Panini (noun)
'Pa nee nee'; /pan"@ni/
Definition: A toasted bagette, filled with meat, cheese, and/or vegetables.
Attested: I first encountered this term in September of 1998, in the Ivy Room one of the dining halls at Cornell.
Example: "You can get a vegetable Panini at the Ivy Room for only $3.89."
Etymology: I have heard this word spoken only at Cornell, but it is possible that the term is used in other places as well, since it seems to be of perhaps Italian origin.
- George Durham

phat (adjective)
/fQt/
Definition: an adjective meaning 'pretty hot and tempting'
Attested: I first heard this used in a study lounge by a girl from Staton Island, New York, New York
Example: "I can't believe that you got into the party without paying. That's so phat."
Etymology: At one point, the saying 'pretty hot and tempting' was probably very popular. This phrase being excessively long, it was probably easier to form an acronym that reatained the adjective phrase quality of the original statement. The word seems to have originated near cities, but then to have spread to many places, including Cornell. Many people are aware of the word phat, and how to use. Most, however, do not know what it stands for.
- Ryan Rapp

phatty (adj)
'fat ee'; /fQ@Ri/
Definition: very good.
Attested: I first encountered this term in December of 1998, spoken by a Cornell student from Brooklyn, NY.
Example: "I went to the mall with some friends and bought myself a phatty pin shirt."
Etymology: "Phatty" derives from the slang term "phat" which has the same meaning and is used more widely than "phatty." The slang term "phat" probably comes from the word "fat". A possible reason that "phat" has come to mean "good" is that "fat" suggests large size and fullness, a desirable trait in many cases, although not in human beings. It is perhaps for this reason that one does not use the term "phatty" to describe a person.
- George Durham

P.M.P. (noun, acronym)
/piEmpi/
Definitition: P.M.P. is an acronym standing for Poor Man's Pizza, a dish comprised of french bread, sauce and cheese, served by Hot Truck for a very reasonable price.
Attested: I first encountered this phrase during my first few weeks here at Cornell on regular visits to Hot Truck.
Example: "Is it 11:00 yet? 'Cause Hot Truck should be there. I would kill for a P.M.P."
Etymology: The word is simply an acronym that makes it easier and more effiicint to order at Hot Truck, as the line may often get very long.
- Ryna Rapp

Power nap (noun)
/pQ@w„r nQp/
Definition: A short fifteen to twenty minutes nap taken in the afternoon to quickly restore vitality and awakeness.
Attested: I encountered this term in my PYSCH 101 class. Prof James B. Maas, lecturer of the class, coined up this term in his book "Power Sleep".
Example: "Sleep deprived students (actually I believe all Cornellians are sleep-deprived) in Cornell really ought to take a power nap whenever possible so that the attention level during lectures can be increased.
Etymology: Sleep deprivation is one major problem that the students and staff in Cornell face everyday. Since most of us do not have the luxury to take a full 9 hours sleep each night, the recommended amount of sleep for college students, a short afternoon power nap is the next best solution to give us that extra boost to survive through the day. However, do make sure you do not fall into deep trance while taking the supposedly short nap, otherwise there will be no more day left to talk about. :)
- Chee Yong Lee

Prefrosh (noun)
Pre-frosh / rhymes with free-mosh; /prifrAS/
Definition: pre-freshman. Prospective students who come to visit Cornell to "check it out"
Attested: My roomate volunteered to be an outreach host for the Prospective Candidates Weekend and a few days ago, she got a phonecall from her prefrosh.
Example: "My prefrosh is so retarded she was asking me all these stupid questions about administration procedures so I just gave her the number of the admissions office."
Etymology: Each year, more than 500 prospective fresh people showed up for a first glimpse of the Cornell campus. Future Freshmen Days attract prefrosh to Ithaca for what is usually two days of class visits, panel discussions, information sessions, and social events. Prefrosh are paired off with their hosts.
- Mandy Ma

Pre-game (verb)
'pree-gaim; rhymes with "free-name"; /prigeym/
Definition: to drink in one's dorm or friend's room before you go out at night.
Attested: I first heard this word when someone asked me if I would like to "pre-game" in his room.
Example: "Peter could not make it to the party that night because he got too intoxicated from pre-gaming.
Etymology: I cannot account for the stem of this word however I can guess. People tend to tailgate before sporting events and at tailgate parties typically people drink. Therefore, we can deduce that the word "pre-game" derived from the action of people drinking before they go to the "main event." We can broaden this term to account for drinking before going to any event then, not necessarily having to be a sporting event.
- Lynne Nissen

Primal Scream (noun)
/pra@ym„l skrI$m/
Definition: a tradition at Cornell, performed the night before a finalšexam,šin which students lean out their windows and scream to vent frustration andšanxiety. See also Midnight Scream.
Example: "There's actually talk that people will be cited for participating during this years Primal Scream. Why? Because in previous years some students have been sexually assaulted and no one was able to hear them scream over the other students.
Etymology: The word is formed from primal, referring to the emotional state of the students partaking in the tradition, and scream, the act itself. Apparently the tradition will be discouraged this year and in future years due to some students taking advantage of the screaming to perpetrate nefarious acts against other students.

Pumpkin, The (noun)
/pa@mpkIn/
Definition: For most of the world its just the squash associated with Halloween. for cornellians, its a clocktower decoration.
Attested: This word first took on special meaning when someone executed one of Cornell's all time pranks by perching a huge pumpkin atop cornell's
Example: "Did you see the pumpkin in the New york times today?"
Etymology: from the time the pumpkin was perched atop the bell tower, there was a constant buzz around campus about it. for weeks straight the Sun ran an article about possible ways the pumpkin reached its lofty perch. Thus foreer more, the word pumpkin will inspire a sense of nostalgia for Cornellians who gazed upon it everyday on their way to class never knowing just how it got up there.
- Krista Bendig