Hi,

I sometimes read "Oxon" and "Cantab" on this board. I assume that these names somehow refer to "Oxbridge" but I do not know what they exactly stand for. Help! Are there even more similar expressions like these?

Thank you! Chief Wiggum

Hi.

'Oxon' and 'Cantab' are the respective post-noms for Oxford and Cambridge.

I believe they are derived from each university's Latin name.

Oxford = Universitas Oxoniensis ("Oxon")

Cambridge = Universitas Cantabrigiensis ("Cantab")

The old universities usually have post-noms based on their locality, e.g.: LLB from University of London: LLB (Hons) (London).

Hope that helps.

Very interesting your input concerning the Latin origin of these names - thank you wtlow! But what exactly is a post-nom (couldn't find it in the online-dictionary)?

Very interesting your input concerning the Latin origin of these names - thank you wtlow! But what exactly is a post-nom (couldn't find it in the online-dictionary)?

Very interesting your input concerning the Latin origin of these names - thank you wtlow! But what exactly is a post-nom (couldn't find it in the online-dictionary)?

Oops!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-nominal_letters