Oration Quarter, subs. (Charterhouse).—See Long Quarter.
Oratorio, subs. (Sherborne).—The large choir, as distinguished from the chapel choir.
Order, subs. (general).—Written permission from a tutor to make purchases: as from tailor, &c. See Name.
Orders, subs. (Durham: obsolete).—A Head-master’s promise to add a day or two to the holidays: sometimes obtained, so tradition says, by barricading Big School against him.
Ostiar, subs. (Sherborne: obsolete).—The Præfect on duty at the Big School door: seventeenth century.
Ostiarius, subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—See quots.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester, 223. Ostiarius, an office held by the Præfects in succession. The duties were, to keep order in school, collect the Vulguses, and prevent the boys from shirking out. It is also the official title for the Second Master.
1865. Etoniana, 133. A peculiarity in the arrangements at Eton is, that the school is practically divided into two. The division seems to have been in force from the very earliest times—the three lower forms having been then, as now, under the charge of the OSTIARIUS, or, as he is now called, the lower master, who has the appointment of his own provost-assistants, and is practically independent of the head-master, and subject only to the control of the provost.
1866. Wykehamist, No. 1, Oct. We know of nothing more which calls for notice, except the revival by Dr. Moberly of the OSTIARIUS—an office which had been discontinued for many years, but was revived by the Head-master on account of the great increase in the number of the school.
1878. Adams, Wykehamica, xxiii. 429. Ostiarius, the Præfect in charge of school.