R.
RAG. This word is used at Union College, and is thus explained by a correspondent: “To rag and ragging, you will find of very extensive application, they being employed primarily as expressive of what is called by the vulgar thieving and stealing, but in a more extended sense as meaning superiority. Thus, if one declaims or composes much better than his classmates, he is said to rag all his competitors.”
The common phrase, “to take the rag off,” i.e. to excel, seems to be the form from which this word has been abbreviated.
RAKE. At Williams and at Bowdoin Colleges, used in the phrase “to rake an X,” i.e. to recite perfectly, ten being the number of marks given for the best recitation.
RAM. A practical joke.
—— in season to be just too late
A successful ram to perpetrate.
Sophomore Independent, Union Coll., Nov. 1854.
RAM ON THE CLERGY. At Middlebury College, a synonyme of the slang noun, “sell.”
RANTERS. At Bethany College, in Virginia, there is “a band,” says a correspondent, “calling themselves ‘Ranters,’ formed for the purpose of perpetrating all kinds of rascality and mischievousness, both on their fellow-students and the neighboring people. The band is commanded by one selected from the party, called the Grand Ranter, whose orders are to be obeyed under penalty of expulsion of the person offending. Among the tricks commonly indulged in are those of robbing hen and turkey roosts, and feasting upon the fruits of their labor, of stealing from the neighbors their horses, to enjoy the pleasure of a midnight ride, and to facilitate their nocturnal perambulations. If detected, and any complaint is made, or if the Faculty are informed of their movements, they seek revenge by shaving the tails and manes of the favorite horses belonging to the person informing, or by some similar trick.”
RAZOR. A writer in the Yale Literary Magazine defines this word in the following sentence: “Many of the members of this time-honored institution, from whom we ought to expect better things, not only do their own shaving, but actually make their own razors. But I must explain for the benefit of the uninitiated. A pun, in the elegant college dialect, is called a razor, while an attempt at a pun is styled a sick razor. The sick ones are by far the most numerous; however, once in a while you meet with one in quite respectable health.”—Vol. XIII. p. 283.
The meeting will be opened with razors by the Society’s jester. —Yale Tomahawk, Nov. 1849.
Behold how Duncia leads her chosen sons,
All armed with squibs, stale jokes, dull razors, puns.
The Gallinipper, Dec. 1849.
READ. To be studious; to practise much reading; e.g. at Oxford, to read for a first class; at Cambridge, to read for an honor. In America it is common to speak of “reading law, medicine,” &c.
We seven stayed at Christmas up to read;
We seven took one tutor.
Tennyson, Prologue to Princess.
In England the vacations are the very times when you read most. Bristed’s Five Years in an Eng. Univ., Ed. 2d, p. 78.
This system takes for granted that the students have “read,” as it is termed, with a private practitioner of medicine.—Cat. Univ. of Virginia, 1851, p. 25.
READER. In the University of Oxford, one who reads lectures on scientific subjects.—Lyell.
2. At the English universities, a hard student, nearly equivalent to READING MAN.
Most of the Cantabs are late readers, so that, supposing one of them to begin at seven, he will not leave off before half past eleven.—Bristed’s Five Years in an Eng. Univ., Ed. 2d, p. 21.
READERSHIP. In the University of Oxford, the office of a reader or lecturer on scientific subjects.—Lyell.
READING. In the academic sense, studying.
One would hardly suspect them to be students at all, did not the number of glasses hint that those who carried them had impaired their sight by late reading.—Bristed’s Five Years in an Eng. Univ., Ed. 2d, p. 5.
READING MAN. In the English universities, a reading man is a hard student, or one who is entirely devoted to his collegiate studies.—Webster.
The distinction between “reading men” and “non-reading men” began to manifest itself.—Alma Mater, Vol. I. p. 169.
We might wonder, perhaps, if in England the “[Greek: oi polloi]” should be “reading men,” but with us we should wonder were they not.—Williams Quarterly, Vol. II. p. 15.
READING PARTY. In England, a number of students who in vacation time, and at a distance from the university, pursue their studies together under the direction of a coach, or private tutor.
