"Sanawarese" - a Lexicon

A Glossary of old Sanawar Slang & Common Expressions

(Work in Progress - Seventh Revision - v7.0.1)
Thursday, 07-Nov-2024 09:04:11 UTC

artsie - [n]  an eight anna coupon in School 'cash' [q.v.]. Adapted from the Hindi ath meaning 8 [number].

ballyole - [n]  the small, round and shallow depression in the ground used in a particular game of marbles. The game was known by the same name. (See 'taws').

BD - [n]  generally the Boys Department but also Battledress in later years, when this was introduced as the official winter uniform. (See pictures)

bed-roll, -pack, -block (?) - [n]  a neat and precisely folded parcel of one's bedding ‘made up’ daily for inspection, (Sundays and holidays excluded). The standard issue of bedding comprised 4 x blankets, 2 x sheets, 1 x pillow-case, 1 x mattress (filled with dried pine-needles) and 1 x pillow (same). Three of the blankets were dark-grey, very hairy and rough, and the fourth was a softer bluish-grey with a darker stripe, (one’s so-called ‘best’ blanket). Beds were ‘made up’ thus: The bed is stripped and the mattress folded back in half. The three rough blankets are folded to the same dimensions, (approx. 28" wide x 14" deep) with the two sheets, similarly folded, sandwiched neatly between them. The whole parcel is then neatly enveloped in the outer (best) blanket folded longitudinally and displayed on the folded mattress at the foot of the bed. Finally, the pillow, [cleanest side up], is placed on top. Beds were permitted to be ‘made down’ for sleeping, after evening prep.

bed-space[n]  the whole area immediately under one’s bed and 'kit box', [q.v.]  extending halfway to one’s neighbour’s space on both sides, (if applicable) and midway into the centre aisle.

bird-nester - see egg-collector below.

bobuck - [n]  a sort of 'knock', [q.v.]  but not quite the same. It was the speciality of Mr. J.R Coombes B.Sc., the Science Master who was fondly known by the same name - "Bobuck". (No one seems to know which came first) but a 'bobuck knock' is delivered thus:- Using one's favoured hand, the thumb and middle finger are held together, directly opposed as though to 'click' one's fingers. The heel of the palm is then placed on the crown of the miscreant's head. Pressure is applied, and the thumb is suddenly removed - resulting in the middle finger coming down like a miniature hammer onto the skull of the recipient. The 'bobuck' was latterly adopted as another form of prefectural punishment for minor misdemeanours, giving 'gup', 'skunking' off, etc.

bobs - [n]  pine cones, usually mature, opened cones fallen from the tree and collected for burning during the cold months of the year. The larger the cones, the better.  A common punishment dispensed by Prefects towards the end of the School year, was to collect X many 'bobs' for burning in the evening fires in dormitories. (See also 'chiligoja').

bone/boning/boned - [v]  the procedure employed for the removal of surface dimples when 'bulling' [q.v.] a brand new pair of boots. The leather of the toe-cap and heel is first softened by setting fire to a generous application of boot polish and methylated spirit. The molten polish is then allowed to spread around the surface of the toe-cap or heel, and while still hot is rubbed hard with a bony substance, (usually the bone handle of a tooth-brush, sometimes a shoe-horn). The procedure is carried out two or three times until all the dimples are flattened and smoothed out, ready to receive the final gloss.

boss - [n]  the Principal.

bosom - [n]  not quite as in "Abraham's bosom" but the space between cloth and flesh, inside the front of one's shirt.   School regulation shorts and trousers were by design without pockets, so whatever one could get away with, whether animal, mineral or vegetable would be carried or stored in one's 'bosom'.

bootroom - [n]  the place where one exchanged worn out boots, shoes, socks and other bits of 'kit', (q.v.) It was also the place where the Chief Instructor dished out 'lobs', [q.v.]. The original bootroom used to be in what is now the gymnasium, (Gaskell Hall), on the verandah at the top of the broad steps to the lower dormitories, (Block 12). It was moved down to the south end of the juniors' dorms, (near the bath-house and washrooms) around about 1943.

bra' - [n]  no, nothing at all to do with ladies' nether garments but one’s brother. Origin uncertain but presumed to be derived from bro’ or brer as in “Bro or Brer Fox”, (Uncle Remus Folktales). When referred to by others, brothers were distinguished by the prefixes "big", "small", "middle" or "little", e.g., "Big Cook", "Small Cook", "Middle Jones", etc. See also 'sas', (one's sister).

brain - [n]  as the word implies, a "brain" was someone who was studious, industrious and who consistently came top, or near the top of the class. With a very few notable exceptions, "brains" were not very good at sports, PT, marching about, shooting, drill, and all that sort of stuff.

bull/bulling/bulled - [v]  the application of "spit and polish" - just the same as in Army slang. The toecaps and heels of one's 'best' boots were 'boned'  [q.v.]   and 'bulled' to a mirror-like gloss. So was one's leather belt. All brass buttons, badges, collar-dogs and buckles were burnished until they glistened and gleamed like miniature suns. Inspecting SNCO's expected to see their faces looking back at them. And heaven help you if they didn't!

