Glossary of Cambridge jargonGlossary of Cambridge jargonGardies - student slang contraction of Gardenia. Formerly a restaurant noted for its microscopic cellar eating area; now a take-away.
Gate Hours - the times of night during which students must remain within the confines of college, or their lodgings, in order to Keep Term.
Gate List - formal list of all members of a college in residence.
Gated - a now rare punishment whereby a student is confined to college and not allowed out into town.
General Admission - the main degree awarding Congregations in late June.
General Amigos - (student slang) at dinner, a call for a toast, when no specific person can be named.
General Board - the university committee concerned with academic affairs (administers the Schools, Faculties, and Departments) ; the administration serving that committee; its offices in the Old Schools.
Gentlemen - a term which it used to be possible to apply to students, as in a bedmaker referring to "my gentlemen", or as in the College regulations of 50 years ago: "In order to minimize Sunday labour for College servants gentlemen are required to vacate their bedrooms not later than 9.30 a.m. on Sundays".
Go down - to leave Cambridge, e.g. at the end of term, or at the end of one's career.
Godwin - laboratory on the New Museums Site, part of Quaternary Research.
The Gogs - the Gog Magog Hills, to the south of Cambridge.
Governing Body - the ultimate authority within a College, consisting of most of the Fellows.
Gown (i) - academic dress. Undergraduate gowns differ according to college, and are quite small. The higher your degree, the longer your gown gets. In particular, the sleeves get longer. See also: Slit.
Gown (ii) - in opposition to Town, a colloquial term for the university and all its members, as in Town-Gown rivalry.
Grace (i) - a prayer, usually in Latin, said by a Scholar before Hall, and by a Fellow after Hall. Exact details of who says what vary from college to college.
Grace (ii) - a legislative bill published by the university, to be approved by a vote of the Regent House.
Grad - town pejorative slang for university student.
Grad-bashing - a town recreation.
Grad-Pad - the University Centre in Granta Place.
Graduand - a person who is about to graduate.
Graduate (verb) - to progress to a degree higher than the one currently held, if any.
Graduate (noun) - a person who already has a first degree.
Graduate Student - a student reading for a Ph.D., M.Phil., or certain Diplomas. To be distinguished from Postgraduate Student.
Granta (i) - an alternative name for the river Cam. Usefully applied to distinguish the upper river from the rest.
Granta (ii) - formerly a famous student magazine.
Granta (iii) - a project of the University to lay communications ducts and fibre optic cables between all Colleges and Departments.
Great Bridge - the smallish bridge carrying Bridge Street over the river. See also: Small Bridge.
Great Court Run - an attempt to run round the outer path of Great Court, Trinity College, during the time it takes for the clock to strike twelve. Significantly difficult, but usually made more so by the contestants all being drunk at the time.
Great St Mary's - parish church opposite the Old Schools, used for university cermonies before the Senate House was built.
Grind - obsolete slang word for a walk, especially for exercise.
GSM - Great St Mary's Church.
Guildhall - the offices, on the Market Square, of the Cambridge City Council.
Gyp - an extinct species of manservant. Survive at Oxford under the name scout.
Gyp-room - formerly the room where a gyp awaited a call from his gentlemen. Now a small kitchen.
This compilation is Copyright (C) R.D.H. Walker 1991-97. rdhw@cam.ac.uk