Oxford Glossary

You may already have heard some of these weird and wonderful words; Oxford is full of them. I wish I could say that I made some of these up, but I can confirm they are all very much real.

Battels - The fees that you pay to your college for accommodation, food, and facilities at the beginning of each term. Blue - A sporting award, or a person who has been awarded one. Bod - The Bodleian Old Library, opposite the Radcliffe Camera. BodCard - Your University ID card, used to gain access to libraries, your college, and sometimes your accommodation. BumPs - Rowing without the pressure of not crashing into other boats (or so the rowers tell me). ButterY - The college kitchen, or a part of some colleges which serves light food at lunchtime. CamBrIdge - Our sworn enemies! ChaPlaIn - The person who runs the college chapel, also acting as a point of contact for lots of welfare needs. CreWdate - A night out organised between the members of 2 or more societies or sports teams. You will probably get very drunk and drink out of your shoe (don’t ask…) (to get) deaned - A disciplinary measure for bad behaviour wherein you are sent to the Dean. Avoid at all costs. domInus IllumInatIo mea - The University’s Latin motto. “The Lord is my light”, or so says Google translate. don - An academic senior member of college - a professor, tutor, fellow, etc. eIghts - Summer Eights, an inter-collegiate rowing competition held annually in Trinity. entz - Entertainment and events run by your college’s Entz officers. Silly Oxford word, because apparently we can’t be bothered pronouncing more than one syllable per word. essaY CrIsIs - Something I experience every week (please, learn from my mistakes) Involves leaving your essay to the last minute, with an optional cry about how you have to drop out because your degree is too hard. You will almost always get it done in time, don’t worry. FInals - The exams at the end of your degree. These decide your degree classification.

Formal - A fancier version of a meal in Hall, usually with three courses, wine, and fancy outfits. Some colleges will make you wear your gown on top (ruining your outfit). Freshers’ Flu - The annoying mega-cold that we all seem to catch at the beginning of Michaelmas. Buy tissues and Lemsip. haCkIng - The absolute bane of my existence, usually seen in 7th week of each term. You’ll receive lots of annoying Facebook messages from people that you hardly know asking you to vote for them, usually in the termly elections at the Oxford Union. They will forget you exist the day after the election. hIlarY term (ht) - The second term. There is little to look forward to, and it’s quite rainy and cold. My least favourite term by far. JCr (JunIor Common room) - both 1) the undergraduate representative council of your college and 2) the communal space in your college with sofas and a TV. matrICulatIon - A ceremony that marks your official induction into the University. This takes place at the end of 1st week in Michaelmas of your first year. You’ll wear your sub fusc, get a big group picture with your college year group, pile into the Sheldonian for a few lines of Latin, and then enjoy spending your day drinking and lazing around. mIChaelmas term (mt) - The first term. Filled with freshers’ week, excitement, and Oxmas. You will be exhausted afterwards. mods - Exams for Law students (Hilary 1st year) and Classicists (Hilary 2nd year). oxFess - An anonymous confession page on Facebook. Lots of drama, rants, and arguments take place there, so use it at your own risk. It’s a good way to procrastinate an essay though... oxlove - You may have seen ‘rush hour crushes’ in some newspapers commuters write about a cute person they saw on their way home from work. This is Oxford’s answer to that. Oxlove is Oxfess’ more wholesome (and more horny) sibling. PaPer - Oxford terminology for what is commonly called a ‘module’ or ‘option’ at other universities. PIdge (room) - Your pidge room is where you will find your pigeon hole, where all your mail (I’m being optimistic here) will arrive. You might even get pidge buddies, a scheme where you and other person put little gifts in each other’s pidges. Porter - A member of staff at college who works in the Porters’ Lodge. They take your post to the pidge room, look after security and access to the college, and are usually the first port(er) of call should you need anything!

Punt - A little wooden boat that you can… punt? down the river in Oxford with a large pole. This is especially popular on matriculation and in Trinity term, but you need some serious upper body strength… queerFest - An annual LGBTQ+ party held in Wadham College’s grounds. rustICatIon - Dropping out, suspending for a year, or being kicked out of the University (for this, see also “Sent Down”). sent doWn - Being removed from the University. sharkIng - The exploitative and predatory act of an older student purposely getting with a fresher. sCholars’ goWn - Like a commoner’s gown but with cool sleeves. Achievable by scoring 70% or more in Prelims. sConCe - A verb and a noun. Sconcing is a drinking game that’s pretty hard to explain... you’ll see. suBFusC - Academic dress, consisting of a gown (commoner’s or scholar’s), tie/ ribbon, and mortarboard. Underneath, you’ll either wear a dark suit or a white shirt and black trousers/a skirt with dark tights. Worn to matriculation and exams. summer eIghts - A rowing competition which takes place in Trinity with eight people per boat. stash - College, University, or society merch. Puffer jackets are particularly popular (and slightly obnoxious). But hey, they’re warm, and if you’re lucky your initials and college crest being embroidered on them might just get you an Oxlove. tesColator - The escalator in the Magdalen Street Tesco, which gives access to the lower floor. It broke in Hilary 2022, leading to many distressed posts on the Tescolator Updates Facebook page. trInItY term (tt) - The third term. Sunny, full of garden parties and garden plays, and relaxing... unless you have exams. the unIon - The Oxford Union, a debating society and member’s club located on St. Michael’s Street. unIv - Colloquial abbreviation of “The College of the Great Hall of the University of Oxford” vaC(atIon) - The Oxford word for the holidays. We have Christmas Vac, Easter Vac, and the Long Vac (summer). varsItY - A competition (usually sporting) or event which includes both Oxford and Cambridge. Prepare to hear all about the Varsity Skiing Trip in the Christmas Vac.

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