Of this method of studying, Bristed remarks: “It is not impossible to read on a reading-party; there is only a great chance against your being able to do so. As a very general rule, a man works best in his accustomed place of business, where he has not only his ordinary appliances and helps, but his familiar associations about him. The time lost in settling down and making one’s self comfortable and ready for work in a new place is not inconsiderable, and is all clear loss. Moreover, the very idea of a reading-party involves a combination of two things incompatible, —amusement and relaxation beyond the proper and necessary quantity of daily exercise, and hard work at books.
“Reading-parties do not confine themselves to England or the island of Great Britain. Sometimes they have been known to go as far as Dresden. Sometimes a party is of considerable size; when a crack Tutor goes on one, which is not often, he takes his whole team with him, and not unfrequently a Classical and Mathematical Bachelor join their pupils.”—Five Years in an Eng. Univ., Ed. 2d, pp. 199-201.
READ UP. Students often speak of reading up, i.e. preparing themselves to write on a subject, by reading the works of authors who have treated of it.
REBELLION TREE. At Harvard College, a large elm-tree, which stands to the east of the south entry of Hollis Hall, has long been known by this name. It is supposed to have been planted at the request of Dr. Thaddeus M. Harris. His son, Dr. Thaddeus W. Harris, the present Librarian of the College, says that his father has often told him, that when he held the office of Librarian, in the year 1792, a number of trees were set out in the College yard, and that one was planted opposite his room, No. 7 Hollis Hall, under which he buried a pewter plate, taken from the commons hall. On this plate was inscribed his name, the day of the month, the year, &c. From its situation and appearance, the Rebellion Tree would seem to be the one thus described; but it did not receive its name until the year 1807, when the famous rebellion occurred among the students, and perhaps not until within a few years antecedent to the year 1819. At that time, however, this name seems to have been the one by which it was commonly known, from the reference which is made to it in the Rebelliad, a poem written to commemorate the deeds of the rebellion of that year.
And roared as loud as he could yell,
“Come on, my lads, let us rebel!”
With one accord they all agree
To dance around Rebellion Tree.
Rebelliad, p. 46.
But they, rebellious rascals! flee
For shelter to Rebellion Tree.
Ibid., p. 60.
Stands a tree in front of Hollis,
Dear to Harvard over all;
But than —— desert us,
Rather let Rebellion fall.
MS. Poem.
Other scenes are sometimes enacted under its branches, as the following verses show:—
When the old year was drawing towards its close,
And in its place the gladsome new one rose,
Then members of each class, with spirits free,
Went forth to greet her round Rebellion Tree.
Round that old tree, sacred to students’ rights,
And witness, too, of many wondrous sights,
In solemn circle all the students passed;
They danced with spirit, until, tired, at last
A pause they make, and some a song propose.
Then “Auld Lang Syne” from many voices rose.
Now, as the lamp of the old year dies out,
They greet the new one with exulting shout;
They groan for ——, and each class they cheer,
And thus they usher in the fair new year.
Poem before H.L. of I.O. of O.F., p. 19, 1849.
RECENTES. Latin for the English FRESHMEN. Consult Clap’s History of Yale College, 1766, p. 124.
RECITATION. In American colleges and schools, the rehearsal of a lesson by pupils before their instructor.—Webster.
RECITATION-ROOM. The room where lessons are rehearsed by pupils before their instructor.
In the older American colleges, the rooms of the Tutors were formerly the recitation-rooms of the classes. At Harvard College, the benches on which the students sat when reciting were, when not in use, kept in piles, outside of the Tutors’ rooms. When the hour of recitation arrived, they would carry them into the room, and again return them to their places when the exercise was finished. One of the favorite amusements of the students was to burn these benches; the spot selected for the bonfire being usually the green in front of the old meeting-house, or the common.
RECITE. Transitively, to rehearse, as a lesson to an instructor.
2. Intransitively, to rehearse a lesson. The class will recite at eleven o’clock.—Webster.
This word is used in both forms in American seminaries.
