Præfect. See Prefect.
Præpositor, subs. (Sherborne: obsolete).—A School Præfect (q.v.): seventeenth century.
Præpostor, subs. (Rugby).—A Præfect (q.v.).
1856. Hughes, Tom Brown’s School-days, v. The master mounted into the high desk by the door, and one of the PRÆPOSTORS of the week stood by him on the steps, the other three marching up and down the middle of the school with their canes, calling out “Silence, silence!”... Then the PRÆPOSTOR who stands by the master calls out the names, beginning with the sixth form; and as he calls, each boy answers “here” to his name, and walks out.
Prayer-book (Harrow).—See Upper School.
Precipice. See Fresh-herring.
Prefect, subs. (general).—A superior or senior member of a school superintending in or out of school hours according to office and school: as in studies, preparation, games, &c. See quots., Præpositor, Præpostor, &c.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester (1866), 226. Præfects—The eighteen Senior boys in College, and the twelve senior in Commoners. The ten senior of those in College were said to be in “Full power,” and took the office of Bible-Clerk in rotation; they all had the power of fagging the Juniors, but those not in full power were supposed not to have the right of fagging on the School side of Seventh Chamber Passage; practically, however, they always did. One of the Senior PRÆFECTS was called PRÆFECT of Hall, and was responsible in a great measure for the conduct of the boys out of school. His duties and privileges were numerous. There was also a “PRÆFECT of Tub,” who was supposed to see that the dinner was properly distributed; a “PRÆFECT of School,” who had the care of that building; and two “PRÆFECTS of Chapel,” who during alternate weeks called names in Chapel. There were fees attached to all these offices; and all the PRÆFECTS had a certain number of boys allotted to them as Pupils, each of whom paid one guinea each half.
1881. Felstedian, Nov., p. 75. Here let me observe that only the PRÆFECTS have separate basins to wash in; the juniors use the two stone conduits.
1891. Wrench, Winchester Word-Book, s.v. Præfects.... The number of Præfects was eighteen in College, three to each Chamber ... in Commoners first eight, with four senior-inferiors, who were like Præfects in half-power, and later twelve.... The word Præpostor was also used concurrently, it would appear, till the last century, when it disappeared, except in the formula demanding a remedy, in which it survives. What the relations of the two words were to each other it is not easy to determine.... Præpostor occurs in the College Register, and is still used in asking for Remedies. Both seem, therefore, to be official words. At Eton Præpostor survives, though they are stated to have begun with officers bearing other titles. They have also retained major, minor, minimus, which we have discarded for senior, secundus, junior. The “Præfect of Tub”—“qui nomen ducit ab olla”—who presided over meals, and whose perquisites are said to have been most lucrative—amounting to the value of £80 per annum—and the “Præfect of Cloisters” are obsolete offices.