This glossary should help clear up any questions about Cambridge slang, which can seem a bit opaque at first.
- Arch ‘n’ Anth – Archaeology and Anthropology
- The Backs – the grassy lawns by the river behind colleges like Clare and King’s
- Bedder – a cleaner
- Boaties – people who row
- Catz – St Catharine’s College
- Cindies – a popular night club in Lion’s Yard (officially named Ballare)
- Clareif – a magazine published by students at Clare
- Compsci – Computer Scientist
- CUSU – Cambridge University Students’ Union
- Easter Term – the third term of the academic year
- Fitz – Fitzwilliam College (may also refer to the Fitzwilliam Museum)
- Full-term – the 8-9 weeks you must be physically in residence in Cambridge to qualify for a degree
- Gyp – a small kitchen in student accommodation
- Mathmo – Mathematician
- May Ball – an all-night black tie event held by many colleges in June
- MCR – Middle Combination Room (the graduate common room, located in Old Courti n Clare, as well as the name for the graduate students’ union)
- Pidge – pigeonhole (in the Porter’s Lodge where your post gets delivered)
- Punting – cruising down the river, propelling a flat boat (a punt) down the river with a pole
- Supo – a supervision (where an academic discusses a piece of work one-on-one or in a small group) or a supervisor (the academic leading the supervision who usually also marks your work)
- Undergrad – Undergraduate student (a student who hasn’t yet achieved their first degree)
- Van of Death – kebab van on the south side of the market