By Dawn Smith-Pfeifer
As a "communications" type, I'm intrigued by the ever-changing nature of our language. But I never really thought about how that ever-changing nature impacts what we call our food and how we relate to it. Then I read a story about antiquated words to share around the holiday table, and I was immediately hooked.
So I did what any person who finds these kinds of things facinating. I started googling.
I found this fun site that visually showed a timeline of words that have gone in and out of fashion. And I have to admit, the ones about food were largely new to me.
Here are a couple from that site that made me giggle.
Then: Love apple Modern equivalent:Tomato
Used in a sentence: I love apples but I think I need a love apple on my bacon and lettuce sandwich.
Then: Kickshaw Modern equivalent: A fancy but insubstantial cooked dish
Used in a sentence: I spent all day in the kitchen making this kickshaw and I'm so hungry I could eat a provender.
And while the old television westerns often used the words vittles, every once in awhile, the word "victuals" came up and I just thought, "Pffft! It's vittles, silly, not victuals." But it turns out victuals was pretty commonly used, as were the words aliment and viand and they all basically mean "food."
And then there are adjectives to describe victuals that are esculent or comestible (or in modern parlance, fit to be eaten). And even a word used to describe watching someone eat: groak.
It's entirely fascinating and fun. Well it is to me, anyway. So tell me, what would you rather have? A receipt for numbles and small beer or a sweetmeat and sippet?
Translation: A receipt [recipe] for numbles [a deer's entrails as food] and small beer [weak beer] or a sweetmeat [item of confectionery or sweet food] and a sippet [small piece of bread or toast for dipping into soup or sauce.]
Seems like a clear win for the sweetmeat and sippet, to me! :)
Smith-Pfeifer is married and the mother of a young adult son and a daughter who is a senior in high school. Her family would choose sweetmeat and sippet over numbles and small beer any day.