Glossary
Cambridge is beleaguered by bizarre expressions, phrases, contractions, and abbreviations, the majority of which you will never use. Here are some of the many that exist...
- 22
- n. See life.
- 5th Avenue
- See Cindy's
- Arc&Anth
- ['ark-a-'nanth] n. The course of Archaeology and Anthropology
- ADC
- n. 1. The Amateur Dramatic Club, one of the larger student theatrical production groups. 2. The ADC Theatre on Park Street.
- ASNAC
- n. One studying Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic. Rare.
- Backs, The
- prop n. Pleasant green area west of the river, so called because it backs onto the riverside colleges of Trinity, Clare, Kings, etc.
- Ballare
- See Cindy's
- Bar, The
- prop n. The College Bar is the place to go for a drink in College. Located behind the Library. Open from 9:30 to 11:30 most nights. Opens at 8:30 on Formal nights and closes at 11:00 during the Easter (3rd) Term. Also during the vacations the site for the famous MCR bar nights.
- Bedder
- n. A bedder's job is to clean communal facilities and rooms. If you do not want to be disturbed leave your bin outside.
- Black Tie
- n. Formal wear you need for most May Balls (see White Tie), and for events such as college dinners. For men: DJ, dress shirt, bow tie, and if you want a cummerbund/waistcoat. For women: cocktail dress.
- Boatie
- n. One who spends many hours on the river at five in the morning, doing 'ergos' or being on alcohol bans.
- Bop
- n. A college event, i.e. a disco. Occur rarely in the party room (underneath the bar)
- Bursar
- prop n. The woman in charge of the College money.
- Cindy's
- n. A nightclub in Cambridge. Think Butlins/Ritzy. Tuesday nights are student nights. Has changed names many times: currently called "Ballare".
- Come Up
- v. See Going Down.
- CompSci
- n. One studying the Computer Science course.
- CUMS
- prop n. Cambridge University Music Society.
- CUS
- prop n. Cambridge Union Society.
- CUSU
- prop n. Cambridge University Student Union, the University-wide student union.
- DCAC
- prop n. Downing College Amalgamation Club, a body made up of all the junior members of college (i.e. the MCR and the JCR)
- Dean
- prop n. He who deals with all disciplinary matters in college (and decides on the rules governing parties etc).
- Death, Van of
- prop n. Kebab/burger vendor in the south east corner of Market Square. Open until 2am. See also Life, Van of.
- DJ
- n. Dinner Jacket. Item of formal wear.
- Downing
- 1. prop n. The best college in Cambridge. 2. v. The practice of consuming one's drink without hesitation or pause for breath.
- Drink
- n. See Double.
- Entz
- n. Entertainments, posh word for Bops.
- Ergo
- n. Rowing machine.
- Exeat
- n. Form needed to give permission to leave college for more than two nights.
- Fellow
- n. 1. A permanent member of the teaching staff at College. 2. A friend from the 1950s.
- Fountain, The
- prop n. Not a water feature. Downing's closest pub, was good, recently has become too expensive and trendy. Now mostly useful for being open later than most places.
- Footlights
- prop n. 1. Cambridge comedy troupe. 2. Mexican restaurant in the Grafton Centre.
- Formal Hall
- n. Three course evening meal. Book in the P'lodge. MCR has 50 places on Fridays which includes free sherry and port before and after the meal in the MCR. Fewer places available on Wednesdays and Sundays
- Gardenia's (Gardie's)
- prop n. Kebab place on Rose Crescent by Market Square.
- Going Down
- v. Leaving Cambridge at the end of term.
- Graduate Union (GU)
- prop n. The university-wide representative body for graduate students. See the Grad Union Website.
- Grafton Centre
- prop n. Dismal shopping centre just past Christ's Pieces.
