I read the following, "He rusticated his wife from the house". While I thought it meant to compel to live in the country or in rustic conditions, I found that it had some meanings that are unfamiliar to me. Mainly in Britain, my source says, it means to suspend from school or college. Is it used frequently that way? Also, it can mean to bevel in order to make the joints conspicuous as in a rusticated wall. Again, is it used that way frequently? Lastly, it can mean to implant rustic mannerisms. Would parents then rusticate their children?
I've only ever seen the word used to mean to suspend from college. At that, so far as I know it is only used by Oxford and Cambridge Universities, although graduates of other universities may correct me. It is in fairly common usage in its rather restricted sphere.
It literally means "send to the country" -- away from the University town. "Send down" is similar, although that can also mean complete expulsion from the university.
Just speaking for this American, I've never heard this term used in either sense although it strikes me as having a distinct Ogden Nash quality, possibly something along the lines of:
Country folk say life there is pretty, A huge step up from that in the city. I, myself, think it's overrated, And would resist any attempt by my wife to have me moved into any living arrangement involving fresh air, farm chores, grange meetings, or to be in any other way rusticated.