RECORD OF MERIT. At Middlebury College “a class-book is kept by each instructor, in which the character of each student’s recitation is noted by numbers, and all absences from college exercises are minuted. Demerit for absences and other irregularities is also marked in like manner, and made the basis of discipline. At the close of each term, the average of these marks is recorded, and, when desired, communicated to parents and guardians.” This book is called the record of merit.—Cat. Middlebury Coll., 1850-51, p. 17.
RECTOR. The chief elective officer of some universities, as in France and Scotland. The same title was formerly given to the president of a college in New England, but it is not now in use.—Webster.
The title of Rector was given to the chief officer of Yale College at the time of its foundation, and was continued until the year 1745, when, by “An Act for the more full and complete establishment of Yale College in New Haven,” it was changed, among other alterations, to that of President.—Clap’s Annals of Yale College, p. 47.
The chief officer of Harvard College at the time of its foundation was styled Master or Professor. Mr. Dunster was chosen the first President, in 1640, and those who succeeded him bore this title until the year 1686, when Mr. Joseph Dudley, having received the commission of President of the Colony, changed for the sake of distinction the title of President of the College to that of Rector. A few years after, the title of President was resumed. —Peirce’s Hist. of Harv. Univ., p. 63.
REDEAT. Latin; literally, he may return. “It is the custom in some colleges,” says the Gradus ad Cantabrigiam, “on coming into residence, to wait on the Dean, and sign your name in a book, kept for that purpose, which is called signing your Redeat.”—p. 92.
REFECTORY. At Oxford, Eng., the place where the members of each college or hall dine. This word was originally applied to an apartment in convents and monasteries, where a moderate repast was taken.—Brande.
In Oxford there are nineteen colleges and five halls, containing dwelling-rooms for the students, and a distinct refectory or dining-hall, library, and chapel to each college and hall.—Oxf. Guide, 1847, p. xvi.
At Princeton College, this name is given to the hall where the students eat together in common.—Abbreviated REFEC.
REGENT. In the English universities, the regents, or regentes, are members of the university who have certain peculiar duties of instruction or government. At Cambridge, all resident Masters of Arts of less than four years’ standing and all Doctors of less than two, are Regents. At Oxford, the period of regency is shorter. At both universities, those of a more advanced standing, who keep their names on the college books, are called non-regents. At Cambridge, the regents compose the upper house, and the non-regents the lower house of the Senate, or governing body. At Oxford, the regents compose the Congregation, which confers degrees, and does the ordinary business of the University. The regents and non-regents, collectively, compose the Convocation, which is the governing body in the last resort.—Webster.
See SENATE.
2. In the State of New York, the member of a corporate body which is invested with the superintendence of all the colleges, academies, and schools in the State. This board consists of twenty-one members, who are called the Regents of the University of the State of New York. They are appointed and removable by the legislature. They have power to grant acts of incorporation for colleges, to visit and inspect all colleges, academies, and schools, and to make regulations for governing the same.—Statutes of New York.
3. At Harvard College, an officer chosen from the Faculty, whose duties are under the immediate direction of the President. All weekly lists of absences, monitor’s bills, petitions to the Faculty for excuse of absences from the regular exercises and for making up lessons, all petitions for elective studies, the returns of the scale of merit, and returns of delinquencies and deductions by the tutors and proctors, are left with the Regent, or deposited in his office. The Regent also informs those who petition for excuses, and for elective studies, of the decision of the Faculty in regard to their petitions. Formerly, the Regent assisted in making out the quarter or term bills, of which he kept a record, and when students were punished by fining, he was obliged to keep an account of the fines, and the offences for which they were imposed. Some of his duties were performed by a Freshman, who was appointed by the Faculty.—Laws Harv. Coll., 1814, and Regulations, 1850.
The creation of the office of Regent at Harvard College is noticed by Professor Sidney Willard. In the year 1800 “an officer was appointed to occupy a room in one of the halls to supply the place of a Tutor, for preserving order in the rooms in his entry, and to perform the duties that had been discharged by the Butler, so far as it regarded the keeping of certain records. He was allowed the service of a Freshman, and the offices of Butler and of Butler’s Freshman were abolished. The title of this new officer was Regent.”—Memories of Youth and Manhood, Vol. II. p. 107.
