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

1890. Grant Allen, Tents of Shem, xlii. Parker’s SCOB was 220. Scob was box in Winchester slang.

1891. Wrench, Winchester Word-Book, s.v. Scob.... An oak box with a double lid, set at the angles of the squares of wooden benches in school. It is used as desk and book-case.... Probably the word has been transferred from the bench itself, and comes from Fr. Escabeau. Lat. Scabellum.

Sconce, verb. 1. (University: once common).—To fine; to deduct by way of fine; to discontinue. Also as subs. Whence TO BUILD A SCONCE = to run up a score (as at an alehouse, or of fines).

1632. Shirley, Witty Fair One, iv. sc. 2. College! I have had a head in most of the butteries of Cambridge, and it has been SCONCED to purpose.

c. 1640. [Shirley] Captain Underwit [Bullen, Old Plays, ii. 323]. Tho. I can teach you to build a SCONCE, sir.

1696. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Sconce. To build a large SCONCE, to run deep upon tick or trust.

1730. Jas. Miller, Humours of Oxford, i. p. 9 (2nd ed.). No, no, my dear, I understand more manners than to leave my friends to go to church—no, tho’ they SCONCE me a fortnight’s commons, I’ll not do it.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5th ed.). Sconce (v.) ... also a cant word for running up a score at an alehouse or tavern.

1760. Johnston, Chrysal, ch. xxviii. [Cooke’s ed., N.D.]. These youths have been playing a small game, cribbing from the till, and building SCONCES, and such like tricks that there was no taking hold of.

1765. Goldsmith, Essays, viii. He ran into debt with everybody that would trust him, and none could build a SCONCE better than he.