The following list includes some commonly used slang terms, and some historic slang, used at public schools in the UK:
| Term | Meaning | Specificity |
|---|---|---|
| ABROAD | Out of the sick room | Winchester |
| BAD EGG | A nasty and unpleasant person | - |
| BEAK | Teacher (“Master”) | Harrow |
| BEARDS! | An exclamation of surprise | The Leys |
| BEDDER | A bedmaker and cleaner | Also used in Cambridge University |
| BIBBLING | Six strokes of the cane | Winchester |
| BILL | A House Roll-Call that each pupil must attend | Harrow |
| BLUER | Dark Blue uniform jacket | Harrow |
| BRUSHING | Flogging | Christ's Hospital |
| CARRELL | A booth for private study | St Paul 's School |
| CHEESE | A dandy | Cambridge |
| CHINNER | Wide grin | Winchester |
| CLIPE | To tell tales | - |
| COXY | Conceited | - |
| DOUBLE | Lines on special paper used for punishment | Harrow |
| ECCER | Any form of games | Harrow |
| EXECUTION | Flogging by the Head Master with a birchrod | Eton |
| FAG | A junior boy who acts as servant for a sixth-former | - |
| FLANNELS | School colours for sport. A boy awarded his Flannels for Cricket, Rugby , Football etc can wear a grey waist coat with his tails | Harrow |
| GOD | A prefect or sixth former | Eton |
| GOOD EGG | A trustworthy or reliable person (later inversion of BAD EGG ). | - |
| THE GUILD | Elite seniors at Harrow School who wear maroon ties and waist coats to show they have attained excellence in a chosen field | Harrow |
| LOCKING-UP | A deadline after which pupils may not leave their houses without signing-out. It is also the deadline by which any work or punishment must be completed by | Harrow |
| MAJOR | Such as Smith Major, the elder brother | - |
| MAXIMUS | Such as Smith Maximus, the eldest brother (of three or more) | - |
| MINIMUS | Such as Smith Minimus, the youngest brother (of three or more) | - |
| MINOR | Such as Smith Minor, the younger brother | - |
| MUZZ | To read | Westminster |
| NEWBIE | New boy; now a general term | - |
| PEPPER | To fill in the accents on a Greek exercise | - |
| PHILATHLETIC | Top athletes from the school are allowed to wear a black bow ties (known as the “Phil”) | Harrow |
| PLEB | A junior boy | - |
| QUEUE | Times of the day to see the House-Master to withdraw money, and other matters of business and concern | Harrow |
| QUILL | To flatter | Winchester |
| RAG | A misdemeanor | - |
| RAG WEEK | where sponsored “misdemeanors” are common | Also used at some universities |
| SAPPY | Severe flogging | - |
| SHELL | A boy in the youngest year | Harrow , St. Edward's, Winchester originally from Westminster |
| SKEW | Punishment from a ‘beak’ for poor or incomplete work | Harrow |
| TITCHING | Caning | Christ's Hospital |
| TOLLEY UP | Permission to work after lights out | Harrow |
| TOSH | A bath or a shower | Harrow |
| TRIALS | Internal School Examinations | - |
| YARDER | Outdoor recreation area | - |
