public school

Definition

Certain private schools, particularly (initially) any grammar school operated apart from the personal lands of its students or (from the 19th century) the feepaying secondary schools which developed from or were modelled upon them; a British boarding school.

Etymology

From public (originally, "communal" and contrasted with personal tutors; later, "state-run" and contrasted with private schools) + school.

Example Sentences

• "All such School-masters as have charge of Children and do instruct them either in Publick Schools, or Private Houses."
• "No person shall keepe any schoole... except it be in some publike or free Grammer Schoole, or in some such noblemans... or gentlemans... house as are not recusants."
• "This worthy Man having observed the imperfect Institution of our public Schools, and the many Vices which Boys were there liable to learn, had resolved to educate his Nephew... in his own House."