subsizar
/sʌbˈsʌɪzə/Now historical
noun
At Cambridge University: an undergraduate receiving financial assistance from his or her college and ranking below a sizar.
- Certain colleges, including St John’s, Trinity, and Emmanuel, distinguished between sizars and subsizars. Subsizars were not entitled to specific endowments, but were maintained by Fellow-Commoners and Fellows. Originally the subsizar was required to perform various domestic services within the college. The category finally fell out of use towards the middle of the 20th cent..
Origin
Late 16th century; earliest use found in Robert Greene (bap. 1558, d. 1592), writer and playwright. From sub- + sizar. Slightly earlier currency is probably implied by subsister.