Penance-walk, subs. (Stonyhurst).—A path in the playground where malefactors are condemned to tramp in silence during recreation time. The form of the order given is: “Take an hour’s PENANCE,” or “Go on PENANCE.”
Pensioner, subs. (Cambridge).—One who pays a “pensio” or rent for rooms in College. At Oxford a COMMONER (q.v.).
1780. Mansel [Whibley, Cap and Gown]. A Cambridge Commencement’s the time When gentlemen come for degrees And with wild-looking cousins and wives Through a smart mob of PENSIONERS squeeze.
Pepper, verb (University).—To mark the accents of a Greek exercise.
Pepper-box, subs. (Eton).—See Appendix.
Percher, subs. (Winchester).—A Latin cross marked horizontally against the name of an absentee.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester (1866), 225. Percher—A mark (────┼──) put after a boy’s name on a Roll, which showed that he had been absent from Chapel or Hills without leave; or that he had not done his Verse or Prose Task, or Vulgus. It was also often put by a Master in the margin of gags, or a Verse or Prose Task, to indicate gross errors.
Pets, subs. (Charterhouse).—A set (says Tod) of young ruffians in Under Long Room whom the editor of The Verite Chronicle (see Verite) was constrained from self-interest to place on the free list. Only eight numbers appeared.
Petties, subs. (Harrow).—According to the Founder’s regulations, the lowest class—“which have not learned their accidence, or entered into the English rules of grammar.”
Phædras (Harrow).—See Upper School.