BIBLE CLERK—An office held by the Præfects in full power in rotation; it lasted for a week. The duties were to collect the Verse and Prose tasks; to keep order in School; to give in the names of those boys who were condemned to be “Bibled,” (v. inf.,) and afterwards assist at their execution; to take the place of the Præfect of Hall when absent, &c., &c.
BIBLER, or BIBLING—A flogging of six cuts, when the Bible Clerk and Ostiarius laid bare a hand’s-breadth of the small of the victim’s back.
BILL BRIGHTERS—Small faggots used for lighting kitchen fire.
BLOW—To blush.
BLUCHERS—Præfects not in full power; a metaphor taken from the half boot.
BOB—A large white jug, holding about a gallon.
BONER—A blow given with the fist on the lowest vertebra.
BOOK—The School was divided into three classes, called Sixth, Fifth, and Fourth Book. The Præfects formed the former. Fifth Book was divided into Senior, Middle, and Junior Part. The remaining lower boys constituted Fourth Book.
BOOKS, THE—The prizes given to the two boys at the head of each Part at the end of each Half; they used at one time to be given by the Duke of Buckingham, now by Lord Saye and Sele. Also anybody who had got the largest score on his side in a cricket match, was said “to have got Books.”
BOOKS CHAMBERS—Certain hours on a Remedy, (v. inf.,) during which the boys had to attend in School, no Master being present.