subs. (Winchester College).—The eight seniors in college by election who are not præfects. They enjoy most of the privileges of præfects without their powers.
1866. MANSFIELD, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 30. The Seven CANDLE-KEEPERS (why so-called, I have no idea, nor have I ever heard any interpretation of the appellation). These were the seven inferiors who had been longest in the school, quite independently of their position in it; they were generally old and tough. Of these, the senior had almost as much power as a præfect; he had a ‘valet’ in chambers, one or two ‘breakfast fags,’ and the power of fagging the twenty juniors when in school, or in meads. The junior CANDLE KEEPER was called ‘the Deputy,’ and had also some slight privileges besides that of having a valet and breakfast fag, which was common to all of them.
1878. H. C. ADAMS, Wykehamica, p. 278. Presided over by a ‘CANDLE-KEEPER.’
