Definition
To enter an Oxford or Cambridge college enclosure after the hour to which a student has been restricted.
In Context
- "He broke gates to-day; and then there was something that Grove did'nt seem inclined to be very explicit about."
- "From 12½ to past 2 at a College meeting: we rusticated 'sine die', an ill-conducted idle reckless vagabond named Moore — he had been gated, but he broke gates, shirked Sunday Evening Chapel & went to a Hotel to drink & smoke till they shut up the house & turned him out: —we did a good deal of Bursarial work."
- "Students were frequently caught by the proctors and bulldogs for breaking gates ( i.e. going absent without leave ) ."