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

1900. Tod, Charterhouse, 85. Fags [at Old Charterhouse] had to fag in reality at cricket; they got COCKED UP if they cut, and they got COCKED UP if they missed a catch, or muffed a ball. A stump was always handy.

Cock-house, subs. (general). A champion house; as at cricket, football—anything.

1890. Great Public Schools, 95. (Harrow) The various Houses are divided into “Upper Round” Houses (being those which possess a member of the School Eleven at the beginning of the term), and “Lower Round” Houses (being those which possess no member of the School Eleven at the beginning of the term). The “Upper Round” Houses are drawn together, and play against each other; and the same course is pursued with regard to the “Lower Round” Houses. When all these ties are played off, the winner of the “Upper Round” plays the winner of the “Lower Round” for COCK-HOUSE. A silver challenge cup is presented to the COCK-HOUSE of the year.

1898. Warner in Harrow School, 271. Coming back from the holidays a boy will eagerly discuss with his comrades the prospects of the term. Have they any chance of being “COCK-HOUSE” in football or cricket—and no chance is too small on which to build a mighty castle of hope.

Cockloft, The (Harrow).—A small room at the top of the Old Schools; in turn a school-room or the limbo for the School-stock (q.v.) of confiscated books.

Cocks, subs. (Charterhouse).—The old washing place. [Early in the century a leaden trough, into which six taps discharged water, was fixed in a corner of Writing School, behind a partition which was constructed to hold Gownboys Library. These taps suggested the term COCKS. Formerly Gownboys washed at the pump.]

Cocoa-club, subs. (The Leys).—Afternoon tea, &c., at four in winter in House rooms or studies.

Codd, subs. (Charterhouse).—See quot.

1854. Thackeray, The Newcomes. Yonder sit some threescore old gentlemen, pensioners of the hospital; ... the Cistercian lads called these old gentlemen CODDS.

Cog. To cog on, verb. phr. (Durham).—To swindle; to cheat: e.g. “To cog on marks.” Also TO COCK ON.