Tom Brown at Rugby
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152
Purely: nicely.
153
Minds: remember.
154
Wench: a young peasant girl.
155
Martinmas: the feast of St. Martin, Nov. 11.
156
Aim: intend.
157
Tuppence: two pence or four cents; the English penny, being equal to two cents.
158
Quaint: odd, old-fashioned.
159
Muzzling in a flour-tub: running their heads into a tub of flour to fish out prizes.
160
Half-sovereign: ten shillings ($2.50).
161
Down shepherd: a shepherd on the downs or chalk hills.
162
Chaff: make fun, ridicule.
163
Wooy: why.
164
He: here, him.
165
Arra: any.
166
Poaching: game-stealing.
167
Wordsworth's "Peter Bell."
168
Castor: a tall silk hat.
169
Basket-handle: a handle protected by wicker-work.
170
Feint: to pretend to make a thrust or to give a blow.
171
Umpire: judge or referee.
172
'ee: thee, you.
173
A'nigst: near.
174
Summut: something or somewhat.
175
Vlush: flush.
176
Twod: a toad.
177
Veathers: feathers.
178
Blethering: talking nonsense.
179
Shovel: a broad-brimmed hat turned up at the sides. It was formerly much worn by clergymen of the Church of England.
180
Wos-bird: a bird that steals corn.
181
Sir Roger de Coverley: a typical old country gentleman of delightful simplicity of character. See Addison's "Spectator."
182
Gi's: give us.
183
A: he.
184
Wur: where.
185
Tie: a contest in which neither side gains the victory.
186
Life-guardsman: one of the Queen's body-guard.
187
"Vizes": a contraction of Devizes, a town in Wiltshire.
188
Yeast: a novel by Charles Kingsley.
189
Grapnel: a grappling hook.
190
Bona fide: real.
191
Priggism: affectation, conceit.
192
Skittles: the game of ninepins.
193
Palaver houses: talk houses – the Houses of Parliament.
194
West-End Clubs: clubs in the fashionable quarter of London.
195
Old John: John Bull.
196
Red-tape: official routine and formalism.
197
Toady: flatter.
198
Costermonger: a fruit and vegetable pedler.
199
Country-sides: country districts.
200
Turnspit: a kind of dog, formerly trained to turn a spit for roasting meat.
201
Occult: secret or magical.
202
Manor: the estate of a lord.
203
Publican: an innkeeper.
204
Dingle: a narrow valley.
205
Wicket: gate.
206
Lurcher: a dog that lies in wait for game, more used by poachers or men that steal game than by sportsmen.
207
Lissom: limber.
208
Nother: neither.
209
Dresser: a sideboard or cupboard.
210
Settle: a bench.
211
Sampler: a pattern for needlework.
212
Flitch: a side of bacon.
213
Ingle: chimney-corner.
214
"Mute, inglorious Miltons": see Gray's "Elegy."
215
Stolid: dull.
216
Embrangle: mix up.
217
Crichton: a Scottish gentleman of the sixteenth century, called for his learning and skill "The Admirable Crichton."
218
True blue: genuine.
219
Tory: a member of the conservative party in politics.
220
Corollary: an inference from something before stated.
221
Vestry: parish meeting.
222
Progenitors: forefathers.
223
Close: any inclosed place; here, probably a field.
224
Mullioned: subdivided by slender, upright bars or columns.
225
Swiss Family Robinson: a story of the adventures of a shipwrecked family on a desert island.
226
Choleric: inclined to anger.
227
Reconnoitered: here, examined in a general way or at a little distance.
228
Forms: benches.
229
Servants' hall: the servants' dining-room.
230
Nether: lower.
231
Integuments: garments.
232
Prisoner's base, etc.: boys' games.
233
Green rides: roads cut through woods or pleasure grounds.
234
Raven: a large black bird of the crow family.
235
Footman: a man-servant in livery.
236
Public schools: a name given to certain large and richly endowed schools in England which are chiefly patronized by wealthy men. They are wholly unlike the public schools of the United States. Eton, Harrow, Winchester, Rugby, and Westminster are among the best known of this class of schools.
237
Belauded: praised.
238
Usher: an under-teacher.
239
Missive: anything to be sent; hence, a letter.