butch - [n]  a particular form of game with marbles, 'taws' [q.v.] but played against the wall.

buthi - [n]  borrowed directly from the Hindi batti  meaning light, lamp or candle but referring specifically to the lighted kerosene lamps placed at both ends of the dormitory aisles each night after "lights out", when the generators were switched off. They were used to light one's way to the outside 'tatties' [q.v.].

butt/buttnet/butt-collector - [n]  butterfly/butterfly net/butterfly collector. Butterfly collecting was a popular summer-time hobby and sport for many a Sanawar boy, and there were quite a few who became 'chokes' [q.v.]  at it. This "free-time" pursuit was generally encouraged by the Staff, who considered it a commendable and healthy interest in natural history. Click here for a water colour sketch of a "butt-collector" from the 1940's by James Walker (Hodson 1940-47), himself a veritable "choke", in his time.

butts, the - [n]  no, nothing at all to do with the above. It was the target end of the 200 yard, full-bore 'Long Range' near Garden City. Use of the Long Range was discontinued in about 1938 but the trench, mound and partly demolished safety wall of the butts remained well into the 1940's. The entire range, up to and including the 100 yard firing point has since been levelled, graded and made into another playing field.

camp - [n]  the annual Summer Camp. Usually held for seven days around about Easter and nearly always at Dagroo valley, by the bridge, ['Choir Bridge'] on the Dharampur-Sabathu road.

cash -[n]  money, dough, dosh, paisa  etc., (as in general parlance) - but in those times, the word cash had two meanings. 'Hard Cash", (i.e., real, or proper money) and 'Soft Cash', or 'School' money.

Hard Cash was officially not permitted during the school year in a vain attempt to prevent children from buying food, sweets and drinks from the local village bazaars and unauthorized vendors. Anyone arriving for the School year with 'hard cash' was required to hand all of it in to the Housemaster/mistress. A receipt was always given, and the sum credited to the individual's pocket money account.

Soft Cash consisted of coupons or vouchers, negotiable only among authorised contractors on the hilltop. It came in rolls in the form of old-fashioned, perforated bus tickets and was issued to those with pocket money allowances in lieu of hard cash. There were half-anna, "halfsie", one anna, "onesie", two anna, dowsie, four anna, charsie, eight anna, artsie and twelve anna denominations, and a Rs.1/- coupon, all in different colours. (By the way, Rs.13/8/- = £1 in those days)!

catty - [n]  a catapult, painstakingly fashioned from a carefully selected forked branch growing on the 'khud-side', rubbers cut from the inner tube of an abandoned truck tyre, and a suitable piece of leather, (generally the tongue removed from one's shoe). Again, some chaps were natural 'chokes' at making 'catties' and, for a small consideration, would produce them for others.

chap(s) - [n]  boys of all ages in general, but more specifically one's fellow Sanawarians. There were 'Big Chaps', (seniors), 'Small Chaps', (juniors) and 'Little or Titchy Chaps' (PD/infants).

charlie bootlace[n]  maker and vendor of various sweetmeats, [badam barfi, doodh pera, ladoo, mitai etc.]   He also sold channa, chevda, puri and roti of various sorts. Charlie Bootlace came to us from Ghora Gali  in early 1943 and was formally granted permission to sell sweets on Sundays. “…To the girls between 11-30 a. m. and 12-30 p. m. on Peacestead, and to the boys in the afternoon on No. 11 Pavement” . (Quote from School Part I Orders dated 9 March 1943).  He later opened his first ‘shop’ at the top, (east) end of the Bakery, a second in the upper level of the rebuilt Tuck Shop on the Chapel slope, and a third in the little hut just below the road leading up onto Peacestead from the 'tank'. After independence, he became known simply as Charlie and continued selling his wares to Sanawarians until about 1956.

charsie - [n] a four anna coupon in School 'cash' [q.v.]. Adapted from the Hindi "char" meaning 4 [number].

chew - [n]  big eats; a great feast. Not surprisingly, uncommon in Sanawar! Occasionally some chaps got together and saved up their pocket money for communal midnight ‘chews’, usually close to ‘homeday’, (q.v.).  Chaps with parents living close by sometimes provided weekend ‘chews’ for their special chums, or perhaps even, 'grub-chums' ?? [q.v.].

chiligoja - [n]  the common, edible pine nut, the winged seed of the edible pine tree, Pinus gerardiana. If you knew how, these could be harvested during 'bob-gathering' forays. They could be found between the scales of the fallen female cones, ('bobs') or scattered about, under the trees on the khud-side - but you had to know what you were looking for. Some chaps became 'chokes' (q.v.) at it.

chip - [n]- a Rupee, (16 annas) in hard or soft 'cash', [q.v.].

chirricks - [n]  diarrhoea, the 'runs‘ or 'squits'. Generally caused by a surfeit of 'inky-berries', 'jammy-jallopers’ [q.v.], and/or other dubious fruits of the forest but occasionally too by one or other of the kitchen matron's culinary concoctions.

choke[n]  someone who is exceptionally good at something/anything; an "expert of experts".

chuck/chucks - [n]  sweet/sweets but not the local 'mitai' for which, see 'Charlie Bootlace'. They were the boiled sweets and candies of the West such as 'Acid Drops', 'Humbugs', 'Bull's Eyes' etc. They generally came in food parcels from home, (if you were lucky) or could be bought in the Tuck Shop. See also 'Salt-Sayo' and 'Sweet-Sayo'

chuff/chuffed - [n], [adv]  delight/delighted; pleasure/pleased, much the same as in general parlance.

chuff-chart - a sort of makeshift calendar produced by some chaps towards the end of the School year. They were used to mark off the number of days left to 'homeday' - [q.v.] 

chum - [n]  same as in general parlance but with special reference to fellow Sanawarians with whom one had struck up a special, friendly accord.

