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

Passy, adj. (Christ’s Hospital).—See ante. Now obsolete: the modern equivalent is Vish, which see (Appendix).

Past, adv. (Stonyhurst).—Beyond the goal line.

Peg. To peg in, verb. phr. (Stonyhurst).—(1) To throw in hard: of cricket. (2) To cane severely: of corporal punishment: e.g. “Does So-and-so PEG IN?” Also To LAMM IN.

People, subs. (Harrow).—Relations; visitors: e.g. “I’ve got PEOPLE coming down.”

Pepper-box, subs. (Eton).—A buttress in the original Fives Court on the Chapel steps—reproduced in all Eton Fives Courts.

Pester, subs. (Harrow).—The special cab used to convey boys with infectious diseases to Sanny (q.v.).

Pet, The (Felsted).—The petrifying stream: a small brook near Felsted.

Philathlet (or Phil), subs. (Harrow).—See Phil, ante. Also the large school cricket ground used for lower games.

Philosopher’s-quarters, subs. (Stonyhurst).—The part of the house in which the Philosophers (q.v.) live.

Pi, adj. (originally Winchester).—See ante. This expression is now pretty general. Also Pi-jaw (or Pi-gas) = a serious admonition.