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

Wise Men of the East, subs. phr. (Cambridge).—The last twelve in the Mathematical Tripos (q.v.).

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Pluck.... These unfortunate individuals were designated by many opprobrious appellations, such as the Twelve Apostles, the Legion of Honour, WISE MEN OF THE EAST, &c.

Wooston, adv. (Christ’s Hospital).—Very: e.g. Wooston a jolly fellow; a WOOSTON jolly fellow; I am WOOSTON, chaffy. [That is, “whore son.”—Guillemard.]

Work, subs. (Winchester).—Pain. Also as verb = to hurt.

14[?]. Townley Mysteries, “Processus Noe.” My bonys are so stark No wonder if they WARK For I am full old.

14[?]. Alexander [Ashmol.], line 531. So sare WERKIS hire the wame. Ibid., line 539. Of WERKE well ne I wede (am mad).

1469. Malory, Morte d’Arthur. But I may not stonde, myn hede WERCHES soo.

1750. Collier, Works. I gran an I thrutcht, till my arms WARTCHD agen.

1860. R. Brierly, Ab. in London. I shaked his hond till my arm WARTCHT, then he shaked mine till his arm WARTCHT.

1891. Wrench, Winchester Word-Book, s.v. Work. The use of REMEDY (q.v.) for a holiday seems to imply that WORK is a painful disease.