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

Worms, subs. (Winchester).—A trenched line on the turf: used as goal at football. See quot.

1881. Pascoe, Life in Our Public Schools. Across the two ends of the ground a small trench is dug, about four inches wide and two deep, and a goal is obtained when the ball is fairly kicked across the trench (Wiccamicé WORMS).

Wrangler, subs. (Cambridge).—The name given to those who are placed in the first class in the first or elementary portion of the public examination for honours in pure and mixed mathematics, commonly called the Mathematical Tripos, those placed in the second class being known as Senior Optimes, and those in the third class as Junior Optimes. Up to and including the year 1882, the student who took absolutely the first place in the Mathematical Tripos used to be termed Senior Wrangler; those who came next to him being second, third, fourth, &c., wranglers. Since then the title has been given to the student who takes the first place in Part I. of the Mathematical Tripos. The name is derived from the public disputations, in which candidates for degrees were formerly required to exhibit their powers.

1870. The Blue, March. We were rejoiced to hear of the University success of a late Grecian—G. A. Greenhill, who was announced as Second WRANGLER in the late Mathematical Tripos at Cambridge. Further on in the month we heard of his being bracketed with Mr. Pendlebury (the Senior WRANGLER) as Smith’s Prizeman, a thing seldom heard of at Cambridge, and never before has any Blue attained that high honour.

Wratislaw’s. See Planks.

Writer, subs. (Winchester).—A Junior acting as secretary to a College officer.

Wuggins, subs. (Oxford).—Worcester College; Botany-bay (q.v.).

Yarder, subs. (Harrow).—Cricket played in the school yard: in the summer term.

To get yards, verb. phr. (Harrow).—To get a catch at football and be allowed a free kick, not running more than can be covered in three running strides. Hence TO GIVE YARDS = to give such a catch; TO STEP YARDS = to cover the distance in “kicking off yards” in three strides; TO KNOCK DOWN YARDS = to prevent another from “taking yards.” [Originally three yards.]