Certificate Good-day, subs. phr. (Stonyhurst).—See Good-day.
Chaff, subs. (Christ’s Hospital).—A small article or plaything. Also as verb = to exchange; to barter. [A.S. chaffere = to deal, exchange, or barter: as sub. = merchandise. Also (North) chaffle = to haggle.]
1388. Wimbelton, Sermon [MS. Hatton, 57, p. 4]. If thou art a margchaunt, disceyve not thi brother in CHAFFARYNG.
1440. Promptorium Parvulorum [MS. Harl. 221, ff. 206]. Rooryne or chaungyne on CHAFFARE for another.
1450. MS. Bibl. Reg. 12 B. i. f. 19. Emere vel vendere, Anglice to CHAFFARYN.
1844. Reminis. of Christ’s Hospital [The Blue, Aug. 1874]. Pocket-knives, combs, “precious” marbles, tops, and all the other numerous nondescript articles which go to make up the CHAFFS of a Blue.
1877. Blanch, Blue-Coat Boys, 96. Chaff me your knife.
Adj. Pleasant; glad. Also CHAFFY. [Possibly, in this sense, a memory of chaff = banter.] Whence, CHAFF FOR YOU = “So much the better for you.” Cf. Vex.
Intj. An exclamation of joy or pleasure.
Challenge, subs. (Westminster).—The entrance examination for Queen’s Scholarship. See quot. [In ancient times (vide Stow) St. Peter’s was one of the three great schools whose scholars were accustomed on the days of their patron Saints to challenge each other to a contest of grammar and versification, which was apparently the earliest form of what was afterwards developed not only into the Westminster Challenge, but into the Eton Montem (q.v.).]