What’s up with ketchup? The shifting history and spelling of the name of this condiment. For centuries, ketchup was a fishy sauce originating in Asia—the tomatoes came only later! Plus, a new book shows what’s lost when a language dies: when there...
Ketchup, catsup, and catchup are all anglicized versions of a Chinese dialect term for a type of fish brine. In the 17th century, British and Dutch traders brought the sauce to Europe, and the name evolved, as did the recipe, which eventually...
The English language has been greatly enriched by borrowings from the languages of Asia. Barely scratching the surface, we have from Japan skosh, tycoon, tsunami, origami, yen, kimono, futon, and karaoke. From Chinese comes yen, kowtow, gung ho, and...
Kelly in Norfolk, Virginia, wonders if her hometown is the only place where people specify that they want their burger all the way deluxe, meaning “with all the condiments and toppings.” Other ways to ask for something loaded with those...
Bill calls from Bulverde, Texas, to discuss the word for a technique his Indiana-born family used to get the sluggish last bit of ketchup out of a bottle. They’d add a bit of water, and say they were wabashing it. What possible connection would the...
The word julep, from Persian terms meaning “rose water,” usually refers to a mint-and-bourbon alcoholic beverage with a kick as strong as a Kentucky Derby winner. But one family from North Carolina has a sauce they call julep: a half...