Gaudy
A gaudy is a reunion dinner an Oxford college holds for its former students, usually inviting several matriculation years at a time. The word is connected with the Latin gaudium, joy.
In practice
Colleges run gaudies on a cycle, so a graduate is typically invited back every several years with the year groups around their own. The evening normally means drinks in the college, a formal dinner in hall in black tie or academic dress, speeches, and the chance to stay overnight in student rooms. Most gaudies happen in the vacations, when the rooms are free. Attendance is by invitation from the college's alumni or development office.
Why it matters to newcomers
If you work with Oxford graduates, "I'm at a gaudy this weekend" means a college reunion, not a party in the usual sense. If you have joined an Oxford college as a mature student, keep your contact details up to date with the alumni office: gaudies are how colleges keep their networks alive, and many professional connections are renewed over those dinners.
Related
- Scout - the staff old members ask after
- Quad - where gaudy drinks are usually held
- Battels - the student-era bill that stays behind
Source: University of Oxford: alumni.