Monkey. See Fresh-herring, and Appendix.
Monos, subs. (Westminster).—A junior detailed for duty during regular school hours, who remains on guard at the door of the college, as a sentinel, to see that no suspicious characters find their way in. This functionary is known as MONOS [i.e. Monitor ostii].... An officer of the same kind ... at Winchester ... bore a similar name, Ostiarius (q.v.).—Collins.
Mons, subs. (Winchester).—A crowd. Also as verb: e.g. “Square round there, don’t MONS.”
Montem, subs. (Eton).—An Eton custom up to 1847, which consisted in the scholars going in procession on the Whit-Tuesday of every third year to a mound (Lat. ad montem) near the Bath Road, and exacting a gratuity from persons present or passing by. The collection was given to the captain or senior scholar, and helped to defray his expenses at the University. See Salt, and Sloane MS. 4839, f. 85.
1890. Brewer, Phrase and Fable, s.v. Salt-hill. The mound at Eton [near the Bath Road], where the Eton scholars used to collect money from the visitors on Montem day. The mound is still called Salt Hill, and the money given was called salt. The word salt is similar to the Latin sala’rium (salary), the pay given to Roman soldiers and civil officers. Ibid. Montem.... Sometimes as much as £1000 was thus collected.
Morning-hills, subs. (Winchester).—See quot.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life, 52. On holidays and Remedies we were turned out for a couple of hours on to St. Catherine’s Hill ... once before breakfast (MORNING HILLS), and again in the afternoon (MIDDLE HILLS).
Mortar-board (or Mortar), subs. (general).—The trencher-cap worn at certain Public Schools and at the Universities.
1600. Kemp, Nine Days’ Wonder, “Ded. Ep.” So that methinkes I could flye to Rome ... with a MORTER on my head.
d. 1635. Bishop Corbet to T. Coryate. No more shall man with MORTAR on his head Set forward towards Rome.