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

Verb (Christ’s Hospital).—To flog.

Brute, subs. (Cambridge).—See quot. Also Beast.

1868. Brewer, Phrase and Fable, s.v. Brute, in Cambridge University slang, is a man who has not yet matriculated. The play is evident. A “man” in college phrase is a collegian; and as matriculation is the sign and seal of acceptance, a scholar before that ceremony is not a “man,” and therefore only a “BIPED BRUTE.”

Buck, adj. 1. (Winchester: obsolete).—Handsome.

2. (Felsted).—Fine; jolly.

1897. Felstedian, July, p. 129. What’s the good of a Præfect? he never gets anybody up, and has never been known to be in time himself. He’s a BUCK lot of use.

To be bucked, verb. phr. (Uppingham).—To be tired.

To buck down, verb. phr. (Winchester).—To grieve; to be unhappy.

To buck up, verb. phr. 1. (Winchester).—To cheer; to be pleased.

2. (Westminster).—To exert oneself.