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

Coke on Littleton, subs. phr. (Eton).—See quot.

1743. Daniel Wray, Letter from Cambridge [quoted in Etoniana (1865), 70]. One blowing a chafing-dish with a surplice sleeve, another warming a little negus or sipping “COKE UPON LITTLETON,” i.e. tent and brandy.

Coll, subs. (United Services).—The College.

1899. Public School Mag., Nov., p. 345. To deal first with the outward appearance of the COLL.—(COLL, be it noted, not College.) “That long white barrack by the sea Stares blankly seaward still,” sings Kipling in one of his very early poems.

Collections, subs. (Oxford).—College Terminal Examinations.

1853. Bradley, Verdant Green, II. viii. Witless men were cramming for COLLECTIONS.

College-John (Westminster).—The porter and factotum of College: invariably so-called, whatever his name may be.

Colleger, subs. 1. (general).—A square cap; a MORTAR-BOARD (q.v.).

2. (Eton).—A boy on the foundation as opposed to an Oppidan (q.v.).

1899. Public School Mag., Nov., p. 367. The discussion continues as to whether the COLLEGERS should compete for the House Cup. As we have always said, this seems a ridiculous suggestion. If COLLEGE is on a separate foundation to the Oppidans, we can see no reason for them to desire to join in competing for Oppidan events.