A Collection of College Words and Customs Part 70

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 pa.s.sage, 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: "_Rus.h.i.+ng_ 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.

_Cla.s.s Poem, Harv. Coll._, 1849.

One of the Trinity men ... was making a tremendous _rush_ for a Fellows.h.i.+p.--_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 _rus.h.i.+ng_.--_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 inst.i.tution, and reside for a time in the country, where he is obliged to pursue with a private instructor the studies with which his cla.s.s are engaged during his term of separation, and in which he is obliged to pa.s.s a satisfactory examination before he can be reinstated in his cla.s.s.

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 cla.s.ses 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."

_S_.

SACK. To expel. Used at Hamilton College.

SAIL. At Bowdoin College, a _sail_ is a perfect recitation. To _sail_ is to recite perfectly.

SAINT. A name among students for one who pretends to particular sanct.i.ty of manners.

Or if he had been a hard-reading man from choice,--or a stupid man,--or a "_saint_,"--no one would have troubled themselves about him.--_Blackwood's Mag._, Eng. ed., Vol. LX. p. 148.

SALTING THE FRESHMEN. In reference to this custom, which belongs to Dartmouth College, a correspondent from that inst.i.tution writes: "There is an annual trick of '_salting the Freshmen_,'

which is putting salt and water on their seats, so that their clothes are injured when they sit down." The idea of preservation, cleanliness, and health is no doubt intended to be conveyed by the use of the wholesome articles salt and water.

SALUTATORIAN. The student of a college who p.r.o.nounces the salutatory oration at the annual Commencement.--_Webster_.

SALUTATORY. An epithet applied to the oration which introduces the exercises of the Commencements in American colleges.--_Webster_.