Eton is the best-known English public school for boys. Though actually, public school here does not mean a free government school. In British English a public school is an old, expensive private school. The official name is Eton College. It was started in the 15th century and sits near the town of Windsor, west of London, by the river. It is famous for uniforms, a posh accent, and a long link with British power — many prime ministers went there. People also use Eton as shorthand for that whole world of money and privilege. You may meet Eton mess (a dessert) or an Eton collar in other phrases; those grew from the school, but the name itself is the school.