Sconcing

Sconcing is a tradition at University of Oxford of demanding that a person drink a tankard of ale or some other alcoholic beverage as a penalty for some breach of accepted etiquette. Originally the penalty would have been a simple monetary fine imposed for a more serious breach of discipline, and the word is known to have been used in this sense as early as 1617. ["sconce, v. 2" Oxford English Dictionary". Ed. J.A. Simpson and E.S.C. Weiner. 2nd ed. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1989. OED Online Oxford University Press. 15 Sep. 2006. http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/entry/50216147]

Minor offences for which a sconce might have been imposed included talking at dinner about women, religion, politics or one's work, referring to the portraits hung in the college hall, or making an error in the pronunciation of the Latin Grace.

History

The power to impose a sconce was not originally given to all present at a dinner. It might instead have been reserved for the person presiding on High Table, or perhaps the senior Scholar or other undergraduate at each table. Anyone feeling a sconce was deserved would be required to ask for its imposition (often in a "scholarly" language such as Latin or Ancient Greek). Should their request be granted a large vessel, usually full of beer, would be called for and the offender would have to attempt to drink it down in one go (perhaps while standing on the table). The amount of a sconce varied from two pints at Corpus, Oriel or Jesus, up to three and three quarter pints at St John's. [ [http://www.dailyinfo.co.uk/guide/cartoonist/drinking.html Drinking ] ] Several colleges retain impressive antique "sconce pots" in their silver collections.

In the event that a person failed to successfully drain their sconce, they were generally required to pay for the contents. It is possible therefore that the tradition developed as a way of allowing a "sporting chance" to those who would otherwise be fined for a relatively minor offence. It was also once relatively common for the sconced person to choose to share the contents of the sconce with their neighbours at table, thereby making amends to the "victims" of the original breach of good manners.

Today

Today sconcing is rarely carried out in its original form. Undergraduates may attempt to "sconce" a fellow student whom they feel has behaved inappropriately or foolishly at dinner, but this usually only implies that he or she should drink a quantity of the wine or other drink already available at the table. The word also occurs in the context of a drinking game somewhat similar in spirit to I Have Never. The game is particularly popular on crewdates, and traditionally begun by a person stating "I sconce anyone who..." and naming a (usually embarrassing) deed. Anybody who fits the stated criterion must own up to it and finish their drink. [h2g2 "Traditional Oxford Cocktail Parties". Created 8th March 2000, accessed 15th September 2006. http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A271766]

See also

* Pennying

Notes