fresher (UK )
noun

- Freshers are students who have just started their first year at university or college.

Collins Dictionary

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WORD ORIGIN

Late 19th century alteration of the US term freshman.

Freshman is a mainly U.S. term for a first-year student in an educational institution. The term “first year” can also be used in noun form to describe freshman students (e.g. They are first years). First year is also commonly used in the British education system.

In recent years, “first year” has gained popularity as a result of its more descriptive name and gender-neutral language (as has fresher).

New members of the US Congress in their first term are referred to as freshman senators or freshman congressman.

Former U.S. President John F. Kennedy was a U.S. Senator before running for the office of president. During a typically hectic day in his freshman year, Kennedy held a press conference, amended several pieces of legislation and spoke in the senate chamber. Afterward, he collapsed from exhaustion in a chair next to Senator Carl Hayden. Kennedy began to make small talk with the 40-year veteran:

“Well, I guess you’ve seen lots of changes during the time you’ve been here.”

“Yes,” said Hayden, without providing any details.

“What were some of the more important ones?” Kennedy asked.

“Well,” said Hayden, “for one thing, in those days freshman senators didn’t talk.”

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SMUGGLE OWAD into an English conversation, say something like:

“Jim learned computer programming while still a FRESHER in college.”

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Appreciation to Hester for suggesting today’s interesting OWAD.

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