Box-buildings, subs. (Sherborne: obsolete).—The Sanatorium: in the seventeenth century called Sick-house (q.v.), and subsequently BOX-BUILDINGS. These buildings were pulled down in 1850 and the name disappeared.
Boy, subs. (Harrow).—A grade of fag. The Lower School are put ON BOY, in turns, to go messages, &c., for the Sixth Form. See Appendix.
Brasenose (or B. N. C.), subs. (Oxford).—Brasenose College. [Founded in 1509 on the site of four ancient Halls—Little University Hall was one, another being Brasenose Hall (thirteenth century). Authorities differ as to the origin of the curious name. See quots.]
1512. Charter of Henry VIII. The King’s Hall and College of Brasenose.
1800. Churton, Life of Bishop Smith, 227. Brazen Nose Hall, as the Oxford antiquary has shown, may be traced as far back as the time of Henry III., about the middle of the thirteenth century; and early in the succeeding reign, 6 Edward I., 1278, it was known by the name of Brasen Nose Hall, which peculiar name was undoubtedly owing, as the same author observes, to the circumstance of a nose of brass affixed to the gate. It is presumed, however, that this conspicuous appendage of the portal was not formed of the mixed metal which the word now denotes, but the genuine produce of the mine; as is the nose, or rather face, of a lion or leopard still remaining at Stamford, which also gave name to the edifice it adorned. And hence, when Henry VIII. debased the coin by an alloy of copper, it was a common remark or proverb, that “Testons were gone to Oxford, to study in Brasen Nose.”
1837. Ingram, Memorials of Oxford. Brasenose.... This curious appellation, which, whatever was the origin of it, has been perpetuated by the symbol of a brazen nose here and at Stamford, occurs with the modern orthography, but in one undivided word, so early as 1278, in an inquisition now printed in The Hundred Rolls, though quoted by Wood from the manuscript record.
1837. British Critic, xxiv. 139. There is a spot in the centre of the city where Alfred is said to have lived. Brasenose claims his palace, Oriel his church, and University his school or academy. Of these Brasenose is still called “the King’s Hall,” which is the name by which Alfred himself, in his laws, calls his palace; and it has its present singular name from a corruption of brasinium, or brasin-huse, as having been originally located in that part of the royal mansion which was devoted to the then important accommodation of a brew-house.
1898. Alden, Oxford Guide, 52. Brasenose Hall (thirteenth century) is said to have derived the name from its occupying the site of a brasen-hus or brewhouse. Over the old entrance-gate is the representation of a brazen nose, probably added at a much later date, when punning rebuses of this kind were in fashion.
Brasser, subs. (Christ’s Hospital: obsolete).—A bully.
Bread-and-beer, subs. phr. (Stonyhurst).—The name given to the snack which boys may take at five o’clock.