imported to Rugby by Arnold, more for the sake of the lines which were learnt by heart with it than for its own intrinsic value, as I've always understood) . . . is a short exercise in Greek or Latin verse, on a given subject, the minimum number of lines being fixed for each form.
1883. Trollope, What I Remember. The mention of a vulgus requires some explanation. Every inferior, i.e. non-prefect, in the school was required every night to produce a copy of verses of from two to six lines on a given theme—four or six lines for the upper classes, two for the lowest. This was independent of a weekly verse task of greater length, and was called a vulgus, I suppose, because everybody—the vulgus—had to do it.
Vum. I vum, phr. (American).—A
mild expletive or oath, 'I vow':
cf. Swan.
1856. Dow, Sermons, III. 265. What though, instead of saying, 'I swear to God,' you say, 'I declare to goodness?' It is as much the same thing as a bobolink with a new coat of feathers. I vum is just the same in spirit as I vow, and a 'diabolical falsehood' is synonymous with a devilish lie.
1865. Holmes, Deacon's Masterpiece. The Deacon swore (as Deacons do) With an 'I dew vum,' or an 'I tell yeou.'
1870. Judd, Margaret, 86. 'I vum,' said he, 'I'm sorry; what's the matter?'
