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

Sheepskin, subs. (University).—The diploma received on taking a degree. [Because inscribed on parchment.] Hence a person who has taken a degree.

Shell, subs. (originally Westminster).—See quot.

1867. Collins, The Public Schools, 178. At the end of this room [the school-room] there is a kind of semicircular apse, in which the SHELL form were formerly taught, and the shape of which is said to have given rise to this name, since adopted at several other public schools.

Shepherd, subs. (Harrow).—Every sixth boy in Cricket-bill (q.v.): he answers for the five below him being present.

Shield (The), subs. (Harrow).—The Ashburton Shield: shot for at Bisley by Public School Eights.

Shig, subs. (Winchester).—A shilling.—Mansfield (c. 1840).

Shimmy, subs. (Felsted: obsolete).—A shirt.

Shin, verb (Eton).—To kick on the shins.

1864. Eton School-days, xiii. He could not go out of his tutor’s if there happened to be any one in the yard without some one throwing a stone at him, or hissing, or SHINNING him if he passed near enough.

Ship, verb. 1. (Sherborne).—To turn a boy out of bed with his mattress on top of him. Cf. Launch.