CI, the - [n]  The Chief Instructor. The most senior member of the military staff, and the only one of them who was authorised to award and administer 'lobs', [q.v.]. Appointed by Army GHQ in New Delhi and selected from the ranks of serving Warrant Officers, he was seconded to the post of Chief Instructor and granted the local rank of WO I (RSM). The CI was directly responsible to the Principal for all matters pertaining to good order, military discipline and conduct in the 'BD'.

civvies - see 'home kit'

coggage - [n]  from the Hindi 'kagaj' meaning paper but specifically school issue toilet paper. [See 'tatti-coggage'].

conk/conks/conkers - [n]  much the same as the English schoolboy's "conker" and used in the same manner, but in Sanawar, it was specifically the ripened fruit, (nut) of of the Himalayan Horse Chestnut, (Aesculus indica), found growing at various locations on and about the hilltop. Collected in October, they were seasoned, hardened and stored over winter for use in the following 'conker' season. Again, chaps had their own, closely guarded methods for seasoning and toughening the conk, including rubbing it daily with butter, ghee and other strange substances.

crut/crutty - [n/adj.]  dirt or dirty, as in unwashed, (usually behind the ears).

crust - [n]  the crown of one's head where one might receive a 'knock' [q.v.]. ("Pass your crust, you crutty little scob")!   See also 'dome' and 'nut')

culcher - [n]  probably borrowed from the Hindi kulcha,  a form of leavened flatbread baked in the Punjab. In Sanawar, it was a sort of bun or biscuit; product of the School kitchens and often served in lieu of hardtack. It was fashioned from iron-hard, brownish coloured pastry, sometimes sparsely embedded with raisins. Evidently the raisins were edible, if you knew how to remove them. Again, some chaps became 'chokes' at this. Culchers were remarkably long-lived and evidently non bio-degradable. Tales abound of ancient specimens being found down the 'khud-side' below Big Plain while ‘fagging’ [q.v.]  for cricket balls; and in other places as far afield as Dagroo.

cushy - {adj.}  same meaning as in old Army slang, and since accepted in many other walks of life. Adapted from the Hindi khusi  meaning joy, delight, pleasure, happiness etc., it was used to express any chore or task that was easy to perform, comfortable, (pleasurable even), and not too onerous. There was not much of that sort of thing in Sanawar, so the word was not very often heard. (Also spelled khushy).

dame(s) - [n]  girl/girls of all ages in general but more specifically the ones who lived well out of bounds, (and out of reach!) beyond the Chapel on the far, (north) side of the hill. Origin uncertain but no doubt borrowed from American slang.

decent - [adj.]  the word had two meanings:

[1] A 'decent' chap - someone who is fair-minded, considerate, friendly, helpful etc., (i.e. a nice guy, quite the same as in conventional usage).

[2] When used in the context of numbers, quantities, amounts of anything at all - it became a synonym for 'considerable', 'substantial', 'reasonable', 'sizable', etc. e.g., "...a decent gang of chaps/dames at the Tuck Shop" = a fair-sized crowd of boys/girls at the Tuck Shop, "...a decent chew" = a pretty good feast, "...a decent dole" = a fair or goodly amount, (of something), and so on.

dent - [n]  a hit, 'knock' (q.v.) or strike, ranging from a hard punch with closed fist, (very serious), to a light cuff or blow about the 'lug', head or 'dome'. (Also used as a verb - to dent/denting/dented).

dew-drops[n]  the small, tell-tale and embarrassing patches of damp occasionally appearing on the front of one’s shorts, indicating a recent, hasty and rather careless visit to the ‘tatties’ [q.v.]

dhup - [n]  as in ‘dent’ above but borrowed from the Hindi and preferred by many. Also used as a verb - to strike (dhup/dhupping/dhupped).

dock - [n]  hospital.

doggie - a hardtack biscuit, usually served with a mug of tea at 'chota hazri. (See also culcher.).

dole - [n]  an amount, quantity; a portion, helping, or a dealing out of something. E.g., "a decent dole" = a fair amount; "a heck of a dole" = an awful lot).

dome - [n]  one's head. (See also 'crust' and 'nut').

dowsie - [n] a two anna coupon in School 'cash' [q.v.]. Adapted from the Hindi do, meaning 2 [number].

