Harry-soph

noun

A student of law or medicine at Cambridge who, being of the same standing as the students in arts in his year, is allowed to wear a full-sleeved gown when they assume their BA gowns, though he does not obtain his actual degree so soon.

OriginLatin sophister ← Ancient Greek *ἐρίσοφος →
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Meanings

nounHarry-soph (plural Harry-sophs)

plural Harry-sophs

  1. UKobsoleteslangA student of law or medicine at Cambridge who, being of the same standing as the students in arts in his year, is allowed to wear a full-sleeved gown when they assume their BA gowns, though he does not obtain his actual degree so soon.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greek*ἐρίσοφος“very wise indeed”
  2. Latinsophister
  3. EnglishHarry-soph

According to a 17th century chronicler, from Latin sophister Henricianus after King Henry VIII, but remodeled to fit a fanciful Ancient Greek *ἐρίσοφος (*erísophos, “very wise indeed”), from ἐρι- (eri-) + σοφός (sophós).

More words from Latin, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Harry-soph. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Harry-soph

MLA

“Harry-soph.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Harry-soph. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Harry-soph,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Harry-soph.

Source: Harry-soph on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.