An etymological dictionary

Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases.

“Don’t Mess With Texas”

"Don't Mess With Texas" is the famous 1985-86 anti-littering campaign of the Texas Department of Transportation. The slogan has been nominated for Madison Avenue's advertising…

Yoo Hoo (soft drink and slang phrase)

"Yoo Hoo" is a popular chocolate soft drink. The New York Yankees helped to advertise the drink in the 1950s, and Yankee star Yogi Berra has long promoted the product. The phrase…

Texas Trash (Chex mix dish)

Chex cereal has a dish called "Texas Trash." The dish was popular in the 1970s and 1980s, but the exact origins are uncertain. Wikipedia: Chex MixChex Mix (stylized as Chex mix) is a type…

Chuck Wagon

The "chuck wagon" has been recognized as an official state vehicle of Texas. It is often claimed that the "chuck wagon" was invented by Charles Goodnight during his cattle drive…

Armadillo Eggs (stuffed jalapeños)

"Armadillo eggs" are jalapeño peppers stuffed with cheese. Armadillos don't lay eggs. It's not known who coined the name. 15 August 1992, San Francisco (CA) Chronicle, pg.…

Chicken Fried Steak (CFS); Country Fried Steak

Chicken fried steak (CFS) is one of the most popular dishes in Texas. It contains no chicken. The exact origins of the dish (sometimes called "country fried steak") are unclear.…

“National Drink of Texas” (Dr. Pepper)

Dr. Pepper (a soft drink) is sometimes humorously called "the national drink of Texas." Dr. Pepper has called itself "the world's oldest major soft drink" and "the…

Texas Caviar (black-eyed peas)

"Texas caviar" is the name for pickled black-eyed peas. Helen Corbitt helped to popularize the dish, but she didn't invent the name. The dish is sometimes called "Cowboy…

Singapore Chili Crab Festival

The Singapore Chili Crab Festival began in 2004. http://www.tigerbeer.us/newyork/history.php#Sunday,August 6th, Tiger Beer is proud to present the 3rd Annual Tiger Beer Singapore Chili Crab…

Son-of-a-Bitch Stew (Son-of-a-Gun Stew)

"Son-of-a-bitch stew" (or the more politely titled "son-of-a-gun stew") is a cowboy stew with a little bit of everything in it. In the closing years of the range (by the early…

Brazilian Film Festival

The Brazilian Film Festival is an annual event that began in 2003. http://www.brazilianfilmfestival.com/2006/scripts_eng/home.asp4th Brazilian Film Festivalof New YorkAugust 06 to 13The Brazilian…

Tex-Mex (cuisine)

"Tex-Mex" (never "Mex-Tex") became popular in the 1960s as the name of a cuisine. (Oxford English Dictionary)Tex-Mex, a. and n.Also Texmex. A Texan style of cooking using…

Oysters Rockefeller

"Oysters Rockefeller" (also called "Huitres en Coquille a la Rockefeller" and "Huitres, a la Rockefeller" was invented at Antoine's Restaurant in New Orleans,…

German Chocolate Cake

"German chocolate cake" is from Texas? The story is familiar to food historians. The cake's name is from German's chocolate, a chocolate named after Sam German. A Texas…

BX (Bronx)

"BX" has long meant "the Bronx," but the hip-hop popularity of the term dates from the mid-late 1990s. "BK" has been used for Brooklyn. Urban Dictionarybxshort for the…

BK (Brooklyn)

"BK" is a recent abbreviation for "Brooklyn." It's become popular since 2000, when Burger King began its "BK" campaign (trademarked from July 31, 2000).…