high table

Head of hall

High table is the formal dining arrangement at British universities, particularly Oxford and Cambridge, where senior members of a college—fellows, dons, and distinguished guests—sit on a raised platform at one end of the dining hall.

The elevated position literally and symbolically separates faculty from students dining below.

The term extends to the meal or social occasion itself: We were invited to high table last evening.

In broader use, high table can suggest any elite or privileged group.

ceremony

procession

Formal moving line

gownsElegant full-length dresses
robesLong loose outer garments
formalityStrict observance of convention

toast · speeches · ritual · honors · decorum · pageantry · inauguration · commemoration · gaudy · matriculation

hierarchy

dais

Raised speaker's platform

elevatedRaised above usual level
platformRaised flat structure
prestigeReputation commanding admiration

status · distinction · privilege · seniority · deference · precedence · separation · authority · faculty · dignitaries

dining

banquet

Formal celebratory meal

feastElaborate ceremonial meal
dinnerPrimary evening meal
seatingAvailable places to sit

silverware · courses · wine · napkin · placement · cutlery · candelabra · linen · glassware · service

oxbridge

fellows

Companions or associates

donsPuts on attire
hallInterior connecting pathway
gownLong formal garment

collegiate · provost · dean · rector · tutor · warden · master · senior · common · room

high table

procession

dais

banquet

fellows

high table

Opposites

Categories

Family