1873. Pall Mall Gazette, 17th May. The Winchester “tunding” system, with all its faults, is hardly less objectionable than the FAGGING system pursued in the Scotch endowed hospitals.
1881. Felstedian, Nov., p. 75. As I was smaller and weaker than most of the FAGS running, I hardly ever managed to get a place, and it was absurd to expect me to do so. I had been “spanked” two or three times already for failing, but I don’t know that I was more successful for that. I know I cordially detested that branch of FAGGING.
1884. Temple Bar, August, p. 514. He must have completely marred his chance of happiness at the school when he refused to FAG and took countless thrashings, snivelling.
1891. Harry Fludyer at Cambridge, 46. My new FAG-MASTER, Forker Major, is a beast.
2. (Stonyhurst).—To field: at cricket. The ordinary meaning either as subs. or verb does not exist at Stonyhurst.
Fag-book, subs. (Charterhouse).—Formerly a book given by a monitor on leaving to each of his fags: it is now usual to give a bat or a racket.
Fain lo! (or Loss), intj. (Felsted).—A phrase used to retain a seat, &c., temporarily vacated. Also Lo.
Fains (Fainits! or Fain it), intj. (general).—A call for truce during the progress of a game without which priority of place would be lost; generally understood to be demanded “in bounds,” or when out of danger. [Thought to be a corruption of “fend.”]
Verb (also Fend, Fain, Fainits, &c.).—A cry of warning, or of prohibition: as to prevent any change in the existing conditions of a game; e.g. at marbles, FEN-PLACINGS = no alteration in position of marbles is permissible; FEN-CLEARANCES = removal of obstacles is forbidden. [Fend = M.E. defend in sense of “to forbid.”] Fain, and fain I, are corruptions. At Winchester, FINGY YOU, or FINGY THAT, are analagous; but at Christ’s Hospital FIN = “I won’t have.”
Ante 1815. E. C. Harrington, in N. and Q., 5 S., vii. 98. Respecting the word FEN ... I can testify to the use of the term by school-boys prior to the battle of Waterloo ... meaning that we protested against an exceptional action.