See FRESHMAN, REGENT’S.
REGISTER. In Union College, an officer whose duties are similar to those enumerated under REGISTRAR. He also acts, without charge, as fiscal guardian for all students who deposit funds in his hands.
REGISTRAR, REGISTRARY. In the English universities, an officer who has the keeping of all the public records.—Encyc.
At Harvard College, the Corporation appoint one of the Faculty to the office of Registrar. He keeps a record of the votes and orders passed by the latter body, gives certified copies of the same when requisite, and performs other like duties.—Laws Univ. at Cam., Mass., 1848.
REGIUS PROFESSOR. A name given in the British universities to the incumbents of those professorships which have been founded by royal bounty.
REGULATORS. At Hamilton College, “a Junior Class affair,” writes a correspondent, “consisting of fifteen or twenty members, whose object is to regulate college laws and customs according to their own way. They are known only by their deeds. Who the members are, no one out of the band knows. Their time for action is in the night.”
RELEGATION. In German universities, the relegation is the punishment next in severity to the consilium abeundi. Howitt explains the term in these words: “It has two degrees. First, the simple relegation. This consists in expulsion [out of the district of the court of justice within which the university is situated], for a period of from two to three years; after which the offender may indeed return, but can no more be received as an academical burger. Secondly, the sharper relegation, which adds to the simple relegation an announcement of the fact to the magistracy of the place of abode of the offender; and, according to the discretion of the court, a confinement in an ordinary prison, previous to the banishment, is added; and also the sharper relegation can be extended to more than four years, the ordinary term,—yes, even to perpetual expulsion.”—Student Life of Germany, Am. ed., p. 33.
RELIG. At Princeton College, an abbreviated name for a professor of religion.
RENOWN. German, renommiren, to hector, to bully. Among the students in German universities, to renown is, in English popular phrase, “to cut a swell.”—Howitt.
The spare hours of the forenoon and afternoon are spent in fencing, in renowning,—that is, in doing things-which make people stare at them, and in providing duels for the morrow.—Russell’s Tour in Germany, Edinburgh ed., 1825, Vol. II. pp. 156, 157.
We cannot be deaf to the testimony of respectable eyewitnesses, who, in proof of these defects, tell us … of “renowning,” or wild irregularities, in which “the spare hours” of the day are spent.—D.A. White’s Address before Soc. of the Alumni of Harv. Univ., Aug. 27, 1844, p. 24.
REPLICATOR. “The first discussions of the Society, called Forensic, were in writing, and conducted by only two members, styled the Respondent and the Opponent. Subsequently, a third was added, called a Replicator, who reviewed the arguments of the other two, and decided upon their comparative merits.”—Semi-centennial Anniversary of the Philomathean Society, Union Coll., p. 9.
REPORT. A word much in use among the students of universities and colleges, in the common sense of to inform against, but usually spoken in reference to the Faculty.
Thanks to the friendly proctor who spared to report me. Harvardiana, Vol. III. p. 79.
If I hear again
Of such fell outrage to the college laws,
Of such loud tumult after eight o’clock,
Thou’lt be reported to the Faculty.—Ibid., p. 257.
RESIDENCE. At the English universities, to be “in residence” is to occupy rooms as a member of a college, either in the college itself, or in the town where the college is situated.
Trinity … usually numbers four hundred undergraduates in residence.—Bristed’s Five Years in an Eng. Univ., Ed. 2d, p. 11.
At Oxford, an examination, not always a very easy one, must be passed before the student can be admitted to residence.—Westminster Rev., Am. ed., Vol. XXXV. p. 232.
RESIDENT GRADUATE. In the United States, graduates who are desirous of pursuing their studies in a place where a college is situated, without joining any of its departments, can do so in the capacity of residents or resident graduates. They are allowed to attend the public lectures given in the institution, and enjoy the use of its library. Like other students, they give bonds for the payment of college dues.—Coll. Laws.
RESPONDENT. In the schools, one who maintains a thesis in reply, and whose province is to refute objections, or overthrow arguments.—Watts.
