adj. (Christ’s Hospital).—Severe: of a master. [That is ‘passionate’—BLANCH.] Now obsolete; the modern equivalent is VISH (q.v.).
1874. The Blue, ‘Reminiscences of Christ’s Hospital.’ Aug. Punishment depended less on correctness than on temper. Anxiously the question was asked, ‘Is he PASSY this morning?’ and of a new master our first queries were of his manners and temper [abridged].