240
Gaby: a dunce.
241
Felony: a serious offence or crime.
242
Primum tempus: first time.
243
Bulls'-eyes and toffee: the former are hard balls of sugar, the latter a kind of candy made of brown sugar and butter.
244
Bulls'-eyes and toffee: the former are hard balls of sugar, the latter a kind of candy made of brown sugar and butter.
245
Humble bees: "bumble-bees."
246
Bounds: the school limits, beyond which boys are not to go without permission.
247
Necromancer: (one who communes with the dead) a conjurer.
248
Phosphorus: the yellowish, inflammable substance used in making common matches – in a pure state it burns on exposure to air. Matches – called "Lucifers" or "light-bringers" – were invented in England about 1829. Previous to that time the only way of striking a light was by flint and steel, the spark being caught on a bit of tinder (half-burnt rag) which was then blown into a blaze.
249
Rugby: a small village in Warwickshire on the river Avon, nearly in the centre of England. It is the seat of Rugby School, – one of the great public schools, – and was founded by Lawrence Sheriff, a native of the neighboring village of Brownsover, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. The school owes its fame chiefly to Dr. Arnold, who became head master in 1827, and held the position until his death in 1842.
250
Doctor: Dr. Arnold.
251
Kit: here, clothes.
252
Tally-ho: the cry with which huntsmen urge on their hounds; here, a name given to a fast coach.
253
Boots: a servant in an inn who blacks boots, etc.
254
Islington: a northern suburb of London.
255
Post-chaise: a hired carriage.
256
Belle Sauvage: a famous old inn, formerly in the centre of London.
257
Star: the name of the coach which brought the Squire and Tom to London.
258
Boxes: inclosed places for eating.
259
Brown study: meditation without any particular object of thought.
260
Buxom: rosy with health, merry.
261
Cheroot: a kind of cigar.
262
Digamma: an ancient letter of the Greek alphabet. Greek particles are prepositions and conjunctions – hence nice or difficult points of Greek grammar.
263
Hard biscuit: cracker.
264
Drag: a four-horse coach.
265
Guard: a person having charge of a mail-coach, a conductor.
266
Hamper: a large, strongly made packing basket.
267
Hind-boot: a place at the end of a coach for luggage.
268
Portmanteau: travelling bag.
269
Rug or plaid: a thick shawl or other wrap.
270
Caloric: here, heat of the body.
271
First-class carriages: in England the railway cars (called "carriages") are divided into first, second, and third class.
272
Hoar-frost: frozen dew.
273
Pikeman: the man who takes toll on a turnpike.
274
St. Albans: about twenty miles north of London.
275
Stage: division of a journey.
276
Purl: a hot drink made of beer and other ingredients.
277
Tackle: stuff.
278
Meet: a gathering of huntsmen for a hunt.
279
Hack: here, nag or horse kept for rough riding.
280
Old pink: a red hunting-coat.
281
Lodge: a gentleman's house.
282
Wainscoted: lined with boards or panels.
283
Bagmen: commercial travellers.
284
Trencher: a large wooden plate.
285
Rashers: thin slices of bacon.
286
Way-bill: a list of passengers in a public vehicle.
287
Tap: bar-room.
288
Pinks: huntsmen.
289
High Street: the main street.
290
First-floor: the floor above the ground-floor, – the second story.
291
Burgess: a citizen or voter in a town.
292
Van: a large light-covered wagon.
293
Nor: than.
294
Regulator: the name of the rival coach.
295
Half: the half year.
296
Arter: after.
297
Pig and Whistle: as Oxford lies on the direct road between Rugby and White Horse Vale, Tom would naturally return by this coach.
298
Pea-shooters: tin tubes used by boys for blowing peas at a mark.
299
First-day boys: probably those that went up at the beginning of the term.
300
Act'ly: actually.
301
Tip: here, mark.
302
Rum un: here, a hard blow.
303
Box's head: that is, the head of the "young gent" sitting on the seat ("box") with the driver.
304
Cob: a short, stout horse.
305
Bi'st: "beest," art.
306
County members: members of Parliament.
307
File: a shrewd person.
308
Quoits or bowls: quoits are iron rings pitched at short stakes set in the ground. Bowls are tenpins.
