Public school.
(a)
In Great Britain,
any of various schools maintained by the community, wholly or partly
under public control, or maintained largely by endowment and not
carried on chiefly for profit; specif., and commonly, any of various
select and usually expensive endowed schools which give a liberal
modern education or prepare pupils for the universities. Eton, Harrow,
Rugby, and Winchester are of this class.
(b)
In the United States, a free primary, grammar, or high school
maintained by the local government.
© Webster 1913.