It was coined by a New York sportswriter in the 1930s in reference to the schools 'rivalries in football and other sports.
原來這些貴族子弟們酷愛橄欖球（美式足球），彼此間也常有橄欖球及各種運動的校際比賽，再加上原本就氣質相近，用各校共有的、象徵古老優雅的景觀特色﹘﹘「長春藤」﹘﹘一詞來統稱倒也貼切。