Title: "Local Phrases," The North Carolina University Magazine 1(April 1852): 128: Electronic Edition.
Author: No Author
Editor: Erika Lindemann
Funding from the State Library of North Carolina supported the electronic publication of this title.
Text transcribed by Erika Lindemann
Images scanned by Mara E. Dabrishus
Text encoded by Brian Dietz
First Edition, 2005
Size of electronic edition: ca. 11K
Publisher: The University Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
2005

No Copyright in US

The electronic edition is a part of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill digital library, Documenting the American South.
Languages used in the text: English
Revision history:
2005-04-20, Brian Dietz finished TEI/XML encoding.
Part of a series:
This transcribed document is part of a digital collection, titled True and Candid Compositions: The Lives and Writings of Antebellum Students in North Carolina
written by Lindemann, Erika
Source(s):
Title of article: "Local Phrases,"
Title of serial: The North Carolina University Magazine 1 (April 1852): 128
Editor: Barnes, W. D., et. al
Description: 1 page, 1 page image
Note: Call number C378 UQm 1852 c.2 (North Carolina Collection, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
Topics covered:
Education/UNC Student Life
Examples of Student Writing/Literary Magazines
Editorial practices
The text has been encoded using the recommendations for Level 5 of the TEI in Libraries Guidelines.
Transcript of magazine article.
Original grammar, punctuation, and spelling have been preserved.
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For more information about transcription and other editorial decisions, see Dr. Erika Lindemann's explanation under the section Editorial Practices.

Document Summary

An article in The North Carolina University Magazine defines several examples of college slang: boot lick, rush, a bust, glister, pape, devilment, bore, fess, flying around, latest agony, and I s'picion.
"Local Phrases," The North Carolina University Magazine 1, (April 1852): 128.1
No Author



Page 128
LOCAL PHRASES
"BOOT LICK"—signifying, to curry favor, in view "a better showing in the next report":
"To bend the suppliant knee,
That thrift may follow fawning."2
"RUSH"—a gross ignorance of a lesson manifested; an affectionate "standing to" at the black board.
"A BUST"—the act of giving free vent to the hilarous feelings; immoderate dissipation of any kind, accompanied with a recklessness; a running a horse through the street; a boisterous noise.
"GLISTER"—a proclaimed incapacity to proceed with the class without a "making up" of deficiencies, and an increase of diligence; a disapproval.
"PAPE"—to copy at the black board unobserved, either from book or manuscript; a safeguard against "glister";
Then came a direful struggle
'Twixt conscience and inclination,
Whether to "pape" my way was right,
And thus to reach my destination.— "ZEKE."
"DEVILMENT" (a modification of "Bust,")—a sudden and temporary predominance of the evil spirit; a ringing of the bell by night; a rocking3 of the Tutors (this is called "a-h—l-of-a-devilment"); applauding in the college chapel; impudence to Professors; this word has become obsolete with Juniors and Seniors.
"BORE"—to annoy excessively by your presence, your conversation, or speeches; to be unmerciful in the frequency and length of your visits; some are bored by themselves, through want of something to do—(very generally used.)
"FESS"—an acknowledged impreparation on a lesson; an indirect proposition to "make up."
"FLYING AROUND"—a frisky and constant attention; affected politeness, for the purpose of ingratiating ourselves; a mannerism;—used often in the sense of "boot lick."
"LATEST AGONY"—the last issue of Broadway fashions; a new Parisian"stripe;" (more extensively) any inovation on custom.
"I S'PICION"—I am penetrating your manœuvres; I see the drift of your argument or your intention; I understand; "I smell a rat."

Endnotes:

1. The North Carolina University Magazine 1, no. 3 (April 1852): 128, NCC. The author of the article is unknown but presumably is one of the six editors of the 1852 Magazine : William Deans Barneslink opens in a new window , Thomas Burke Burtonlink opens in a new window , Thomas Howell Gilliamlink opens in a new window , Leonidas Fidelis Silerlink opens in a new window , James Jeremiah Sladelink opens in a new window , and Alexander Robeson Smithlink opens in a new window . Barneslink opens in a new window , Burtonlink opens in a new window , and Gilliamlink opens in a new window were members of the Philanthropic Society; Silerlink opens in a new window , Sladelink opens in a new window , and Smithlink opens in a new window , members of the Dialectic Society. All six students received their BA degrees in 1852.

2. William Shakespeare, Hamlet III.ii (1603), : "No, let the candied tongue [lick] absurd pomp,/And crook the pregnant hinges of the knee/Where thrift may follow [fawning]."

3. "rocking": throwing rocks, usually at the recitation room or dormitory window.