This word, with its companion, affirmant, was formerly used in American colleges, and was applied to those who engaged in the syllogistic discussions then incident to Commencement.
But the main exercises were disputations upon questions, wherein the respondents first made their theses.—Mather’s Magnalia, B. IV. p. 128.
The syllogistic disputes were held between an affirmant and respondent, who stood in the side galleries of the church opposite to one another, and shot the weapons of their logic over the heads of the audience.—Pres. Woolsey’s Hist. Disc., Yale Coll., p. 65.
In the public exercises at Commencement, I was somewhat remarked as a respondent.—Life and Works of John Adams, Vol. II. p. 3.
RESPONSION. In the University of Oxford, an examination about the middle of the college course, also called the Little-go.—Lyell.
See LITTLE-GO.
RETRO. Latin; literally, back. Among the students of the University of Cambridge, Eng., used to designate a behind-hand account. “A cook’s bill of extraordinaries not settled by the Tutor.”—Grad. ad Cantab.
REVIEW. A second or repeated examination of a lesson, or the lesson itself thus re-examined.
He cannot get the “advance,” forgets “the review.”
Childe Harvard, p. 13.
RIDER. The meaning of this word, used at Cambridge, Eng., is given in the annexed sentence. “His ambition is generally limited to doing ‘riders,’ which are a sort of scholia, or easy deductions from the book-work propositions, like a link between them and problems; indeed, the rider being, as its name imports, attached to a question, the question is not fully answered until the rider is answered also.”—Bristed’s Five Years in an Eng. Univ., Ed. 2d, p. 222.
ROLL A WHEEL. At the University of Vermont, in student parlance, to devise a scheme or lay a plot for an election or a college spree, is to roll a wheel. E.g. “John was always rolling a big wheel,” i.e. incessantly concocting some plot.
ROOM. To occupy an apartment; to lodge; an academic use of the word.—Webster.
Inquire of any student at our colleges where Mr. B. lodges, and you will be told he rooms in such a building, such a story, or up so many flights of stairs, No. —, to the right or left.
The Rowes, years ago, used to room in Dartmouth Hall.—The Dartmouth, Vol. IV. p. 117.
Rooming in college, it is convenient that they should have the more immediate oversight of the deportment of the students.—Scenes and Characters in College, p. 133.
Seven years ago, I roomed in this room where we are now.—Yale Lit. Mag., Vol. XII. p. 114.
When Christmas came again I came back to this room, but the man who roomed here was frightened and ran away.—Ibid., Vol. XII. p. 114.
Rent for these apartments is exacted from Sophomores, about sixty rooming out of college.—Burlesque Catalogue, Yale Coll., 1852-53, p. 26.
ROOT. A word first used in the sense given below by Dr. Paley. “He [Paley] held, indeed, all those little arts of underhand address, by which patronage and preferment are so frequently pursued, in supreme contempt. He was not of a nature to root; for that was his own expressive term, afterwards much used in the University to denote the sort of practice alluded to. He one day humorously proposed, at some social meeting, that a certain contemporary Fellow of his College [Christ’s College, Cambridge, Eng.], at that time distinguished for his elegant and engaging manners, and who has since attained no small eminence in the Church of England, should be appointed Professor of Rooting.”—Memoirs of Paley.
2. To study hard; to DIG, q.v.
Ill-favored men, eager for his old boots and diseased raiment, torment him while rooting at his Greek.—Harv. Mag., Vol. I. p. 267.
ROT. Twaddle, platitude. In use among the students at the University of Cambridge, Eng.—Bristed.
ROWES. The name of a party which formerly existed at Dartmouth College. They are thus described in The Dartmouth, Vol. IV. p. 117: “The Rowes are very liberal in their notions. The Rowes don’t pretend to say anything worse of a fellow than to call him a Blue, and vice versâ.”
See BLUES.
ROWING. The making of loud and noisy disturbance; acting like a rowdy.
Flushed with the juice of the grape,
all prime and ready for rowing.
When from the ground I raised
the fragments of ponderous brickbat.
Harvardiana, Vol. III. p. 98.
