E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Pass.
A pass or A common pass. An ordinary degree, without honours. Where a person is allowed to pass up the senate-house to his degree without being “plucked.” (See PLUCK.)
1
Well to pass. Well to do. Here “pass” is the synonym of fare (Saxon, faran, to go or pass). Shakespeare has the expression, “How goes it?”—i.e. How fares it, how passes it?