egg-collector - [n]  also 'bird-nester'. Not strictly slang expressions but included for their historical and social interest. Of course, the practice is widely deprecated today, and in some countries it is illegal. However, in those far off days it was many a Sanawar boy's spring-time hobby, with its roots deeply buried among the collecting traditions of the Victorian naturalists. The Staff considered it a commendable and virtuous interest in Natural History, (or Nature Study - as we knew it then), and openly encouraged the activity. Again, many chaps became 'chokes' at it. See also 'butt-collector' [q.v.].

fag/fagging[n]  the traditional practice in English private, and public boarding schools of the time was never prevalent in Sanawar. The practice was strictly forbidden and punishable by immediate expulsion. In Sanawar, ‘fagging’ was a wearisome, boring but necessary chore. It was generally carried out by minor offenders and miscreants as a form of punishment. However, if there were not enough wrongdoers, one could find one's self detailed off to perform the task as a necessary, community service, duty or fatigue. During the cricket season for example, one might be detailed off to ‘fag’ for cricket balls. ‘Fags’ were stationed around the outside perimeter of Big Plain, (Barne’s Field) during the major matches, and would retrieve any balls struck over the boundary fences. Sixes onto Small Plain or over the Pavilion end were quite easy to ‘fag’. However, the ‘khud’, [q.v.] on the west side of the field was quite steep and balls struck squarely over the wire here might easily end up on the main road far below. Thankfully, it seldom happened! ‘Fags’ were also employed for Tennis matches and major tournaments. Needless to say, there was never a shortage of 'fags' when the girls were playing. Details for 'fagging' duties regularly appeared in School Part I Orders until about 1937, when the term seems to have been deprecated. The practice continued quite overtly, however. Compulsory 'bob' collecting, [q.v.] as a punishment dispensed by Prefects, was also a form of ‘fagging’.

feet 'n knees - [n] a brief and perfunctory form of bathing for small chaps, usually carried out under strict supervision during dry spells when water was scarce. One sat 'nanga panga' around the rim of a communal bathtub with half a dozen others, feet dangling in a few inches of lukewarm water until deemed to be clean.

flick[v]  to steal, purloin, 'swipe' or misappropriate. Serious offences, e.g., stealing of cash or valuables were punishable by expulsion.

fizzog - [n]  same as in general, (English slang) parlance, meaning one's face. Said to be an 18th century derivation of the term 'physiognomy'. (Also spelled 'physog').

flicks - [n]   aka the Pictures or the movies - (same as in conventional usage). As a rare treat, the whole school would take over the bioscope in Kasauli for a matinée performance of some carefully chosen and approved epic or other. It happened maybe three times a year.

gaff - [n] fun, enjoyment, merry-making, lots of laughs, [lol], e.g., a "dole of gaff" = a lot of fun.

gang - [n]  any two or more 'chaps' together, or 'dames' together. ("Hey, you gang!").

GD - [n]  the Girls Department. See also dames.

gid(s) - [n]  borrowed from the Hindi giddh,  meaning vulture(s). Large numbers of 'gids' assembled in the trees about the school butchery whenever there was a slaughter. They were fed the offal. The gids were mostly Himalayan Griffons with a few Black (King) Vultures here and there. Once in a while, a Bearded Vulture would turn up, causing much excitement.

gogs - [n]  spectacles, glasses - as in 'goggles'

goolie-dunda - [n]  borrowed directly from the Hindi goli meaning ball and damda meaning stick. A game played on a reasonably flat open space or 'maidan'. (Also known elsewhere as 'Tip-cat', 'cat and dog', 'one-a-cat' or 'piggy'). The 'goolie' is a small stick, about 4 inches long, sharpened to a point at both ends. The 'dunda' is a stout stick or rod about 2½' long. While resting flat on the ground, one of the sharpened ends of the goolie is struck with the 'dunda', causing it to rise, twisting into the air, at which point it is again struck forcibly with the dunda. The object being to hit it as far as possible. Sounds easy but it is harder than it would seem. The rules were variable according to the standard being played. There were quite a few 'chokes' at it, in the season.

grub - [n]  food, same as in common parlance but specifically the simple fare and rather frugal diet that played such an important part in the life of the School. Some meals were good, some bad - but whatever, there was never enough of it!

grub-chum - [adj./n]  one who made friends with another for whatever he could get from him. 'Grub-chums' would appear from nowhere, like 'gids' [q.v.] at the butchery whenever a food parcel was received from home.

gunja - [n]  borrowed from the Hindi ganja meaning bald, and used to describe a shaven head or a very short haircut. 'Gunjas' were the speciality of 'Wickie', the School barber. [q.v.]. A 'gunja' is also what one was immediately given on the faintest suspicion of ringworm or head-lice!

guns, the - [n]  aka 'the canons'. The two captured Turkish 13-pounder field guns on Birdwood quadrangle, sited in front of Gaskell (Barne) Hall, on either side of Birdwood staircase, and overlooking the Cenotaph directly below. They were presented to the School by the Indian Government in 1928 in appreciation of Sanawar's contributions to the Great War of 1914-1918, and to commemorate those Sanawarians who lost their lives in the conflict. For some time, they were the favourite meeting places for senior boys and their girlfriends during morning 'milk' breaks.

gup - [n]  backchat, to answer back impudently, (not to say imprudently)! Giving 'gup' to a senior chap generally invited an immediate and painful response in the form of a 'knock', 'dent' or ‘dhup’, (q.v.)!

