Intj. An injunction to desist or to silence—“Be quiet!” “Hands off!” Also HAVE PAX! [Almost the pure Latin use of the word.]
P. D., subs. (Dulwich).—Punishment drill: in Junior School.
Peal, subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—A custom in Commoners of singing out comments on Præfects at the beginning of CLOISTER-TIME (q.v.). Also cheers given on the last three Sundays of the Half for articles of dress, &c., connected with going home, such as “Gomer Hats,” “Party Rolls,” &c.... “The ringing of Chapel bells is also divided into PEALS.” [Halliwell.—Peals = a noise or uproar. Cf. Mid. Eng. apel = an old term in hunting music, consisting of three long moots.]
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 62. The junior in chamber had a hard time of it; ... while endeavouring to get through his multifarious duties, he had to keep a sharp ear on the performance of the chapel bell, and to call out accordingly, “first PEAL!” “second PEAL!” “bells down!”
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 22. The scholars at this time were expected to rise at the sound of “first PEAL” at five o’clock, and were recommended to say privately a short Latin selection from the Psalms as soon as they were dressed. Ibid. They then swept out their chambers and made their beds (consisting in those days of nothing better than bundles of straw with a coverlet), and SECOND PEAL at half-past five summoned them to chapel.
1881. Felstedian, Nov., p. 75, “A Day’s Fagging at Winchester.” At 6.30, I had to get back to call everybody again; and again at 6.40 (five minutes to second PEAL); at 6.45 (“second PEAL”) when the chapel bell started and kept on till seven. When the bell stops I wait at the door and call out “præfect of chapel going in”—i.e. the præfect of the week who calls names; then “præfect of chapel in” when he reaches the door.
1900. St. James’s Gazette, Mar. 15, “Arnoldiana.”—He [Matthew Arnold] was the victim of public expression of disapproval—in connection, Mr. Arnold thinks, with the lively ceremony known as CLOISTER PEALINGS, when he was placed at the end of the great school, and, amid howls and jeers, pelted with a rain of “pontos” for some time. [Cloister pealings is here incorrectly used: see Sticking-up.]
Pec, subs. (Eton: obsolete).—Money. [Lat. pecunia.]
Pempe, subs. (Winchester).—An imaginary object in search of which a new-comer is sent: the equivalent of “pigeon’s milk,” or the “squad-umbrella.” [From πεμπε μω̂ρον προτερον = “Send the fool farther.”]
Penance-table, subs. (Stonyhurst).—A table in the refectory at which a boy is condemned to sit alone for bad behaviour during meals. Tradition says, with some authority, that the present PENANCE-TABLE is the one on which Cromwell slept when he spent a night at Stonyhurst. It is hence also called “Cromwell’s Table.”