Bread-boy, subs. (Christ’s Hospital).—See quot.
1798. Narrative “Christ’s Hospital, Three quarters of a Century ago” [Chelmsford Chronicle (1875), Ap. 16]. The breakfast-bell rang about seven, when we all went into the hall, the nurses following, with boys from each ward (called BREAD-BOYS) carrying large baskets on their shoulders containing bread, which were taken to the head of each table, where stood the nurse, who, after “grace,” went down the table, serving out to each boy half of a twopenny loaf of bread. “Well,” you’ll say, “but where’s the butter?” None was allowed—nothing but bare bread. Those who had been sparing over night to save a portion of the small piece of cheese they had for their supper, pulled it out of their pockets. Sometimes a great fellow would make a little boy always supply him with cheese of mornings, out of the piece the poor fellow had had for his supper the night previous. Beer we had certainly, served out in wooden vessels of an extraordinary shape, called “piggins”; about six of them for four boys to drink out of, but such beer! The piggins were seldom replenished, for we could not drink it. We used to call it “the washings of the brewers’ aprons.”
1900. Pall Mall Gazette, 20th March, 3. 2. “A Lenten Supper.” Last of all the BREAD-BOY hoists the tall bread-basket shoulder high and bows round with it, never failing to raise a laugh as well as a basket.
Bread-picker, subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—A Junior appointed by the four senior Præfects in Commoners: at one time to put candles in outhouses; but formerly the word is supposed to relate to the duty of securing bread when served out. The office exempted from fagging at meal times.
Brekker, subs. (Harrow).—Breakfast.
1898. Stonyhurst Mag., Dec., p. 149, “Life at Oxford.” Each undergraduate has two rooms, a bedroom and a sitting-room. In these he lives, studies, and, with the exception of evening dinner in the Hall, has his meals. He is thus able to entertain. The fashionable meal to which to invite a friend is breakfast, or vernacularly BREKKER.
Brew, verb. 1. (Marlborough).—To make afternoon tea.
2. (Harrow).—To knock about; to damage.
3. (Harrow).—To cook. Hence, as subs. = a mess, or self-cooked meal.
Brick, verb (Charterhouse).—To hustle; TO MOB UP (q.v.); TO BARGE (q.v.).