Definition of "pupilage"

In 1875, however, he left the firm and as he was still under 21, it was arranged that he should serve an additional pupilage, this time with the Midland Railway under S. W. Johnson, who had migrated to Derby from the Great Eastern two years before.

1944 September and October, “The Late R. M. Deeley”, in Railway Magazine, page 265

A pupilage was normally two years, after three or four years as a premium apprentice.

1944 September and October, A Former Pupil, “Some Memories of Crewe Works—I”, in Railway Magazine, page 282