The Fellow-Commoners generally being more disposed to rowing than reading.—Bristed’s Five Years in an Eng. Univ., Ed. 2d. p. 34.
ROWING-MAN. One who is more inclined to fast living than hard study. Among English students used in contradistinction to READING-MAN, q.v.
When they go out to sup, as a reading-man does perhaps once a term, and a rowing-man twice a week, they eat very moderately, though their potations are sometimes of the deepest.—Bristed’s Five Years in an Eng. Univ., Ed. 2d, p. 21.
ROWL, ROWEL. At Princeton, Union, and Hamilton Colleges, this word is used to signify a good recitation. Used in the phrase, “to make a rowl.” From the second of these colleges, a correspondent writes: “Also of the word rowl; if a public speaker presents a telling appeal or passage, he would make a perfect rowl, in the language of all students at least.”
ROWL. To recite well. A correspondent from Princeton College defines this word, “to perform any exercise well, recitation, speech, or composition; to succeed in any branch or pursuit.”
RUSH. At Yale College, a perfect recitation is denominated a rush.
I got my lesson perfectly, and what is more, made a perfect rush.—Yale Lit. Mag., Vol. XIII. p. 134.
Every rush and fizzle made
Every body frigid laid.
Ibid., Vol. XX. p. 186.
This mark [that of a hammer with a note, “hit the nail on the head”] signifies that the student makes a capital hit; in other words, a decided rush.—Yale Banger, Nov. 10, 1846.
In dreams his many rushes heard. Ibid., Oct. 22, 1847.
This word is much used among students with the common meaning; thus, they speak of “a rush into prayers,” “a rush into the recitation-room,” &c. A correspondent from Dartmouth College says: “Rushing the Freshmen is putting them out of the chapel.” Another from Williams writes: “Such a man is making a rush, and to this we often add—for the Valedictory.”
The gay regatta where the Oneida led,
The glorious rushes, Seniors at the head.
Class Poem, Harv. Coll., 1849.
One of the Trinity men … was making a tremendous rush for a Fellowship.—Bristed’s Five Years in an Eng. Univ., Ed. 2d, p. 158.
RUSH. To recite well; to make a perfect recitation.
It was purchased by the man,—who ‘really did not look’ at the lesson on which he ‘rushed.’—Yale Lit. Mag., Vol. XIV. p. 411.
Then for the students mark flunks, even though the young men may be rushing.—Yale Banger, Oct., 1848.
So they pulled off their coats, and rolled up their sleeves,
And rushed in Bien. Examination.
Presentation Day Songs, Yale Coll., June 14, 1854.
RUSTICATE. To send a student for a time from a college or university, to reside in the country, by way of punishment for some offence.
See a more complete definition under RUSTICATION.
And those whose crimes are very great,
Let us suspend or rusticate.—Rebelliad, p. 24.
The “scope” of what I have to state
Is to suspend and rusticate.—Ibid., p. 28.
The same meaning is thus paraphrastically conveyed:—
By my official power, I swear,
That you shall smell the country air.—Rebelliad, p. 45.
RUSTICATION. In universities and colleges, the punishment of a student for some offence, by compelling him to leave the institution, and reside for a time in the country, where he is obliged to pursue with a private instructor the studies with which his class are engaged during his term of separation, and in which he is obliged to pass a satisfactory examination before he can be reinstated in his class.
It seems plain from his own verses to Diodati, that Milton had incurred rustication,—a temporary dismission into the country, with, perhaps, the loss of a term.—Johnson.
Take then this friendly exhortation.
The next offence is Rustication.
MS. Poem, by John Q. Adams.
RUST-RINGING. At Hamilton College, “the Freshmen,” writes a correspondent, “are supposed to lose some of their verdancy at the end of the last term of that year, and the ‘ringing off their rust’ consists in ringing the chapel bell—commencing at midnight —until the rope wears out. During the ringing, the upper classes are diverted by the display of numerous fire-works, and enlivened by most beautifully discordant sounds, called ‘music,’ made to issue from tin kettle-drums, horse-fiddles, trumpets, horns, &c., &c.”