A Collection of College Words and Customs Part 34

_Ibid._, Feb. 1851.

In moody meditation sunk, Reflecting on my future _flunk_.

_Songs of Yale_, 1853, p. 54.

And so, in spite of sc.r.a.pes and _flunks_, I'll have a sheep-skin too.

_Presentation Day Songs_, June 14, 1854.

Some amusing anecdotes are told, such as the well-known one about the lofty dignitary's macaronic injunction, "Exclude canem, et shut the door"; and another of a tutor's dismal _flunk_ on faba.--_Harv. Mag._, Vol. I. p. 263.

FLUNK. To make a complete failure when called on to recite. A writer in the Yale Literary Magazine defines it, "to decline peremptorily, and then to whisper, 'I had it all, except that confounded little place.'"--Vol. XIV. p. 144.

They know that a man who has _flunked_, because too much of a genius to get his lesson, is not in a state to appreciate joking.

--_Amherst Indicator_, Vol. I. p. 253.

Nestor was appointed to deliver a poem, but most ingloriously _flunked_.--_Ibid._, Vol. I. p. 256.

The phrase _to flunk out_, which Bartlett, in his Dictionary of Americanisms, defines, "to retire through fear, to back out," is of the same nature as the above word.

Why, little one, you must be cracked, if you _flunk out_ before we begin.--_J.C. Neal_.

It was formerly used in some American colleges as is now the word _flunk_.

We must have, at least, as many subscribers as there are students in College, or "_flunk out."--The Crayon_, Yale Coll., 1823, p. 3.

FLUNKEY. In college parlance, one who makes a complete failure at recitation; one who _flunks_.

I bore him safe through Horace, Saved him from the _flunkey's_ doom.

_Yale Lit. Mag._, Vol. XX. p. 76.

FLUNKING. Failing completely in reciting.

_Flunking_ so gloomily, Crushed by contumely.

_Yale Lit. Mag._, Vol. XIII. p. 322.

We made our earliest call while the man first called up in the division-room was deliberately and gracefully "_flunking_."--_Ibid._, Vol. XIV. p. 190.

See what a spot a _flunking_ Soph'more made!

_Yale Gallinipper_, Nov. 1848.

FLUNKOLOGY. A farcical word, designed to express the science _of flunking_.

The ---- scholars.h.i.+p, is awarded to the student in each Freshman Cla.s.s who pa.s.ses the poorest examination in _Flunkology_.--_Burlesque Catalogue_, Yale Coll., 1852-53, p. 28.

FOOTBALL. For many years, the game of football has been the favorite amus.e.m.e.nt at some of the American colleges, during certain seasons of the year. At Harvard and Yale, it is customary for the Soph.o.m.ore Cla.s.s to challenge the Freshmen to a trial game, soon after their entrance into College. The interest excited on this occasion is always very great, the Seniors usually siding with the former, and the Juniors with the latter cla.s.s. The result is generally in favor of the Soph.o.m.ores. College poets and prose-writers have often chosen the game of football as a topic on which to exercise their descriptive powers. One invokes his muse, in imitation of a great poet, as follows:--

"The Freshmen's wrath, to Sophs the direful spring Of s.h.i.+ns unnumbered bruised, great G.o.ddess, sing!"

Another, speaking of the size of the ball in ancient times compared with what it is at present, says:--

"A ball like this, so monstrous and so hard, Six eager Freshmen scarce could kick a yard!"

Further compositions on this subject are to be found in the Harvard Register, Harvardiana, Yale Banger, &c.

See WRESTLING-MATCH.

FORENSIC. A written argument, maintaining either the affirmative or the negative side of a question.

In Harvard College, the two senior cla.s.ses are required to write _forensics_ once in every four weeks, on a subject a.s.signed by the Professor of Moral Philosophy; these they read before him and the division of the cla.s.s to which they belong, on appointed days. It was formerly customary for the teacher to name those who were to write on the affirmative and those on the negative, but it is now left optional with the student which side he will take. This word was originally used as an adjective, and it was usual to speak of a forensic dispute, which has now been shortened into _forensic_.

For every unexcused omission of a _forensic_, or of reading a _forensic_, a deduction shall be made of the highest number of marks to which that exercise is ent.i.tled. Seventy-two is the highest mark for _forensics_.--_Laws of Univ. at Cam., Ma.s.s._, 1848.

What with themes, _forensics_, letters, memoranda, notes on lectures, verses, and articles, I find myself considerably hurried.--_Collegian_, 1830, p. 241.

When I call to mind _Forensics_ numberless, With arguments so grave and erudite, I never understood their force myself, But trusted that my sage instructor would.

_Harvardiana_, Vol. III. p. 403.

FORK ON. At Hamilton College, _to fork on_, to appropriate to one's self.

FORTS. At Jefferson and at Was.h.i.+ngton Colleges in Pennsylvania, the boarding-houses for the students are called _forts_.

FOUNDATION. A donation or legacy appropriated to support an inst.i.tution, and const.i.tuting a permanent fund, usually for a charitable purpose.--_Webster_.

In America it is also applied to a donation or legacy appropriated especially to maintain poor and deserving, or other students, at a college.

In the selection of candidates for the various beneficiary _foundations_, the preference will be given to those who are of exemplary conduct and scholars.h.i.+p.--_Laws of Univ. at Cam., Ma.s.s._, 1848, p. 19.

Scholars on this _foundation_ are to be called "scholars of the house."--_Sketches of Yale Coll._, p. 86.

FOUNDATIONER. One who derives support from the funds or foundation of a college or a great school.--_Jackson_.

This word is not in use in the _United States_.

See BENEFICIARY.

FOUNDATION SCHOLAR. At the University of Cambridge, Eng., a scholar who enjoys certain privileges, and who is of that cla.s.s whence Fellows are taken.

Of the scholars of this name, Bristed remarks: "The table nearer the door is filled by students in the ordinary Undergraduate blue gown; but from the better service of their table, and perhaps some little consequential air of their own, it is plain that they have something peculiar to boast of. They are the Foundation Scholars, from whom the future Fellows are to be chosen, in the proportion of about one out of three. Their Scholars.h.i.+ps are gained by examination in the second or third year, and ent.i.tle them to a pecuniary allowance from the college, and also to their commons gratis (these latter subject to certain attendance at and service in chapel), a first choice of rooms, and some other little privileges, of which they are somewhat proud, and occasionally they look as if conscious that some Don may be saying to a chance visitor at the high table, 'Those over yonder are the scholars, the best men of their year.'"--_Five Years in an Eng. Univ._, Ed.