Dive into the delicious world of food etymology! Discover how 'dinner' and 'lunch' evolved through history and social class. Uncover the surprising transformation of 'meat' from a general food term to something more specific. Challenge your perceptions with the debate on whether 'vegetables' even exist. Enjoy quirky tales about food words, including the eye-opening meaning behind 'vanilla.' Get ready for a flavorful exploration of language and culinary traditions!
The evolution of meal terminology like 'breakfast' and 'dinner' reflects significant cultural and societal changes over time.
The ambiguous classification of fruits and vegetables showcases the complexity of language and cultural interpretations in food terminology.
Deep dives
The Origin of Breakfast
The word 'breakfast' literally means to break the fast of the night, highlighting its role as the first meal of the day after a period of fasting during sleep. Interestingly, its usage has evolved over time, referring not only to the morning meal but to any meal after a long duration without food. Literary references, such as those from William Shakespeare and John Dryden, illustrate its broader historical use. The conversation also touches on related meals like 'second breakfast' and '11s', showcasing the variety in meal structure, particularly in English culture.
Evolving Definitions of Meals
The definitions of meals like dinner and supper vary significantly based on regional and class distinctions within England. Traditionally, what one culture considers dinner may be referred to as tea or supper in another, highlighting the food customs that are influenced by social status and geography. The historical context reveals that 'dinner' originally referred to the first substantial meal of the day, which has since shifted to denote the evening meal due to societal changes and the demands of modern life. Additionally, this evolution reflects changes in human behavior and technology, particularly after the Industrial Revolution.
The Confusion Surrounding Food Terms
The podcast delves into the intricate relationships between words like 'meat', 'bread', and 'food', demonstrating how language evolves and often becomes convoluted over time. Once, 'meat' denoted any nourishment, while 'bread' referenced a more general term for food. Historical terms like 'green meat' for vegetables and 'white meat' for dairy further illustrate this complexity. Additionally, linguistic shifts influenced by social hierarchies, such as the Norman Conquest, played a significant role in the current distinctions we make between animal names and their culinary counterparts.
Fruit versus Vegetable Debate
The classification of fruits and vegetables creates a fascinating discourse, particularly with items like tomatoes and avocados, which blur the lines between the two categories. Scientifically, categories lack a uniform standard, allowing for varied interpretations, such as calling a tomato a fruit or vegetable based on culinary use. The discussion also introduces the etymology of terms related to these foods, revealing that many fruits are traditionally associated with apples in the language, such as 'earth apple' for cucumbers and 'Persian apple' for peaches. Ultimately, this leads to humorous and intriguing observations on cultural naming conventions and the historically playful nature of language.
In this episode of Words Unravelled, Rob and Jess explore the delicious origins of our words for foods. They delve into the etymology of "dinner", "lunch" and all manner of mealtime, and ask whether "vegetables" technically even exist. As usual, there are one or two saucy stories to be told too (wait 'til you hear what "vanilla" actually means...).