I always wanted to be invited to the wayzgoose. Because only printing house staff could go, it was an enticing mystery — one assumed all sorts of excess and high-jinks. No doubt, although more picturesquely named, it was just like any other office outing.
Wayzgoose is defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as “Originally, an entertainment given by a master-printer to his workmen ‘about Bartholomew-tide’ (24 August), marking the beginning of the season of working by candle-light. In later use, an annual festivity held in summer by the employees of a printing establishment, consisting of a dinner and (usually) an excursion into the country.”
Wikipedia’s entry starts with the OED definition and takes off from there. I never did make it to one.
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