- Grantchester
- prop n. Lovely little village just (walk or punt) across the meadows along the river to the south of Cambridge. Features include two nice pubs and The Orchard (where one can enjoy tea and cakes)
- JCR
- n. 1. Junior Commmon Room, common room located in S staircase. 2. Undergraduate body of Downing College.
- KFC
- n. Kitchen Fixed Charge. Term Bill Charge to subsidise college kitchens (slops).
- Life
- prop n. Another dodgy Cambridge club. Nicer than Cindy's but a bit sweaty. Go there on Wednesday.
- Life, Van of
- prop n. The other van in Market Square, better for burgers.
- Master
- prop n. Prof Barry Everitt
- Mathmo
- n. Someone who studies maths.
- May Ball
- n. Lavish all night affair put on in May Week by individual colleges. Tickets range from £80 to £150. Black or White Tie.
- May Week
- n. A week in June, after all exams finish. Characterised by drunkenness, debauchery, and more drink. Many garden parties are held.
- MCR
- n. 1. Middle Common Room, located in S staircase. 2. Graduate body of Downing College
- Muso
- n. Someone who studies Music.
- NatSci
- [nat-ski] n. One studying Natural Sciences.
- NPR
- abbreviation n. Normal Period of Residence. The period that termly rentals run for the undergraduate students, normally 10 weeks extending a little before and after the 8 week 'full term'
- Oxford
- prop n. A University near Didcot. Referred to as 'that university' and 'the other place' in Cambridge.
- Penny
- v. Pennying is an activity where a penny is dropped in a drink in order to compel the recepient to drink (or down) the entire drink. Numerous rules of etiquette apply to the practice.
- Pigeon Hole
- n. Otherwise known as P'hole. Housed in the Porters' Lodge. Collect mail from here.
- Port
- n. A fortified wine with high alcohol content often served after expensive meals (and all MCR Friday formals).
- Porter
- n. You will know who they are (and vice versa).
- Porters' Lodge (also P'lodge)
- n. At the front of college. A porter is there 24 hours a day.
- Praelector
- prop n. Master of ceremonies.
- Punting
- n. An acceptable way to spend a summer's day.
- Rusticate
- v. To exile from Cambridge. Rare. Usually done for disciplinary reasons Literally means 'to send to the country'
- Send Down
- v. Expel from college. Rare.
- Slops
- n. Widely used term to describe Downing servery meals. Also v. to slop - to go to such a meal
- Squash
- n. 1. Racket game. Two courts, found behind the kitchens. 2. A meeting for Freshers organised by a society to entice membership.
- Supervision
- n. Teaching and discussion session.
- Term
- n. Of which there are three: Michaelmas, Lent, and Easter.
- Thesp
- n. Thespian. One who acts too much in public and private.
- Tripos
- n. Cambridge exam system.
- Tutor
- n. A fellow responsible for your pastoral care.
- UL (University Library)
- prop n. Millions of books housed in Stalinistic type building by the Sidgwick site.
- University Card
- n. Payment credit card for buying food in the servery and Butterfield Cafe and for booking formal hall in the P'lodge and for buying college wine. Also useful as an access card in various departments and as a library card in the UL.
- Varsity
- n. 1. Cambridge student newspaper. 2. Sports matches between Cambridge and The Other Place.
- Vet
- n. Someone who studies Veterinary Medicine.
- West Lodge
- prop n. Function room on the ground floor of E staircase in which MCR meals sometimes take place (when not in the Hall).
- White Tie
- n. Formal dress consisting, for men, of a tailed coat, white wing-collared dress shirt, and white bow tie. For women: cocktail dress with full length skirt and covered shoulders.
Not logged in.
Login using Raven
Logging in will allow you to post news articles on the front page, and more.
Useful Links
Graduate Union Website
Official College Website
Downing JCR Website
Central University Website
Facebook Pages
MCR Facebook Page
Facebook Events Group
Sign up here to join the opt-in MCR mailing list:
Search site:
Please email comments and corrections to the MCR Communications Officer, Camilla.