gentleman-commoner

English

Noun

gentleman-commoner (plural gentlemen-commoners)

1. (UK, education, historical) At the University of Oxford, a student paying higher fees and ranking above commoners, but below noblemen.
   • 1859, Thomas Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, Philadelphia: Porter and Coates, published 1888, page 10:

     Unfortunately for the college, there were a very large proportion of the gentleman-commoners.