c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life, 222. When any person or thing of importance was known to be likely to meet the boys when on Hills, the word was passed that he, she, or it was ON—e.g. Ridsworth ON, snobs ON, badger ON, &c.
1878. Adams, Wykehamica, xxiii.
On-and-Off, subs. (Tonbridge).—Lemonade.
1894. Tonbridgian, No. 330, 919. The scene is one of the wildest disorder. The writhing mass, in their efforts to obtain the desired article, tread on each other’s toes, spill the “OFF AND ON” down one another’s garments, and knock each other about with their elbows.
1899. Public School Mag., Dec., p. 444. “On and off” signifies home lemonade, and is so called because of the tap from which it flows.
Ones, subs. (Harrow).—A competition at football, one player a side: organised by Mr. Bowen. The play is for five minutes, the ground measures 40 yards by 30 yards, and the Bases (q.v.) 8 feet.
Oppidan, subs. (Eton).—A boy who boards in the town, as distinguished from a King’s Scholar.
1865. Etoniana, 31. The Latin-English term OPPIDAN was applied to these independent scholars at least as early as Fuller’s days. Speaking of the College, he says, “There be many OPPIDANES there maintained at the cost of their friends.”
1899. Public School Mag., Nov., p. 367. If there is any need for a test match between college and the OPPIDANS, we should suggest that they should play the winning house in the House match, and hope to beat it.
Optime, subs. (Cambridge).—The name given to the second class in the first portion of the public examination for honours, called the Mathematical Tripos, those placed in the first class being known as Wranglers (q.v.), and those in the third class as Junior Optimes.