gut/guts - [n]  one's stomach - as in the common parlance.

halfsie - [n]  a half-anna (2 paise) coupon in School 'soft cash' [q.v.].

hard cash – [n]  proper, or real  money. (See cash’)

homeday [n]  it speaks for itself. The magical, exciting, rowdy and joyful final day of the school year. It usually came around about the second week in December. See also 'schoolday'.

home kit - [n]  normal (civilian) clothes; 'civvies' or 'mufti'.  The clothes one turned up in on 'Schoolday' and which were then taken off and stored away in boxes or suitcases until permitted to withdraw them day or so before Homeday, some nine to ten months later. It goes without saying that for some they no longer fitted and 'hummed' {q.v]  to high heaven of camphor mothballs, or at best, mildew. "Bum-freezer" jackets and coats with sleeves half-way up to the elbows, and trouser cuffs flapping about above the ankles were common sights on the bridleway down to Dharampur on Homedays.

hook (hoof) it - [v]  to "move it"; take off quickly or urgently without delay; to 'shift one's backside'.

hum/humming - [v or n & adj.]  to smell, smelling. It has to be said, some chaps 'hummed' almost to high heaven, usually at the height of summer when water was scarce. (See 'feet 'n knees').

inky-berry - [n]  the ripe fruit of the Indian or Asian Barberry (Berberis asiatica), too many of which can result in stained fingers, mouth and tongue, and very, very loose indigo blue or purple coloured stools for several days to come. (See 'chirricks').

jacks - pubic hair. Origin unknown but evidently goes back to the early 1900's.

jammy-jalopper - [n]  the common Medlar, (Mespilus germanica). A small tree often found in open scrub and wooded glades on the khudsides and in the valleys below. The fruit is edible only after much bletting. Used extensively by 'butt collectors' to make 'sap' (q.v.) and by others to supplement the school diet. (See also 'chirricks').

jeebie-jeebs - [n]  meaning to tuck in, muck in, help oneself or ‘free for all’. Said to be derived from G-B-G, "Grab Boys Grab" and dating back to the early 1900’s.

jongs - [n]  swimming trunks. Not included in one's issue of 'kit' [q,v]. One had to supply one's own, borrow from another, or simply do without! On Summer Camps, many a chap went into the pools "nanga-panga".

KV (kayvee) - [v]  an exclamatory verb meaning 'watch out', derived from the Latin 'cave', to beware! "Kayvee chaps, here comes Boss"!

khud/khud-side[n]  borrowed from the Hindi khadd, meaning gully or ravine. In school parlance, it applied generally to the banks, slopes, heights and inclines of the hilly terrain all around.

kit - [n]  any item of Government, (WD) property issued to one, including all items of apparel, accoutrement, footwear, mess tins/mugs, eating irons etc. One was expected only to provide one's own tooth-paste, soap, boot-polish, Brasso and 'jongs' [q.v.].  Kit was inspected randomly and without any notice at all by the "CI" [q.v.] to ensure that nothing had been sold or bartered for food, mitai, sigret, biris or whatever. See also 'home kit'

kit box - [n] the 3x2x1½ft wooden box at the bottom of one's bed where all of the above was supposed to be stored.

knock - (n)  a form of prefectural punishment meted out between boys, usually for trivial offences or misdemeanours. The clenched fist, with the knuckle of the middle finger extended is brought down with varying force, (according to the severity of the misdeed) on the crown of one's head, 'dome', 'nut'  or 'crust', (q.v.). Notice was generally given, "Pass your crust, I'm going to give you a knock". One could respectfully decline and appeal to go before the CI, or even higher authority for proper justice but it was never really worth it!

kunni - [n] mistake, error. (Origin unknown)

lob/lobs - [n]  Corporal punishment, as administered to boys in those days. One to six full-blooded strokes to the backside with a well-oiled and highly polished Malacca cane. Dispensable only by fully qualified members of the teaching Staff and the Chief Instructor.  Very occasionally administered in public by 'Boss' himself, (extremely serious) - at other times privately, under the stairs in Birdwood Science block where Sammy Cowell kept his collection of fine Malacca canes, or else in the 'bootroom' down below in BD.  Sammy Cowell was a real 'choke' (q.v) at dishing out lobs. Nowadays, people would be sent to prison for doing this!

lug/lugs - [n]  one's ear, or ears.

manhole(s) - [n]  the safety niches or recesses built into all the tunnels on the Kalka-Simla Railway. They occurred every 50 yards or so on both sides, staggered, so one only had about 25 yards to run in order to find one. Tunnels made excellent short-cuts and were extensively used by 'roamers', [q.v.].  Given that no-one had a clue about train timings, it's a wonder there were never any fatalities! Needless to say, hair-raising "manhole" stories abounded around the winter evening 'pine-bob' [q.v.]  fires.

modest - [adj.] exactly the opposite of the accepted meaning! Modest chaps were brazen swanks, braggers, boasters and know-alls. Usually extrovert, they knew always how to guide any conversation back to themselves. They generally came in all guises.

