little-go

Fane, one of our brightest ornaments; quite the _spes gregis_ we consider him; passed his little-go, and started a pink only last week; give him a glass of punch.

Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 59, No. 363, January, 1846 Various

James’s tongue unloosed with the port, and he told his cousin his life, his prospects, his debts, his troubles at the little-go, and his rows with the proctors, filling rapidly from the bottles before him, and flying from Port to Madeira with joyous activity.

XXXIV. James Crawley’s Pipe Is Put Out 1917

For John was passionately fond of the classics and did not propose to acquire any more mathematical knowledge than was strictly necessary for his matriculation and "little-go."

A Tale of a Lonely Parish 1881

I wish they would let one pay a servitor for passing little-go for one.

Tom Brown at Oxford Thomas Hughes 1859

Then he was in a particularly good humour with himself, for in deference to the advice of Hardy, he had actually fixed on the books which he should send in for his little-go examination before going down for the Easter vacation, and had read them through at home, devoting an hour or two almost daily to this laudable occupation.

Tom Brown at Oxford Thomas Hughes 1859

His father was compelled to withdraw him from the University, at which he had already had the honor of being plucked for "the little-go;" and the young gentleman, on being asked for what profession he was fit, had replied, with conscious pride, that he could "tool a coach!"

The Caxtons — Complete Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton 1838

I should have been plucked for my little-go again, I know I should -- that Latin I cannot screw into my head, and my mamma's anguish would have broke out next term.

The History of Pendennis William Makepeace Thackeray 1837

James's tongue unloosed with the port, and he told his cousin his life, his prospects, his debts, his troubles at the little-go, and his rows with the proctors, filling rapidly from the bottles before him, and flying from Port to Madeira with joyous activity.

Vanity Fair William Makepeace Thackeray 1837

Virgil and the Iliad of Homer -- two books chiefly studied for the little-go or responsions.

The English Spy An Original Work Characteristic, Satirical, And Humorous. Comprising Scenes And Sketches In Every Rank Of Society, Being Portraits Drawn From The Life Robert Cruikshank 1828

(who, in connexion with the Polysyllable, could mention being plucked for the little-go?) but it was more than she did expect that his rejection would send him home in sullen resentment resolved to punish

The Young Step-Mother Charlotte Mary Yonge 1862