Meaning of Etonicè | Babel Free

Definitions

The characteristic speech or slang of Eton College.

England, dated, humorous

Examples

“To do this in proper style, is, I assure you, reckoned a most difficult thing among the most expert performers; utterly unattainable, I am sure, by any of the rustics (Etonicè Clods) whom one sees playing at home.”

“The crew consists of ten men, besides there is or captain; they are active, willing, good-humoured fellows, and have harmonious voices, a great lounge (to speak Etonicé), as the Arab boatmen are a noisy set, constantly singing to their work, and always in chorus; one of them leads, and the rest join in, generally line by line, alternately, neither uttering more than five or six words at a time.”

“We remember in ancient times, when William IV. was king, on a magnificent sheet of brownish water, gracefully named Duck Puddle, a select little coterie of waterfunks (the title sufficiently explains itself—Etonicè frousts) would be unjustifiably but carefully placed on two old punts, or on a punt and an unhinged door, massive as that of Gaza, and on those treacherous rafts committed like Danae to the mercy of the waves.”

“The Comte de Ségur, in his amusing 'Mémoires et Souvenirs,' observes, à propos of his first interview with Frederick the Great of Prussia, that anyone with a due allowance of 'élevation dans l'âme' (Hibericè, 'asy assurance') can undergo the ceremony of introduction to a crowned head with proper dignity and composure; but that a certain degree of émotion—(Etonicè, 'funk')—is inevitable on being first brought face to face with a really Great Man.”

“I've funk'd and stew'd¹ to think what earthly power / […] ¹Etonice for being frightened, or alarmed at, as may be illustrated by the following imaginary talk between two lower boys:—"I say, old fellow, who funks a flogging?" "Not I, my boy! but I am in a precious stew about that licking Box Major promised me!"”

CEFR level