The Big Apple:

An etymological dictionary

Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.

London Broil

"London broil" was popularized by New York City restaurants in the 1920s-1940s; the term "London broil" is seldom used in London, England. It is possible that a New York…

Chinese Chews

"Chinese Chews" appeared in the June 1917 issue of Good Housekeeping, and the recipe was widely reprinted in newspapers. The main ingredients were dates and English walnuts, along with…

Choup (chowder + soup)

"Choup" (formed from the words "chowder" plus "soup") was coined by television cook Rachael Ray with her recipe "Harvest Creamy Corn 'Choup' with…

Turbaconducken (Turducken wrapped in bacon)

A variation of "turkducken" (turkey + duck + chicken) is "turbaconducken" (turkey + bacon + duck + chicken). "Turbaconducken" was first posted on the blog Bacon Today…

Trail Mix

"Trail mix," cited in print from about 1976, is also called "gorp" (cited in print from 1962) and "birdseed" (cited from 1971). A high energy "mix" of…

Teriyaki (Teriyaki sauce)

Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: TeriyakiTeriyaki (kanji: 照り焼き; hiragana: てりやき) is a cooking technique used in Japanese cuisine in which foods are broiled or grilled in a sweet…

Sukiyaki

Japanese "sukiyaki" (also spelled "suki-yaki" in the early 1900s) is cited in English from at least 1911. Sukiyaki quickly became Japan's most famous international dish and…

Clambake (Clam Bake)

The clambake (originally "clam bake" and "clam-bake") is a New England institution for baking clams and, quite often, giving political speeches. Corn, potatoes, onions and…

Seafood

"Sea food" is a common term today, but it wasn't used in the 1700s. "Sea food," if used at that time, had the meaning of the food that sailors ate aboard ship, such as salt…

Ants on a Log (Bugs on a Log)

"Ants on a log" (sometimes called "bugs on a log") is a children's snack that dates to at least 1959. The most common recipe is for a celery stalk (the "log")…