309
Wickets: stakes which are driven into the ground as a mark for the ball in playing cricket.
310
Po-chay: a post-chaise; a hired chaise.
311
Oriel window: a bay-window. The great window over the arch is a striking feature of the Rugby gateway.
312
Lift: assistance of any kind.
313
Quadrangle: a square piece of ground inclosed by buildings. English schools and colleges are quite generally built round a quadrangle or "quod" as it is commonly called.
314
Regulation cat-skin: the hat prescribed by custom or school law.
315
Tile: a tall silk hat.
316
Mentor: a wise counsellor. See Homer's Odyssey.
317
Two seven-and-sixers, etc.: i. e., two hats, for each half year, costing seven shillings and sixpence ($1.80) each.
318
Half-a-sov.: half a sovereign ($2.50).
319
Keep in her good books: keep on good terms with her.
320
Bumptiousness: domineering manner.
321
Cicerone: guide.
322
Form: here, class.
323
Studies: small private rooms occupied by the Rugby boys (two in a room) for study. They are distinct from the bed-rooms.
324
Calling-over: roll-call.
325
Convoy: literally, a merchant-vessel protected by a ship-of-war; here, a person under the care of another.
326
Grimaldi: the name of a race-horse.
327
Steeple-chase: a race between horsemen across country to see which can first reach a certain distant object, as a church steeple.
328
Amy Robsart: the heroine of Scott's Waverley novel, "Kenilworth."
329
Tom Crib: a noted pugilist.
330
Science: boxing or pugilistic science.
331
Windsor Castle: the principal residence of the English monarchs. It is on the Thames, about twenty miles west of London.
332
Præpostors: the members of the sixth form, the highest class in the school. They were charged with the duty of looking after the other boys.
333
Reading: studying.
334
Verger: here, the porter.
335
Pellets: wads of paper.
336
Close: this close or play-ground contains something over thirteen acres.
337
Fives' court: the space set apart for playing fives, a game resembling tennis.
338
Island: the island no longer exists.
339
Fagging: the power given the sixth form, by authority and the custom of the school, to require the boys of the lower forms or classes to do errands, and act as servants generally. The system still has its defenders who regard it as a means of discipline.
340
Foot-ball: foot-ball is the great game at Rugby. It first became popular in America under the Rugby rules, which, though modified, are still the basis of the game as now played.
341
Hacks: kicks on the shins.
342
Technicalities: here, phrases peculiar to foot-ball.
343
Cap and gown: It is customary in England for holders of academic degrees to wear at times the appropriate cap and gown indicating their grade and college.
344
The Big School: the name of one of the school buildings at Rugby.
345
Canes: light, limber rattans used as rods.
346
Shell: the lower fourth form or class.
347
Will-he, nill-he: willing or not.
348
Carte blanche: literally, a white card to be filled up as one pleases; hence, unlimited power.
349
Cut the match: refuse to be present at the game.
350
Cut him: drop his society.
351
Impounded: locked up.
352
Braces: suspenders.
353
Larking: frolicking.
354
He of Russia: the Czar.
355
In the consulship of Plancus: meaning, perhaps, at the time when "old Brooke" was leader.
356
Toco: probably kicks and cuffs.
357
Lombard Street: the centre of the banking business in London.
358
China orange: a sweet orange.
359
Fond: here, foolish.
360
Itinerant: wandering.
361
Pyrenees: an allusion to the French and English wars in Spain.
362
Waterloo: (in Belgium) the scene of the crushing defeat of the French in 1815, by the allied forces under the Duke of Wellington, by which the power of Napoleon was finally broken. The Old Guard was the emperor's favorite body of troops, and was considered irresistible.
363
No side: a drawn game.
364
Opodeldoc: a liniment.
365
Tuck-shop: cook or pastry shop.
366
Tick: credit.
367
Bore: an annoyance.
368
Sedan-chair: a kind of covered chair for carrying a single person, borne on poles by two men.
369
Louts: here, town men or boys, "outsiders."
370
Jugs: pitchers.
371
Fugle-man: leader.
372
Chesapeake and Shannon: a song on the famous naval duel off Boston Harbor, in 1813, between the American frigate Chesapeake, and the British ship Shannon. The English gained the victory; but later, the Americans effectually beat them.