c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester (1866), 79. In front of the screen stood “TUB,” from which the Præfect of that Ilk took his title; it was a strong painted oak chest, with a lid, about two feet high.... As will be seen, it was simply impossible for the Juniors to be up to time, the consequence of which was that more than half the dinners were not taken; these were thrown into “TUB” at the end of Hall, whence they were ultimately taken away by some poor women, and I always understood (though I am not certain that such was the case) that the “Præfect of TUB” got a certain sum for each “Dispar” not taken, and so had a direct interest in managing that as many as possible should go without their dinner. I will now explain the absence of the Juniors; immediately the Præfects were seated, the whole Hall resounded with shouts of “Junior—Junior—Junior,” rising in savageness of tone, as the supply became exhausted; in five minutes all the Juniors were darting wildly about in all directions, executing orders received from their lords and masters; some to Colson’s hatch for salt, or down in the cellar for beer, back to school for something forgotten, into chambers for a pint cup, down to the kitchen for gravy, &c. &c.
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 23. Until the last few years the “præfect of TUB” (whose duty it was to examine the quality of the meat sent in by the college butcher, and after dinner to see to the proper collection and distribution of the remains) retained his title.
Tub-mess, subs. (Winchester).—The table at which the Senior Præfects sat in Hall.—Mansfield (c. 1840).
Tuck, subs. (general).—Edibles of all kinds, but particularly pastry. Hence TUCK-SHOP = a pastry-cook’s.
Tuck-parcel, subs. (Charterhouse).—A hamper from home: the word is now becoming obsolete.
1856. Hughes, Tom Brown’s School-days, I. vi. Come along down to Sally Harrowell’s; that’s our school-house TUCK-SHOP. She bakes such shining murphies. Ibid. The slogger looks rather sodden, as if he didn’t take much exercise and ate too much TUCK.
Tug, subs. (Eton).—A Colleger; a scholar on the foundation. Whence TUGGERY = College.
1881. Pascoe, Everyday Life in our Public Schools.... The long looked-for St. Andrew’s Day arrives, when the great match of collegers, or, as the small oppidan would term it, TUGS, and oppidans is to be played.
1883. Brinsley-Richards, Seven Years at Eton.... My interlocutor was a red-headed freckled little boy of eleven, who had come from Aberdeen “to try for TUGGERY,” that is, to try and pass in to the foundation as a King’s Scholar.
1890. Great Public Schools, 52. The Collegers did not always fare as bravely as they do now, either at board or bed. Terrible tales of their manner of life may be read.... Perhaps the recollections of that time caused the disrespect, almost bordering on contempt, with which the Oppidans used for many years to regard the Togati, or gown-wearing boys. [Note.—I suppose there is not much doubt that the nickname of TUG by which the Collegers used to go among the rest of the school, was derived from the toga they wore.]