nippie or nappie - [n]  the generic term for school barber. There were two, sometimes three  of whom 'Wickie' (q.v.) was the most well-known.

nut - [n]   one's head. (See also 'dome', 'crust'.

onesie - [n]  a one anna coupon in School 'cash'.

orders - [n]  following standard military practices and protocols, Orders were published and promulgated periodically as required, (usually every four or five days). They were the written instructions, issued and signed by 'Boss' himself, which governed almost every day, hour and minute of one's school life. They came in two Parts - Part 1 Orders were 'disciplinary' and prescribed such things as daily routines, duties, timings, punishments, movements, itineraries for visiting officers etc. Part II Orders were 'administrative' and dealt with matters pertaining to increases and decreases in departmental strengths, staff appointments, promotions, demotions, fag duties (prior to 1938), leave, fines, notice of shop opening times, commodity price lists, entertainments etc. Orders were posted on Notice Boards in the Birdwood corridors (3), the verandahs of all dormitory blocks and at both ends of the dining rooms. Everyone was expected to read Orders. There were no excuses. School Orders continue to be issued in a similar form to this day.

puckdundi - [n]  borrowed from the Hindi pagdandi  meaning literally, different or difficult path; and referring specifically to the winding, mountain footpaths and trails found everywhere on the slopes of the Siwalik. Often abbreviated simply to 'puck'

paisy - [adj.]  used to describe someone who is frugal, canny, parsimonious and reluctant to spend money. Borrowed and adapted from the Hindi 'paisa'  of which there were four to the 'anna'  - in those far off days.

PD - [n]  the Preparatory Department; Kindergarten. The Infant's School, for children 8 years of age and under. Sometimes refered to as the 'Lower School'.

pipe/piping - [v/n & adj.]  to whinge, whine, bleat or cry; to complain self-pityingly.

polly’s dirt[n] the delicious chevda or chuda , resembling parrot’s droppings[!] that was made and sold by Sri ‘Charlie Bootlace’, [q.v.]  Known today in the west as “Bombay or Punjabi Mix”, it now comes with peanuts, chickpeas, raisins and such-like added.

press/pressing/pressed - [v]  the standard procedure for obtaining a fine crease in one's shorts and/or trousers without the aid of a hot steam iron. The item in question is liberally sprinkled with water, carefully folded along the desired creases and placed overnight between one's bottom blanket and mattress. If one could then manage to spend a sleepless night without moving around too much, the result might be a finely pressed pair of shorts or trousers for the next day's wear. The smarter chaps among us were chokes at this and frequently appeared "all pressed up". Needless to say however, most preferred to wait until Saturday mornings, when they could be exchanged for a clean, highly starched and ready-pressed pair from the School dhobi.

pump/pumper - no, nothing to do with the School water supply which was entirely gravity fed from reservoirs at the top of the hill but relating to the hand pumped organ in the Chapel loft. From time to time, one was detailed to perform "pump duty". The detail usually lasted a week, and simply involved pumping furiously at the hand bellows whenever Miss Jones, the organist nodded vigorously in one's general direction. Happily, one was not required to pay any attention at all to whatever else might be taking place on the floor of the Chapel down below. A 'khushi'  number, you might say. Not surprisingly, a lot of chaps were known to volunteer for this particular 'fag' or duty.  

puri-tac[n]  a favourite staple food from 'Charlie Bootlace'. It consisted of a spicy but relatively mild potato curry stuffed in a delicious puri. Served hot and eaten at once, it helped fill many an empty stomach. With a little lena-dena, one could get three for a 'charsie' [q.v.].

rag/ragging - [v]  to tease or "take the Mickey".

raid/raiding - [v/n & adj.] same as the English 'scrump/scrumping'. The stealing of bhuttas, pears, figs etc., from nearby Pahari farmer's terraced khet and fields. There were always 'look-outs' however, and if you were spotted, the cry "Aieee, bhutta lena!" would go ringing around the hill-tops. One had to 'hook it'  back up the hill to avoid getting caught. The experienced Paharis would go for your hat because they knew your name was written inside the headband. It was very shameful, not to say subsequently painful(!) to lose one’s hat.

ringtack - an ancient form of marbles, 'taws'  using a small depression in the ground with a circle drawn around it. The complicated rules are buried somewhere in the annals of Sanawarian folklore. If there is anyone still alive who remembers them, please get in touch.

roam/roaming - [v/n & adj.]  to ramble, rove, wander, trail and explore the surrounding hills and valleys. One generally stuck to the well-trodden pagdandi’,  bridle paths, cart roads, railway lines and highways but some would venture off the beaten track. The practice was encouraged during the main term breaks, because it helped to keep one fit. There were rules, however. Small chaps were restricted to places nearby like 'Eagle's Nest', 'Foxy's' and 'Monkey Point'. Bigger chaps could wander further afield but only in parties of three or more and one had to say where one was going. At certain times, well-known GD destinations, e.g., Lahli’s”, “Lover’s” and “Crater’s” might be pronounced out of bounds to all boys. Haversack rations, (usually sardine sandwiches and a 'culcher' [q.v.]  ) were generally issued after breakfast or chota hazri, if one gave sufficient notice. A good day's roam could take one to Subathu, Solan, Kalka or Ghurkha Fort but one had to really hoof it to get back in time for supper!

