Watch. To watch out, verb. phr. (Winchester).—To field: at cricket.
Water, subs. (Westminster).—Boating.
1881. Pascoe, Everyday Life in Our Public Schools. Boating, or WATER, as it is called at Westminster, is in a very flourishing condition.
Weekites (Charterhouse).—See Out-houses.
Westminster Customs. See Cap; Challenge; Early; Play; Monos; Pancake; Shadow; Silver-pence and Westminster Play. Besides these are others worthy of mention:—
1. The College Waistcoat.—A remarkable and original service was, up to the date of the Public Schools Commission, exacted of a Westminster junior. He was supposed to be a treasury of small conveniences for his seniors’ use in and out of school. He wore a college waistcoat of peculiar pattern, in the pockets of which he had to carry about and produce immediately on legal demand—the items are recorded in the published evidence—two penknives, two pieces of india-rubber, two pencils, two pieces of sealing-wax, two pieces of pen-string, two dips (q.v.), two dip-corks, two wedges, two pieces of gutta-percha (for putting on the points of foils), and any number of pens. Besides, he had to carry a portfolio containing a sufficiency of “quarterns” of paper.
2. Latin Formulæ.—Quaint old Latin formulæ continued in use at Westminster, unchanged since its earliest foundation. While the school is at morning lesson, the monitor ostii (see Monos) watches the clock, and at half-past eleven comes to the monitor of school and announces the time. The monitor goes to the head-master’s desk, makes his bow, and says, “Sesqui est undecima.” At a quarter to twelve he makes the further announcement, “Instat duodecima.” When twelve o’clock has struck he says again, “Sonuit duodecima;” at a quarter-past twelve, “Prima quarta acta est;” at half-past, “Sesqui est duodecima,” at which welcome words books are shut, and the whole school is dismissed. The same formalities, with the necessary variations, are repeated during afternoon lessons. Before dinner the Captain calls out two boys of the Second Election, one to say grace—“Age gratias”—and the other to repeat the proper responses—“Agite responsa;” and when dinner is over, before grace again, he pays even the juniors the compliment of asking whether they have had enough—“Satisne edistis et bibistis?” to which the compulsory answer is made—in old times too often by hungry lips—“Satis edimus et bibimus.” Every night at ten o’clock the monitor of chamber gives the order for the juniors to put out the lights and go to bed—“Extinctis lucernis intrate lectos.” It is only within the last generation or two that the rule of speaking Latin exclusively, both by boys and masters, during school hours has fallen into abeyance.
Westminster Play.—A Latin comedy, presented annually in the dormitory of St. Peter’s College, a custom dating from Queen Elizabeth’s days. The performances take place just before the Christmas holidays, the play being repeated three times. The cast is strictly confined to the forty scholars on the foundation. At the close of last presentation a Cap (q.v.) is collected, the surplus of which, after paying expenses, is divided among the performers.
Wet-bob, subs. (Eton).—A rowing man. See Dry-bob.
1839. C. T. Buckland, Eton Fifty Years Ago [1889, Macmillan’s, Nov.]. It was the ambition of most boys to be a WET-BOB, and to be “in the boats.” The school was divided between WET-BOBS and dry-bobs, the former taking their pleasure on the river, and the latter in the cricket-field.