Since they first opened their doors, public schools across the land have been adding to the Queen’s English with bizarre expressions of their own. A sense of belonging is vital at these institutions – and what could be more bonding than a universal lingo that is adopted by all pupils, exists only within the school’s hallowed walls and is largely incomprehensible to outsiders? Here, we unearth some of the strangest school slang around.
Banco – used at: Charterhouse meaning: homework
Beak – used at: Eton College, Charterhouse, Harrow School meaning: teacher
Bigside – used at: Radley College meaning: the First XV rugby team, First XI cricket team and the pitches they play on
Bims – used at: Wellington College meaning: weekly inter-house sports fixtures
Callover – used at: Wellington College meaning: morning and evening roll call in house to check everyone is present
Chambers – used at: Eton College meaning: mid-morning break
College Pig – used at: Wellington College meaning: school prefect
Crack – used at: Charterhouse meaning: the tuck shop
Dame – used at: Eton College meaning: matron
Div – used at: Eton College meaning: lesson
Don – used at: Radley College, Winchester College meaning: teacher
Dry bob – used at: Eton College meaning: a pupil who plays cricket
Ducker – used at: Harrow School meaning: swimming pool
Eccer/Ekker – used at: Harrow School, Winchester College meaning: sport or exercise
Grubbies – used at: Wellington College meaning: school shop
Hash – used at: Charterhouse meaning: lesson
Homebill – used at: Charterhouse meaning: evening meal
Jam Account – used at: Radley College meaning: a pupil’s account at the school shop
Jerks – used at: Harrow School meaning: punishment
Notions – used at: Winchester College meaning: the school’s lexicon of slang
On fatigues – used at: Wellington College meaning: punishment schedule of reporting in and doing chores
Period – used at: Harrow School meaning: lesson
Play – used at: Westminster School meaning: a day’s holiday
Pups – used at: Radley College meaning: prefects
Quarter – used at:Charterhouse meaning: the school term
Rip – used at: Eton College meaning: the tear a teacher makes in a poor piece of work
Shag – used at: Westminster School meaning: a pupil’s own clothes
Shell – used at: Harrow School meaning: new boy
Show-up – used at: Eton College meaning: a good piece of work
Slack bob – used at: Eton College meaning: a pupil who does neither of the above
Socials – used at: Radley College meaning: school houses
Station – used at: Westminster School meaning: afternoon sport
The Master – used at: Wellington College meaning: the headmaster
The Pink Roll – used at: Wellington College meaning: a list of all pupils and staff
Toshes – used at: Harrow School meaning: showers
Toytime – used at: Winchester College meaning: evening prep period
Up School – used at: Westminster School meaning: main hall
Warden – used at: Radley College meaning: headmaster
Wet bob – used at: Eton College meaning: a pupil who rows