Mucker, Stubensitzer, Kopfhänger, Kessel, Wurzel,--Saint, Stay-at-Home, Head-hanger, Kettle, Root.--These words are nearly synonymous, and indicate a man who scarcely dares to breathe, or to step over the door-sill; who from anxiety, or sanctimoniousness, goes with his head hanging down, or sits as continually over his books as a turkey-hen upon her eggs, or a kettle over the fire.
Pflaster-treter, Pavement-treader; Quark, Curds.--These are names of the men who are natives of the city or its vicinity. Pavement-treaders are those who were born on the ground and site of the university, and therefore, from youth up, have trodden the very same street-pavements. The pavement-treaders are also generally styled Patent-schissers, since they must conduct themselves in all propriety, being under the eyes of their parents; must go about in gloves, and frocks, or untorn coats, and not smoke in the streets. Curds are so called because they come only a few miles from the city, and to whom, therefore, their mothers, as their darlings, can send, if they please, a dish of curds to their suppers.
Kümmeltürk.--Is a compound of kümmel and türk, and denotes the class of Braggadocios and Boasters, who, at the first onset, rush upon the enemy with furious outcry and riot, but at the smallest show of real danger leap back like Kummel, cumin-seed, which a person attempts to mix with melted lard. This name also has the same meaning as Quark, or Curds.
Couche, Re-couche, Contre-couche.--These are French terms, with which silence is commanded; but as they are terms commonly used to hounds, they stand properly amongst the verbal injuries.
Dummer Junge, Stupid Youth.--Is the highest and most cutting insult, since it implies a denial of sound manly understanding and strength of capacity of him to whom it is applied.
Schuppen oder Rennen.--To scale, as you'd scale a fish, or to run--meaning that poking with the elbows, when two meet and neither will give way. This is a real injury.
Dissertatio de Quomodone seu von den Burschen Comment edita ab renommista rerum Bursicosarum experientissimo eodemque intrepido horibilique Martiali Schluck.
If the newly arrived students are no longer subjected by their teachers to such uncouth customs, as this deposition was, yet they are by no means spared certain ceremonies by their fellow-students, if they wish to lay claim to, and arrive by degrees at, the titles of honour connected with the different degrees of standing in points of seniority in university life. Yet these are neither so barbarous as the deposition, nor is a single student compelled to take part in them. They consist of some merry formalities, to which those who choose submit themselves, and which, though solemn age may smile at them, may be readily excused in happy and careless youth. To these belong the Fox-ride; the burning of the incipient Brand-Foxes; and the drumming in of the young Burschen, who then and there ripen, without further trouble, into old Burschen.
The celebration of the initiation of the Foxes, Brand-Foxes, and Young Burschen, takes place on one and the same evening, at a Commers appointed for the purpose. This Commers is always fixed for one of the special Kneip evenings, and the Chore to whom the Kneip-room belongs presides on the occasion. The candidates for initiation announce their intentions to this Chore; and the other Chores also assemble with it on the appointed day. Their place of meeting is one of the most spacious rooms used for such purposes, which is embellished as on other Commerses, and moreover also, graced with the insignia of the presiding Chore.