verbal subs. (common).—The act of studying hard for an examination. [From CRAM (q.v., sense 2) + ING.] American, BONING.
1841. Punch, vol. I., p. 201, col. 1. Aspirants to honours in law, physic, or divinity, each know the value of private CRAMMING.
1863. C. READE, Hard Cash, I., p. 16. ‘All this term I have been (‘training’ scratched out, and another word put in: C-R—oh, I know) CRAMMING.’ ‘CRAMMING, love?’ ‘Yes, that is Oxfordish for studying.’
1869. SPENCER, The Study of Sociology, ch. xv., p. 574 (9 ed.). And here, by higher culture, I do not mean mere language-learning, and an extension of the detestable CRAMMING system at present in use.
1872. Daily News, Dec. 20. Competitive examinations for the public service defeated in a great measure, the object of their promoters, which was to place rich and poor on an equality, because success was made to depend very largely on successful CRAMMING, which meant a high-priced crammer.
