"Lunch" is, as you might have guessed, an abbreviation of the more formal "luncheon," much as "trunch" is an abbreviation of "truncheon."* The OED first cites "luncheon" to Hollyband in 1580. Quoth he: "a lumpe, a goblet, a luncheon." (Perhaps a good motto, TLG?)
Though the origins of "luncheon" are unclear, several sources have suggested and I now deem official for all TLG purposes its derivation from "nuncheon [noon + shench]," which referred to a midday drink of ale (sometimes with food). Appearing as early as 1342, this proves that while we, the members of TLG have put our own chance-heavy spin on the process, we are merely continuing a venerated tradition of preprandial drinking and dining.
Long Live Lunch.
*No, really.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
a brief history of lunch (pt I)
Posted by lex at 4:53 PM
Labels: History, history of lunch, I Heart Lunch, Lunch Game
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2 comments:
Did you know: Cinnamon Toast Crunch is actually an abbreviation of Cinnamon Toast Cruncheon.
I wait with the most baited of breaths for "a history of lunch (pt II)" wherein I hope all will learn about lunch's rightful place between second breakfast and tiffin.
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