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shmen

shmen n. a (college or university) freshman. Also plural. Editorial Note: This term is usually gender-neutral. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)

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2 comments
  • The term ‘shmen (or ‘shwomen) seems especially prevalent at Dartmouth College, where its initial sound has come to modify other words to indicate that they relate to freshmen: ‘shmob (freshman mob) and ‘shmenu (freshman “menu” or the Freshman Book/Green Book, a photograhpic directory of new students).

  • Originally a jab at political correctness, the modification of this slang word to “‘shpeople” and “‘shperson” have also become increasingly popular on campus.

Further reading

Kiss the Cow (episode #1567)

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