1662. Fuller, Worthies, Norfolk, ii. 462. The University [Cambridge] ... appointed Doctor Cranmer ... to be POSER-GENERAL of all Candidates in Divinity.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 61. The election-day, both for Winchester and New College, is on the Tuesday next after the 7th of July (St. Thomas Beckett), when the warden of New College, Oxford, with two of his fellows, called the POSERS (or at one time supervisors), arrive at the college, where they are received with a Latin oration “ad portas” by the senior scholar.
Post, subs. (University).—See quot.
1855. Bristed, Eng. Univ., 74. Fifty marks will prevent one from being POSTED, but there are always two or three too stupid as well as idle to save their POST. These drones are POSTED separately, as “not worthy to be classed,” and privately slanged afterwards by the master and seniors. Should a man be POSTED twice in succession, he is generally recommended to try the air of some small college, or devote his energies to some other walk of life.
Verb. 1. (University).—To reject: as in an examination; to PLUCK (q.v.); TO PLOUGH (q.v.).
2. (Eton).—To put down for doing badly in COLLECTIONS (q.v.), the penalty being either a holiday-PŒNA (q.v.), or a SWISHING (q.v.).
3. (University).—To put up a man’s name as not having paid for food supplied by the College: supplies are then stopped until the account is settled.
Postmaster, subs. (Oxford).—An Exhibitioner of Merton College. Also PORTIONIST (q.v.).
1853. Bradley (“Cuthbert Bede”), Verdant Green, vii. Each college does its own postal department; and at Merton there are fourteen POSTMASTERS, for they get no end of letters there. “Oh, yes! I remember Mr. Larkyns ... telling us that the son of one of his old friends had been a POSTMASTER of Merton; but I fancied that he had said it had something to do with a scholarship.” “Ah, you see, it’s a long while since the governor was here, and his memory fails him,” remarked Mr. Charles Larkyns, very unfilially.
1886. Oxford Guide [S. J. & C.]. The POSTMASTERS anciently performed the duties of choristers, and their payment for this duty was six shillings and fourpence per annum.