Domum, intj. (Winchester; obsolete).—The summons back from Hills: given by College Juniors. Also as in quot.
c. 1840. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester, 207. Domum—a Latin Canticle, supposed to have been written by a boy who was not allowed to go home for the holidays. The tradition says that he carved it on a tree, and then committed suicide. On the last Friday in Long Half, after Election, a kind of festival was held in the evening, when numbers of people came into College, and DOMUM was sung over and over again in School, Meads, and the principal Quadrangle ... at each place (p. 183) singing DOMUM louder than before, till at last the power failed, and the ladies, visitors, and superannuates went to recruit their energies for a brief period before going to the DOMUM-BALL at St. John’s rooms.
Domum-ball, subs. (Winchester).—A ball given by the superannuated College Prefects on the evening after the “men” go home for the Midsummer holidays.
Domum-day, subs. (Winchester).—Going-home day at Midsummer.
Don, subs. (University).—A fellow or officer of a college; whence the vulgar usage = an adept; a swell. [From Latin dominus, a lord, through the Spanish title.]
1665. Dryden, Indian Emperor, Epilogue, 21. For the great DONS of wit—Phœbus gives them full privilege alone, To damn all others, and cry up their own.
1698-1700. Ward, London Spy, pt. XIII. p. 299. Like the Great Old DONS of the Law, when they dance the Measures in an Inns-of-Court Hall upon the first day of Christmas.
1730. Jas. Miller, Humours of Oxford, i. p. 7 (2nd ed.). The old DONS ... will come cringing, cap in hand, to offer to show the ladies the curiosities of the college.
1826. Reynolds (“Peter Corcoran”), Song on the Fancy. Dull innocence! Twaddle on, Thy weary worshipper—and fain Would give thee up, to be a DON, And beat the watch in Drury Lane.
1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, ch. xi. Does not go much into society, except ... once or twice to the houses of great country DONS who dwell near him in the country.