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

1835. (Quoted in Whibley’s Three Centuries of Cambridge Wit [1889].) ’Tis the College of Caius—’tis the land where the “BUM-CURTAIN” lately was sported by each jolly chum, But now black and blue are the gowns that they wear Like the eye of a drunkard returned from a fair.

Bumf, subs. (general).—Paper. See Appendix.

Bumf-hunt, subs. (Wellington).—A paper-chase.

Bumming, subs. (Wellington).—A thrashing.

Bump, subs. and verb (University).—See Bumping-race.

Bumping-race, subs. (University).—Eight-oared inter-Collegiate races, rowed in two divisions of fifteen and sixteen boats respectively, including a SANDWICH BOAT (q.v.), i.e. the top boat of the second division, which rows bottom of the first. The boats in each division start at a distance apart of 175 feet from stern to stern in the order at which they left off at the last preceding race, and any boat which overtakes and BUMPS another (i.e. touches it in any part) before the winning post is reached, changes places with it for the next race. Hence BUMP-SUPPER = a supper to commemorate the event.

1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, iii. He listened, and with respect too, to Mr. Foker’s accounts of what the men did at the University of which Mr. F. was an ornament, and encountered a long series of stories about boat-racing, BUMPING, College grass-plats, and milk-punch.

1853. Bradley, Verdant Green, x. A BUMP-SUPPER—that is, O ye uninitiated! a supper to commemorate the fact of the boat of one College having, in the annual races, BUMPED, or touched the boat of another College immediately in its front, thereby gaining a place towards the head of the river,—a BUMP-SUPPER was a famous opportunity for discovering both the rowing and paying capabilities of Freshmen, who, in the enthusiasm of the moment, would put down their two or three guineas, and at once propose their names to be enrolled as members at the next meeting of the club.

1860. Macmillan’s Magazine, March, p. 331. The chances of St. Ambrose’s making a BUMP the first night were weighed.

1865. Sketches from Cambridge, p. 7. I can still condescend to give our boat a stout when it makes a BUMP.