TO SPORT A NESCIO. verb. phr. (old university).—See quot. 1823.
1692. J. HACKET, Life of Archbishop Williams, II., 94, 97 (1693). But as our Cambridge term is, he was staid with NESCIO’S.
1823. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue [EGAN], s.v. NESCIO. He SPORTS A NESCIO; he pretends not to understand anything. After the senate-house examination for degrees, the students proceed to the schools to be questioned by the proctor. According to custom immemorial the answers must be NESCIO. The following is a translated specimen: Q. What is your name? A. I do not know. Q. What is the name of this University? A. I do not know. Q. Who was your father? A. I do not know. The last is probably the only true answer of the three.
