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

A, subs. (Felsted).—See D, infra.

Abbey, The (Durham).—The Cathedral. The boys of Durham School (and they alone) speak, and always have spoken, of the Cathedral as “the Abbey.” This is supposed to show that the school dates from pre-Reformation days, though its foundation is put down to the time of Henry VIII. The Charity Commissioners admit the claim, and pay to the Head-master a pension founded by Cardinal Langley in 1415 for the master of his school in Durham.

Academia, subs. (Stonyhurst).—A select literary club: in vogue where the Jesuit Ratio Studiorum flourishes. Not now existent at Stonyhurst, but it is in great vigour in America and on the Continent.

Ambulacrum, subs. (Stonyhurst).—The covered playground used in wet weather.

Arcady, subs. (Stonyhurst).—An arched portion of the new front.

Atramentarius, subs. (Stonyhurst: obsolete).—The ink-pot boy: an office once in vogue, the holder of it being responsible for the cleanliness, &c., of the ink-pots in the class-rooms. For this he was given a Good-day (q.v.) at the end of the year.

B, subs. (Felsted).—See D, infra.

Back-stop, subs. (Stonyhurst).—The wicket-keeper in ordinary cricket.