthy parents soon began to pay pretty highly for their education. Traces of this arrangement remain in the custom still prevailing—not at all to the credit of the school—of presenting a sum as LEAVING-MONEY to the head-master and the private tutor. At what time assistant-masters were first appointed does not appear; but they were no doubt paid, up to a comparatively late date, entirely from such fees as the parents of those under their tuition chose to give them.
Lecker, subs. 1. (Oxford).—A lecture.
2. (Harrow).—The electric light.
Legion of Honour, subs. (Cambridge).—The last twelve in the mathematical TRIPOS (q.v.).
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Pluck.... These unfortunate fellows are designated by many opprobrious appellations, such as the Twelve Apostles, the LEGION OF HONOUR, Wise Men of the East, &c.
Lemonade, subs. (Stonyhurst).—A day of high festival, coming twice a year, at Shrove-tide and at Easter.
Lemon Peel Fight, subs. phr. (Charterhouse: obsolete).—See quot.
1900. Tod, Charterhouse, 80. On Shrove-Tuesday, according to a custom dating from 1850 or probably earlier, every boy used to receive half a lemon with his pancake at dinner. This he reserved to use as a missile in the fight which was to take place directly afterwards. At Old Charterhouse, gownboys used to stand against the rest of the school, and the fight consisted in each side pelting the other with the half lemons. It lasted for fifteen or twenty minutes, and was begun and ended by a house bell being rung. During these twenty minutes a good many bruises and black eyes could be received, for combatants fought at quite close quarters; and unpopular monitors were sometimes badly damaged. At New Charterhouse the sides were at first Old Charterhouse v. New. In 1877 they were changed again to Out-houses v. The Rest. This was the last fight. Grave abuses had crept in. The lemons were no longer simple lemons, but a sort of bomb-shell, loaded with pebbles or ink, and several boys were badly hurt. So the Sixth Form in 1878 “totally abolished LEMON PEEL as a barbarous and obsolete practice.” It required a strong Sixth Form to do this, for the fight was popular, and their action is one of the best things that the school has done for itself. Its abolition differs from the abolition of fighting; the latter became obsolete through the action of public opinion; LEMON PEEL was abolished by an ukase almost in defiance of public opinion.
Lent Suppers. See Public-supping.
Let. To let in, verb. phr. (Oxford).—To associate with.