E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Fellow Commoner.
A wealthy or married undergraduate of Cambridge, who pays extra to “common” (i.e. dine) at the fellows’ table. In Oxford, these demi-dons are termed Gentlemen Commoners.
1
Fellow commoner or gentleman commoner. An empty bottle; so called because these sort of students are, as a class, empty-headed.