RMO - [n]  the Resident Medical Officer. A staff appointment by GHQ New Delhi, he was usually a medical officer in the Indian Army Medical Corps, (I.A.M.C).

Rose Cottage - [n]  the delicate and refined sobriquet for the girl's outside lavatories, in particular those built in 1936 next to Block 10, the original Girl's Building or 'Church Barrack', and latterly the junior girls' dorm. (See 'tatties' for the somewhat coarser BD equivalent).

salt/sweet sayo - [n]  a variety of 'chuck', (western sweet or candy) available in the tuck shop, and popular with some.

sap [n] -  the word has two meanings:

[1] - [n]  a concoction of fruits and sugars, well fermented and matured to provide an alcohol content of about 5% by volume. This mixture was smeared onto the bark of certain trees to attract sap-eating butterflies such as the Oakleaf (Kallima inachus) and other nymphalids. The ‘butts’ were said to become drunk and were easier to catch. Butt collectors had their own closely-guarded, secret recipes, often with rare, outlandish ingredients. Some also observed curious and somewhat cabalistic rituals in the making of their ‘saps”, which was said to improve the efficacy of their brews.

[2] - [n, adj.]  a "softie" or "sissie" - a denigrating label no boy wanted. A sap 'piped' when given 'knocks', 'lobs' or was 'ragged'.   

sas - [n]  one's sister. It goes without saying that chaps with pretty sisters in GD were widely courted as 'chums'.

school colours - [n]  not to be confused with the School Colour, the official School, (Regimental) standard that is paraded every Founder's Day and sometimes on Sunday church parades. The school colours are red and white, taken from the cross of St George emblazoned on the Lawrence shield, and the flag that flew permanently from the Chapel flagstaff. The 'school colours' referred to here are humble sweetmeats or 'chucks', sold by 'Charlie Bootlace' and also available in the Tuck Shop. Made from sugared coconut candy, they came in bold red and white coloured blocks or slices. Sickly-sweet but favoured by some.

scrap - [n]  same as in everyday parlance, a bare-fisted fight between boys.

schoolday - [n]  the first day of the School year and start of a new term; the very opposite of 'homeday' [q.v.]. Schoolday generally fell on the first Monday of February.

scoff [n]  to eat eagerly, quickly and with relish. Same as in common parlance.

scob/scoblobber - [n] [n] a term of derision, sometimes applied to 'small chaps', (e.g., "You little scob"!) but more often to scroungers, sneaks, tittle-tattlers etc. See also 'snitch', below.

shugs !– [v]  a demand for retribution and/or re-imbursement between chaps for the loss of, or damage to an item of one's personal possessions. The word had to be stated loudly immediately after the incident and preferably in the presence of witnesses. Most chaps paid up without quibble, usually in kind.

sister-boys -  [n] officially these were supervised meetings between boys and their sisters after Sunday matins. One and a half hours, usually on Peacestead.  Latterly, the rules were relaxed and bent a little to allow boys to meet with other boys' sisters! (See 'squaring/squarers').

snick - [n]  specifically a school cricketing term and not used in general parlance.  It referred to a distinct edge of the bat that is caught behind the wicket but not given.  Snicks are distinctly heard by everybody, including folks living across the valley in Kasauli but not evidently, by the Umpires.

snitch - the word has two meanings:

skotch - [adj.]  a few; a little of something; a small amount or a tiny bit. Strictly non-racial and absolutely nothing to do with the Scots, their reputation for prudence and frugality, or their fine Whisky! (See also 'dole').

skunk/skunk off - [v, n]  to sneak away from some collective chore, job, fag or duty; to steal off surreptitiously. Most Sanawarians were very good at this. Also used as a noun - chaps who consistently 'skunked-off' were labelled 'skunks'.

snotty-bobs[n]  this rather disgusting term referred to the sticky, purple-black, ripened berries of the Black Nightshade, (Solanum nigrum). Said to be mildly toxic by some, it was considered edible in our part of the Siwalik and widely used as a diuretic by the local hill people. It commonly occurred in open waste-ground and the fruit was consumed by many a chap with predictable consequences! (See again 'chirricks').

soft cash - [n]  see cash.

splung - [n]  a term for a greedy person; one who stuffed himself with food, or anyone having an immoderate appetite. Given the frugal School diet of those times, this term was not often heard.

spadge - [n]  the 'Sanawarese' for Sparrow. Yes, the common House Sparrow (Passer domesticus),  that ubiquitous commensal of man, and its wilder, less gregarious relative the Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)  were popular pets for many chaps. Stolen from their nests as fledglings, they were nurtured and molly-coddled into maturity by the most unlikely of foster parents. Who knows how much longer they lasted after being released back into the wild? It is not surprising that the term was also used as a sort of familiar diminutive for anybody with the surname Sparrow.

square/squaring/squarers[v/n]  publicly acknowledged boy/girl, or sweetheart relationships. Generally of short duration, although quite a few 'squarers' are known to have carried the association into adult marriage. Squarers met publicly at morning 'milk breaks', discreetly at 'Sister/Boys', (q.v.), and clandestinely at other times and places.

