1883. W. Clark Russell, Sailors' Language, p. 14. Bibles. Small holy-stones, no doubt originally so called because they oblige those who use them to kneel. They are also termed 'prayer books' for the same reason.
That's bible, phr. (common).—That's the truth; that's A 1.
Bible-Carrier, subs. (vagrants').—A
person who sell songs without
singing them. Often heard in
the neighbourhood of Seven
Dials.
Bible-Clerk, subs. (Winchester
College).—A College prefect in
full power, appointed for one
week. He keeps order in school,
reads the lessons in chapel,
takes round rolls (q.v.), and
assists at floggings. He is absolved
from going up to books
(q.v.) during his term of office.
The prefect of Hall need not
act as Bible-clerk unless he
likes, and the prefect of School
may choose any week he pleases;
the rest take weeks in rotation,
in the order of their Chambers
in College.—See Bibler and
Bibling.
1864. Blackwood's Magazine, vol. XCV., p. 73. [At dinner] portions of beef were served out to the boys . . . the Bible-clerk meanwhile reading a chapter from the Old Testament. Ibid, p. 87. An hour . . . is expected to be employed in working under the superintendence of the Bible-Clerk, as the præfect in daily 'course' is termed, who is responsible for a decent amount of order and silence at these hours.
1870. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 103. Order was kept during school hours by the Bible-clerk and Ostiarus, two of the Præfects, who held these offices in rotation—the former lasting for a week, the latter for one day only. They paraded School armed with sticks, and brought up to the Head and Second Masters (who alone had the power of flogging) the names of the delinquents which had been 'ordered' for punishment; the names of the more heinous offenders being confided to the Bible-clerk, the others to the Ostiarus.
1878. Adams, Wykehamica, p. 59. There appears to have been no regular Bible-clerk. . . . From this it has been inferred that the institution of these offices must have been subsequent, and (some think) long subsequent to the Founder's time.
Bible-Pounder, subs. (common).—clergyman.
[From bible +
pounder, from the practice
indulged in by some excitable
exponents, of pounding or beating
their hands upon the book
or desk while preaching.] For
synonyms, see Devil-dodger.
Bibler, subs. (Winchester College).—Now
called bibling (q.v).
1870. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 109. The first time a boy's name was ordered, the punishment was remitted on his pleading 'Primum tempus.' For a more serious breach of duty, a flogging of six cuts (a bibler) was administered, in which case the culprit had to 'order his name to the Bible-clerk,' and that individual, with the help of Ostiarius, performed the office of Jack Ketch.
Bibler Under Nail, subs. phr.
(Winchester College).—See Bibling
under nail.
1870. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 109. If a boy was detected in a lie, or any very disgraceful proceeding—a rare occurrence, I am happy to say—he had to stand up in the centre of Junior row during the whole of the School time, immediately preceding the infliction of the flogging; this pillory process was called a bibler under the nail.
Bibling, subs. (Winchester College).—Formerly
called a bibler
(q.v.). A flogging of six cuts on
the small of the back, administered
by the head or second
master. So called because the
person to be operated upon
