Distinction-breakfast, subs. (Stonyhurst).—See Good-breakfast.
Distinguished, adj. (Stonyhurst).—Said of a boy who obtains two-thirds of the marks in any examination. “Distinction” in the year’s work wins a prize, and term “distinctions” are otherwise rewarded.
Ditch (The), subs. (Christ’s Hospital).—See Appendix.
1854. The Blue [quoted in] July 1871. The Steward did not attempt to quiet us; he got us out of the Hall as quickly as he could, and we rushed to the Treasurer’s house in the DITCH, and cried “Shame” till we were tired.
Ditto-blues, subs. (Winchester).—A suit of clothes all of blue cloth.
Div, subs. (Harrow).—A “division”: e.g. Tique-div (q.v.).
Do, subs. (Stonyhurst).—A general name for minor and special suppers: usually given to some privileged class, or in reward for some extra work: e.g. Choir-DO; Magazine-DO (given to the staff and contributors to the School magazine). Cf. Good-supper and Good-breakfast. Whence DO-ROOM = the long room in which a DO is held. [As a rule words with the suffix “room” are modern; “PLACE” (q.v.) is the older form.]
Dock, verb (Winchester).—To erase: as by rubbing out, or by a stroke of the pen; to tear out: as leaves from a book. Also DOCK OUT.
Doctor, subs. (Winchester).—The Head-master.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 27. The Head Master, or the Doctor, as he is always called, lives in “Commoners’ buildings.”