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

Base, subs. (Harrow).—A goal: at football.

Basinite, subs. (Charterhouse: obsolete).—A hot-water fag: he had to get hot water and towels ready for a monitor when he descended to wash in COCKS (q.v.).

Bat-mugger, subs. (Winchester).—A wooden instrument used in oiling cricket-bats.

Battal, subs. (Harrow and Charterhouse).—Battalion drill for the Rifle Corps: usually (at Harrow) in the evening. [The second is the syllable accentuated.]

Battler, subs. (general).—A student. See Battlings.

Battlings (or Battels), subs. (general).—An allowance, in money or kind; apparently originally intended to supplement the meagre fare of fast-days. Cf. quots. Hence TO BATTEL = to take provisions from the buttery.

1607. Wentworth Smith, Puritan [Malone, Suppl., ii. 543]. Eat my commons with a good stomach, and BATTLED with discretion.

1611. Cotgrave, Dict.... To BATTLE (as scholars do in Oxford), être debiteur au collège pour ses vivres. Ibid., Mot usé seulement des jeunes écoliers de l’université d’Oxford.

16 [?]. Account rendered to Arch. of York [William of Wykeham and His Colleges]. Item for BATTLINGS on fasting days with the lent. 0. 9. 8. [i.e., 9s. 8d.]

1678. Phillips, Dict., s.v. Battel. In the University of Oxford is taken for to run on to exceedings above the ordinary stint of the appointed Commons.