2. (Felsted).—A school matron.
3. (Harrow).—One of the House swimming four, upwards of sixteen. Whence DUCKLING = one under sixteen.
1890. Great Public Schools, p. 96. “Ducker” is open all the summer term, and for two weeks after the boys go back in September. For those who care for swimming there are inter-House swimming matches; and each House elects DUCKS (boys over sixteen) and DUCKLINGS (boys under sixteen) to compete for Cock-House.
Ducker, The (Harrow).—The school bathing-place beyond the Footer Fields: the largest artificial open-air bathing place in England. Originally the Duck-puddle. [Probably the first example of the “-ER” terminations: it is at least forty years old.]
1867. Collins, The Public Schools, p. 322. Bathing was always, until very lately, practised under difficulties at Harrow. The common bathing-place, known as DUCK-PUDDLE ... was a long piece of muddy water, varying from four to eight feet in depth. There, after it had been stirred up by all possible means into more of a puddle than usual, new boys were formally dipped.... To avoid mixing in the general wash at DUCK-PUDDLE, many boys used to go out to the Brent at Perivale, or even as far as Ellestree reservoir, for bathing; and these were favourite expeditions on the mornings of Saints’ days. But Dr. Vaughan had the old “puddle” lined with brick, and supplied with water by a steam-engine, to the great additional comfort of the bathers.
Ducks, subs. (Harrow).—Football knickerbockers. [Made of white “duck.”]
Dump, verb (Winchester).—To extinguish: as a candle. Ex. DUMP the TOLLY (q.v.). [Dump (Devon) = to knock heavily; to stump.]
Dungeons. Meet you in the dungeons, phr. (Royal High School, Edin.).—A challenge to fight. See Calton, and Campus Martius.
Dusthole, subs. (Cambridge: obsolete).—Sidney Sussex College.
