Delish (delicious)

“Delish” is another way of saying “delicious” and has been cited in print since at least 1920. Television chef Rachael Ray has made “delish” one of her catchwords, re-popularizing the word in the culinary world in the 2000s.
   
There are many “delish” trademarks. A food product named “Delish” was sold in 1921.
     
   
Merriam Webster’s Online Dictionary
Main Entry: de·lish
Pronunciation: \di-ˈlish\
Function: adjective
Etymology: by shortening & alteration
Date: 1920
: delicious
 
(Oxford English Dictionary)
delish, a.
Colloq. abbrev. of DELICIOUS a.
1920 Punch 14 Jan. 38/1 Their music, I gather, is wholly delish.
1953 ‘N. BLAKE’ Dreadful Hollow 51 Have a glass of port, won’t you? It’s rather delish.
1962 Woman 12 May 40/1 Making delish dishes for a picnic.
   
Google Books
14 January 1920 Punch, pg. 38, col. 1:       
Their music, I gather, is wholly delish.
 
6 December 1921, Salt Lake Telegram (Salt Lake City, UT), pg. 17 ad:
“Delish”
 
9 December 1921, Salt Lake Telegram (Salt Lake City, UT). pg. 22 ad:
DELISH
THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
WONDER FOOD
Whether breakfast, dinner, luncheon or supper—Delish proves a wonderful part of any meal. There are more than a score of ways in which it can be prepared. Delish can be served as a dessert, in place of meat or vegetables—it proves a delightful breakfast dish in place of a cereal and tastes equally good as a custard. You’ll like Delish used instead of dressing for your roast or fowl an when prepared with cheese Delish has no equal as a dinner dish.
 
Google Books
“Chickie” a hidden, tragic chapter from the life of a girl of this strange “today”
By Elenore Meherin
New York, NY: Grosset & Dunlap
1925
Pg. 102:
“Except a little lunch—some sandwiches?”
“That you’ll make with your little fingers? Ah — delish!”
 
Google Books
The stooping Venus: a novel
By Bruce Marshall
New York, NY: E.P. Dutton & company
1926
Pg. 106:
“That will be perfectly delish. I do love trains. Especially French ones.”
 
Google Books
Hula; a romance of Hawaii
By Armine Von Tempski
New York, NY: Stokes
1927
Pg. 38:
“Delish! Nothing gives me such joy as to see another woman fail.”
     
OCLC WorldCat record
You’re simply delish : from film “Those Three French Girls”.
Author: Joseph Meyer
Publisher: ©1930.
Edition/Format: Musical score : English
 
OCLC WorldCat record
Delish : from garden to table
Author: Neville Passmore; Trevor Cochrane; Garden Gurus (Firm)
Publisher: [Dianella, W.A.] : Garden Gurus, 2005.
Edition/Format: Book : English
 
OCLC WorldCat record
Delish! : the J.W. Jackson recipes
Author: Philip R Craig; Shirley Prada Craig
Publisher: Edgartown, MA (RR1 Box 65B9, Edgartown, MA 02539) : Vineyard Stories, ©2006.
Edition/Format: Book : English
 
Slashfood
What’s the most annoying Rachael Ray catchphrase?
by Bob Sassone, Posted Dec 11th 2007 @ 12:33PM
There are several “Rachael Rayisms” (I think she coined the term herself), and we all have our favorite. Or should I say our least favorite of all the ones we don’t like.
 
Mine used to be “EVOO,” but that has become such a part of the everyday food lexicon that I consider it a real food term now and not just something that Ray says (in fact, I believe the Oxford Dictionary just added it?). I’m gonna go with “Delish,” because it embodies everything that’s silly about the worst cooking shows and just overall lameness.