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

Candle-keepers, subs. (Winchester).—The seven seniors in College by election who are not Præfects. They enjoy most of the privileges of Præfects without their powers.

c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 30. The Seven CANDLE-KEEPERS (why so called I have no idea, nor have I ever heard any interpretation of the appellation). These were the seven inferiors who had been longest in the school, quite independently of their position in it; they were generally old and tough. Of these, the senior had almost as much power as a Præfect; he had a “valet” in chambers, one or two “breakfast fags,” and the power of fagging the twenty juniors when in school or in meads. The junior CANDLE-KEEPER was called the “Deputy,” and had also some slight privileges besides that of having a valet and breakfast fag, which was common to all of them.

1878. Adams, Wykehamica, p. 418. See Appendix.

1881. Felstedian, Nov., p. 75, “A Day’s Fagging at Winchester.” The CANDLE-KEEPERS are the next in chambers to the præfects; generally fellows who have not much brains, but from having been a long time in the school, having a certain number of “juniors,” and are excused fagging and have certain minor privileges approaching those of a præfect.

Candlestick, subs. (Winchester).—A humorous corruption of the word “candidate.”

c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 175. Each of these [the Electors] had in turn the privilege of nominating a boy for admission into Winchester till all vacancies were filled, of which there were generally about twelve, but always many more “Candidates” (or CANDLESTICKS, as they were often called).

1878. H. C. Adams, Wykehamica, p. 418. Candlestick, merely a facetious version of “candidate.”

Cannager-canoodle, subs. (Oxford).—A Canadian canoe.

1893. Felstedian, June, p. 718, “Oxford Correspondence.” The Char has been daily gay with bright yellow “CANAGGER-CANOODLES,” and pink-and-green Japanese parasols and wobbling punts with their sleeping occupants.

Cannibal, subs. (Cambridge).—In a BUMPING-RACE (q.v.) a College may be represented by more than one boat. The best talent is put into the first, but it has sometimes happened that the crew of the second have got so well together that it has disappointed the prophets and bumped the first of its own College. In this case it is termed A CANNIBAL, it having eaten up its own kind, and a fine is exacted from it by the University Boat Club.