What does "lavalier" mean?

CallaLily · #1 02-08-2011, 10:22 PM

First, let me say that I did a bit of searching and only could find threads on "When is it appropriate to lavalier -person-?"

If I did miss the "What is lavalier?" thread I'm very sorry.

Second, I'm not in a Greek org (yet, hopefully).

Third, what does lavalier mean? I've read a few threads where some fraternity men are asking when they can lavalier their long time girlfriends and a one thread mentioned a young woman saying she wanted her Big to lavalier her. ((Link at bottom))

http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=118219
It's the last post on the second page.

Drolefille · #2 02-08-2011, 10:38 PM

Wait, haven't we had someone with a similar SN troll before?

Assuming the best:
A lavalier is a necklace with an organizations greek letters on it.
To be lavaliered is a tradition that varies a bit based on organization and chapter. For many fraternities, the tradition is that the guy "lavaliers" his girlfriend as a sign that they are serious. Kind of like getting "pinned" but without the risk of losing his pin.

For many sororities, lavaliers are given as big/little gifts, or by parents as initiation presents or in other traditional non-romantic senses at least traditionally.

CallaLily · #3 02-08-2011, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Wait, haven't we had someone with a similar SN troll before?

Assuming the best:
A lavalier is a necklace with an organizations greek letters on it.
To be lavaliered is a tradition that varies a bit based on organization and chapter. For many fraternities, the tradition is that the guy "lavaliers" his girlfriend as a sign that they are serious. Kind of like getting "pinned" but without the risk of losing his pin.

For many sororities, lavaliers are given as big/little gifts, or by parents as initiation presents or in other traditional non-romantic senses at least traditionally.

I'm not a troll, this is a new account because I will be going through recruitment a second time and revealed a bit too much information on my previous account.

Oooh. The phrase "Getting pinned" makes so much more sense now.

Thank you for the explanation. :]

Titchou · #4 02-08-2011, 11:50 PM

Did you even think to try the dictionary?

CallaLily · #5 02-09-2011, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titchou

Did you even think to try the dictionary?

I did, as well as google.

All I kept finding was "A necklace or pin fraternity men give to their long term girlfriends," but nothing that said anything about sororities.

arrow13 · #6 02-09-2011, 04:58 AM

Actually, I have a question about that too. So you can give someone their own letters? Like when Casey's boyfriend Max gave her a ZBZ lavalier because he wasn't Greek? I didn't really understand that.

XAntoftheSkyX · #7 02-09-2011, 05:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arrow13

Actually, I have a question about that too. So you can give someone their own letters? Like when Casey's boyfriend Max gave her a ZBZ lavalier because he wasn't Greek? I didn't really understand that.

Well generally, the idea behind the lavalier is 'You are as important to me as my letters are.'

If I were to lavalier someone, whether they themselves are greek or not, it would be with my letters. I'm guessing what you saw was on the TV show Greek? Non-greeks don't have letters to give, so they can't give someone else letters.

Titchou · #8 02-09-2011, 08:32 AM

Should have tried Webster's.....a lavalier is a pendant (of any kind) on a small chain. Ergo, anyone could give anyone a lavalier. In Greekdom though, it is the Greek letters of one of two people's organization. So, a male could give a female his letters designed in a lavalier (which signifies a close relationship between the two people like when they give class rings in high school). If he gave her one with her letters, it's just a nice gift. And also, one sister/friend could give another sister/friend a lavalier with the recpicient's letters.

DeltaBetaBaby · #9 02-09-2011, 10:05 AM

On my campus, non-Greek men could "pearl" their girlfriend. A man would give her a necklace with a single pearl, and she would get the candle-lighting or whatever, and the ad in the student paper and all that.

And now that I just re-read my post, I noticed for the first time how dirty it sounds.