Wrangler

Wrangler, the name given in the university of Cambridge to those who have attained the first class in the public mathematical honour examinations, the student who heads the list in order of merit being called the Senior Wrangler. The word 'wrangler' is derived from the public disputations in which candidates for degrees were in former times required to exhibit their powers. The examination is confined to mathematics, pure and mixed; it is conducted by two moderators and two examiners, with an additional examiner. Down to the year 1882 the undergraduates who satisfied the examiners were arranged in order of merit in three classes—wranglers, senior optimes, and junior optimes. Between 1882 and 1885 inclusive those who attained the rank of wranglers in the examination held in June of each year were admissible to a higher and more special examination held in January of the following year, after which they were arranged in three divisions, according to their respective merits, but the names under each division were placed in alphabetical order. From 1886 to 1892 those who proceeded to the higher examination were placed in three classes, each consisting of three divisions, the alphabetical arrangement holding good as before. From 1893 there are two examinations of four days each, with an interval of eleven days between; those only who have acquitted themselves during the first four days so as to deserve honours are admitted to the examination of the second four days, after which they are arranged strictly according to merit, under the old divisions of wranglers, senior optimes, and junior optimes. The last man of the junior optimes is often called 'Wooden Spoon.' See CAMBRIDGE, UNIVERSITY OF.