square, the - [n]  the BD Pavement. The granite paved quadrangle in front of Block 11 was also known as "the square". The square is where one "fell in", or assembled for parades, PT, meals, musters, roll-calls, fire practices - in fact, anything!  Whenever 'Assembly' was sounded, the square is where one would immediately head for - always at the double.

stewks![v]  an expression of derision, spoken loudly and usually accompanied by a forefinger behind the ear and a flick in the direction of the chap to whom it was directed. It could mean anything between "told you so!", "so there!", "bollox!" and "up yours, chum!" A sort of precursor to the present day, (Anglo-Saxon), two-finger gesture.

sunshine hol, a - [n]  an ad hoc  holiday or half-holiday occasionally given at the first clear break in the annual monsoons. The sole gift of the Principal, they were generally announced after chapel, at morning class assembly. The resulting cheer from Birdwood might be heard as far afield as Subathu.

swack - [v]  to eat satisfyingly and with relish. Sadly, an activity rarely witnessed or experienced in Sanawar!

tank - [n]  the swimming pool.

tatties, the - [n]  derived from the Hindi 'tatti' meaning call of nature. Borrowed and adapted to describe the outside toilets, latrines, privies, 'bogs' or, (in Oz parlance), the 'dunnies'. In particular, the long row of tin-roofed closets with urinals at each end, located just below the quadrangle of the lower, junior’s dorms, (Block 12 - present day Himalaya). In compliance with the primitive hygiene standards of those days, every surface, (except maybe the wooden bit you sat upon), was liberally coated with creosote.  The smell was over-powering. At dead of night, it was a long walk to the tatties with a dimly glowing 'buthi'  in one hand, and three sheets of "tatti-coggage" [see below] in the other. If the jackals suddenly sounded off nearby, you could easily fill your pants before you got there! Today, there are convenience 'loos' in all the dormitory blocks. They are all flushable and there is no longer a strong smell of creosote, (or anything else)! wafting up the 'khud-side' - or at least, so one is told. The GD equivalent of the boy's 'tatties'  was the rather more elegantly named 'Rose Cottage', [q.v.].

tatti-coggage - [n]  from the Hindi 'kagaj', meaning paper but in combination with 'tatti, (see above), it refers to toilet paper - specifically the 'bog'  standard, School issue Bronco brand. Hard, shiny, unforgiving stuff that came in ridiculously small sheets. The story goes that in the early days, one was issued with just three sheets per diem - "one for wipe, one for polish and one for shine". Ah Andrex! - whither wert thou then? .

taws - [n]  the game of marbles – in the 'taws' season, any reasonably smooth and flat bit of 'maidan'  on the 'BD' side of the hilltop would have its small groups of 'taws' players. Several forms of the game were played at School. (See 'ballyole', 'butch' and 'ringtack'). Again, some chaps were 'chokes' at it.

thug - [v]  to cheat, deceive or defraud. Probably from the Hindi thagi  (trickery, skull-duggery). What can one say? This sort of thing only happened in library books or at the 'flicks'! [q.v.] 

titch/titchy - [n, adj.]  a small person; a youngster; small of stature - same as in general slang.

vatican[v]  a mysterious and rarely used suite of rooms with its own washing and toilet facilities situated on the north-east corner of the Gymnasium block, (now Gaskell Hall). Boys who had been publicly expelled from School were accommodated here in total seclusion until they were removed from the premises by their parents or guardians.

wickie - [n]  a School barber, ('nippie' or nappie). Specifically the one with the sharp tongue, blunt clippers and impossibly tight-fitting patlun.  (However did he get them on)? Any 'gup' from you resulted in a violent and painful yank of the clippers which left you half-scalped, or at best, with a 'gunja' you hadn't bargained for!

wink, the - [n] the momentary dimming of the lights that occurred every evening at 21:10 hours, warning that you had just five minutes to make your bed 'down', (if not already done), get undressed, brush your teeth, say your prayers, and get into bed before the lights went out.


THE END

Compiled and edited by:

D.V. Boddington
(LRMS Sanawar 1942-1947)
August 2013

With grateful acknowledgements to:
  • Noel Hadley. "Hey you Gang", a short discourse on the use of "Sanawarese", in the Sanawarian magazine of Summer 1944.
  • L. Vaughan, V. Hipkin and H. Hewetson. "A Decent Dole", a Concise Dictionary of Sanawar Slang in the Sanawarian magazine circa 1946.
  • John Dixon. "A Personal Memoir in the Form of a Lexicon" in the Old Sanawarian magazine of June 2001.
... and contributions gratefully received from:

  • Stella Beatty née Owen (Hodson 1947), [whose idea it was]
  • Jim Walker (Hodson 1947)
  • Bill Hyde (Lawrence 1945)
  • George Browne (Havelock 1937)
  • Dave Williams (Hodson 1947)
  • Tony Cook (Hodson 1946)
  • Jack Harper (Nicholson 1945)
  • Gladys Spencer née Lowe (Nicholson 1945)
  • Joy Bellamy (Herbert- Edwards 1947