A Guide to Dartmouth Lingo and Terminology
It's no secret that Dartmouth has a unique culture with the Dartmouth 7, Dartmouth Pong, the homecoming bonfire, and flair. One of our favorite cultural aspects of Dartmouth is the Dartmouth lingo and terminology. Here is a dictionary of the Dartmouth terminology and vocabulary to get you started.
Most Common:
- Blitz (noun) - an email sent through Dartmouth's email servers
- Flitz (noun) - a flirty blitz
- Foco (noun) - The 1953 Commons
- Schmob (noun) - A group of freshmen (usually walking around looking for a party)
- @ now (adverb) - Means "right now". E.g. "I need 1 for pong @ now"
- Facetimey (adjective) - Someone who spends time in high traffic places to be seen by a lot of people. Usually very friendly but superficial
- Good sam (verb) - Short for good samaritan policy. Usually used as a verb. E.g. "He needs to be good sammed"
- HPO - Short for Hanover Police
- S&S - Safety and Security (Dartmouth police)
- Narp - Acronym for "non-athletic regular person". Basically anyone that's not an athlete. Or you're just derpy.
- Prospie - A prospective student.
- Trippie - Someone that you went on freshman trips with.
- Warm-cut - Taking a cut through a building in the winter to avoid walking in the cold.
- Flair - Extravagant looking clothing that you wear to events and parties. Usually bright colored and absurd.
- Bequest - An item that is passed down from an upperclassman. Usually happens at the end of the year in clubs or Greek organizations.
Locations:
- BEMA: Small field of grass in the woods behind East Wheelock
- Big Kaf: The actual King Arthur Flour Cafe off campus in Norwich, VT; not the KAF in the library.
- Blobby: Baker-Berry Lobby
- BVAC: Black Family Visual Arts Center
- Collis: Collis Center
- Dark Side: The side of Foco with the long tables (right side when you walk in)
- Dick’s House: Dartmouth College Health Service located at 7 Rope Ferry.
- Dirt: Dirt Cowboy Café
- FFB, 2FB, 3FB, 4FB: First-Floor Berry, Second-Floor Berry and so on. The higher you go up, the more likely you are to be shushed.
- Foco: 1953 Commons
- KAF: King Arthur Flour Café in Baker-Berry, which is our main library
- Light Side: The side of Foco with the smaller round tables (left side when you walk in)
- Robo: Robinson Hall, which is next to College. Mostly for people in DOC (Dartmouth Outing Club).
- Rocky: Rockefeller Center
- The Hop: The Hopkins Center
- Top of the Hop: The upper level of the Hop
Academics:
- Drill: A mandatory session of every introductory language class. A drill instructor leads you through rapid paced speaking exercises.
- DSP: Domestic Study Program
- FSP: Foreign Study Program
- LSA: Language Study Program
Challenges:
- Ledyard Challenge - A challenge where you swim across the river and run back across the bridge naked. Sophomore summer is the ideal time to do it.
- Lou's Challenge - Staying up all night until Lou's opens in the morning. Must dine in at Lou's to qualify.
- Touch the Fire - Touch the bonfire at homecoming
- Blue Light Challenge - Strip and run around campus pressing all of the blue light emergency buttons (there are 31).
- Dartmouth 7 - Make passionate love at 7 specific locations.
- Streak a final - Streaking a final exam.
- Polar Plunge - During winter carnival, they carve open a hole in Occum Pond. You jump in.