VIVA VOCE.  Latin; literally, with the living voice.  In the English universities, that part of an examination which is carried on orally.

The examination involves a little viva voce, and it was said, that, if a man did his viva voce well, none of his papers were looked at but the Paley.—­Bristed’s Five Years in an Eng.  Univ., Ed. 2d, p. 92.

In Combination Room, where once I sat at viva voce, wretched, ignorant, the wine goes round, and wit, and pleasant talk.—­Household Words, Am. ed., Vol.  XI. p. 521.

W.

WALLING.  At the University of Oxford, the punishment of walling, as it is popularly denominated, consists in confining a student to the walls of his college for a certain period.

WARDEN.  The master or president of a college.—­England.

WARNING.  In many colleges, when it is ascertained that a student is not living in accordance with the laws of the institution, he is usually informed of the fact by a warning, as it is called, from one of the faculty, which consists merely of friendly caution and advice, thus giving him an opportunity, by correcting his faults, to escape punishment.

  Sadly I feel I should have been saved by numerous warnings.
    Harvardiana, Vol.  III. p. 98.

  No more shall “warnings” in their hearing ring,
  Nor “admonitions” haunt their aching head.
    Yale Lit.  Mag., Vol.  XV. p. 210.

WEDGE.  At the University of Cambridge, Eng., the man whose name is the last on the list of honors in the voluntary classical examination, which follows the last examination required by statute, is called the wedge.  “The last man is called the wedge” says Bristed, “corresponding to the Spoon in Mathematics.  This name originated in that of the man who was last on the first Tripos list (in 1824), Wedgewood.  Some one suggested that the wooden wedge was a good counterpart to the wooden spoon, and the appellation stuck.”—­Five Years in an Eng.  Univ., Ed. 2d, p. 253.

WET.  To christen a new garment by treating one’s friends when one first appears in it; e.g.:—­A.  “Have you wet that new coat yet?” B.  “No.”  A.  “Well, then, I should recommend to you the propriety of so doing.”  B.  “What will you drink?” This word, although much used among students, is by no means confined to them.

WHINNICK.  At Hamilton College, to refuse to fulfil a promise or engagement; to retreat from a difficulty; to back out.

WHITE-HOOD HOUSE.  See SENATE.