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

c. 1889. Illustrated London News. Flogging, or, as it is called at Eton, SWISHING, is to be abolished at that aristocratic seminary.

1891. Harry Fludyer, 47. He complained of us and Tipkins, and I got SWISHED the other day.

Swot (Swat or Sweat), subs. (general).—Lessons; work: specifically, mathematics at Royal Military Academy. Also a hard-working student.

1883. Pascoe, Everyday Life at Our Public Schools.... So much for work or SWOT, as the Harrovian, in common with other boys, somewhat inelegantly terms the more important part of instruction he receives at school.

Verb (general).—To work hard: as at lessons.

In a swot, phr. (Shrewsbury).—In a rage.

Syntax, subs. (Stonyhurst).—The upper Fourth Form.

Tachs, subs. (Tonbridge).—A fad; a mental eccentricity. See Hobbs.

c. 1327. Chester Plays, ii. 27. For south this harde I hym saye, That he woulde rise the thirde daye; Nowe suerlye and he so maye, He hath a wounderous TACHE.