The word is thought to derive from the "sizes" or "sizings" (in turn a shortened form of "assize"), which were the specified portions of food and drink made available at a fixed price at the college.
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The word sizarship is also still used elsewhere to refer to monetary awards made to members of a student body willing to take on defined jobs with responsibility; according to John Stillwell, "Sizars had to earn their keep as servants to the wealthier students ...".
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As a young boy, he was educated in London at the Merchant Taylors' School and matriculated as a sizar at Pembroke College, Cambridge.
Born at Liverpool, he was admitted sizar of St John's College, Cambridge, on 10 April 1823; and graduated B.A. in 1827, M.A. in 1830.
He was a sizar of Trinity College, Cambridge, 1605, B.A. 1608, and M.A. 1612, Under the Commonwealth he was incumbent of Blackley, near Manchester, till 1646, rector of St. Chad's, Shrewsbury, till 1656, and rector of Stockport till his death in 1660.