The effect of crossing the name in the buttery is thus stated in the Collegian’s Guide.  “To keep a term requires residence in the University for a certain number of days within a space of time known by the calendar, and the books of the buttery afford the appointed proof of residence; it being presumed that, if neither bread, butter, pastry, beer, or even toast and water (which is charged one farthing), are entered on the buttery books in a given name, the party could not have been resident that day.  Hence the phrase of ’eating one’s way into the church or to a doctor’s degree.’  Supposing, for example, twenty-one days’ residence is required between the first of May and the twenty-fourth inclusive, then there will be but three days to spare; consequently, should our names be crossed for more than three days in all in that term, —­say for four days,—­the other twenty days would not count, and the term would be irrecoverably lost.  Having our names crossed in the buttery, therefore, is a punishment which suspends our collegiate existence while the cross remains, besides putting an embargo on our pudding, beer, bread and cheese, milk, and butter; for these articles come out of the buttery.”—­p. 157.

These remarks apply both to the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge; but in the latter the phrase to be put out of commons is used instead of the one given above, yet with the same meaning.  See Gradus ad Cantabrigiam, p. 32.

The following extract from the laws of Harvard College, passed in 1734, shows that this term was formerly used in that institution:  “No scholar shall be put in or out of Commons, but on Tuesdays or Fridays, and no Bachelor or Undergraduate, but by a note from the President, or one of the Tutors (if an Undergraduate, from his own Tutor, if in town); and when any Bachelors or Undergraduates have been out of Commons, the waiters, at their respective tables, shall, on the first Tuesday or Friday after they become obliged by the preceding law to be in Commons, put them into Commons again, by note, after the manner above directed.  And if any Master neglects to put himself into Commons, when, by the preceding law, he is obliged to be in Commons, the waiters on the Masters’ table shall apply to the President or one of the Tutors for a note to put him into Commons, and inform him of it.”

  Be mine each morn, with eager appetite
  And hunger undissembled, to repair
  To friendly Buttery; there on smoking Crust
  And foaming Ale to banquet unrestrained,
  Material breakfast!
    The Student, 1750, Vol.  I. p. 107.

BUTTERY-BOOK.  In colleges, a book kept at the buttery, in which was charged the prices of such articles as were sold to the students.  There was also kept a list of the fines imposed by the president and professors, and an account of the times when the students were present and absent, together with a register of the names of all the members of the college.