Matchstick Potatoes (Matchstick Fries)

A matchstick is a short and narrow piece of material (usually wood); food, such as carrots, is often cut up into small slices that resemble matchsticks. “Matchstick potatoes” are slender potatoes that are deep fried.
 
“Matchstick potatoes” has been cited in print since at least 1948. “Matchstick fries” (matchstick french fried potatoes) has been cited in print since at least 1983. Matchstick potatoes are sometimes called “shoestring potatoes.” Potato sticks are made with shoestring/matchstick potatoes.
 
“Matchstix” is the name of a cut of carrots, trademarked since 1998.
 
   
The Free Dictionary
match·stick (mchstk)
n.
1. A short slender piece of wood from which a match is made.
2. Something similar to a matchstick, as in slenderness or strength.
adj.
Short, narrow, and slender: matchstick arms; matchstick slices of potato.
 
Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary
match·stick noun \ˈmach-ˌstik\
Definition of MATCHSTICK
1: a slender piece especially of wood from which a match is made
2: something resembling a matchstick especially in slenderness “cut a carrot into matchsticks”
Examples of MATCHSTICK
Cut the peppers into pieces the size of matchsticks.
First Known Use of MATCHSTICK
1791
 
Food.com
Kitchen Dictionary: french fry
Potatoes that have been cut into strips, soaked in cold water, blotted dry, then deep-fried to a crisp golden brown. They are not named for the country, but rather the method of cutting the potatoes—“french” means to slice into thin strips. Matchstick-wide fries are called shoestring potatoes, and the very thick strips are called steak fries.
 
Google Books
Book of Etiquette:
A complete guide to traditional forms and modern usage
By Millicent Fenwick
New York, NY: Simon and Schuster
1948
Pg. 323:
Any of the potatoes suggested on page 486 could be used and, in addition, there are roast potatoes, mashed potatoes, and French fried or matchstick potatoes.
   
22 June 1949, Salt Lake Tribune (Salt Lake City, UT), “Shrimp Makes Tasty Change,” pg. 17, col. 5:
If you haven’t scallop shells, use little custard cups or ramekins, so that you can set the hot dish right down in the middle of a dinner plate and arrange the cold vegetable and matchstick potatoes around it.
 
Google Books
Ulterior Motives
By David Garnett
New York, NY: Harcourt, Brace & World
1967, ©1966
Pg. 182:
This was followed by roast pheasant, with braised celery, salad of scarole and match-stick potatoes.
   
Google Books
The World of the Restaurateur
By H. Berberoglu
Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt
1981
Pg. 40:
Allumettes — matchstick potatoes.
 
14 July 1983, Winchester (VA) Star, “What to Do with Zucchini” by Pierre Franey, pg. 22, cols. 2-3:
This device has two interchangeable grates, one for fairly thick fries and one for what the French call pommes frites allumettes, or matchstick fries.
   
Google Books
November 1983, Texas Monthly, pg. 33, col. 1:
Barbecue, steaks, and seafood cooked over mesquite are the staples, plus matchstick fries, great Dirty Rice (has the Cajun stamp of approval from a friend), and vegetables mom would approve of (brussels sprouts, new potatoes, corn on the cob, fried okra, to name some).
   
Google Books
The Interstate Gourmet—Texas and the Southwest
By Barbara Rodriguez and Tom Miller
New York, NY: Summit Books
1986
Pg. 113:
Watching the old boys gobble matchstick fries and burgers, served straight or with chile, cheese, and bacon, we knew Gil’s was our kind of place.
 
(Trademark)
Word Mark MATCHSTICK FRIES
Goods and Services (CANCELLED) IC 029. US 046. G & S: French fried potatoes for consumption on and off the premises. FIRST USE: 19951015. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19951015
Mark Drawing Code (1) TYPED DRAWING
Serial Number 75009150
Filing Date October 23, 1995
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Published for Opposition October 15, 1996
Registration Number 2028513
Registration Date January 7, 1997
Owner (REGISTRANT) Brinker Restaurant Corporation CORPORATION DELAWARE 6820 LBJ Freeway Dallas TEXAS 75240
(LAST LISTED OWNER) BRINKER INTERNATIONAL PAYROLL COMPANY, L.P. LIMITED PARTNERSHIP 6820 LBJ FREEWAY DALLAS TEXAS 75240
Assignment Recorded ASSIGNMENT RECORDED
Disclaimer NO CLAIM IS MADE TO THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO USE “FRIES” APART FROM THE MARK AS SHOWN
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator DEAD
Cancellation Date October 11, 2003
 
(Trademark)
Word Mark PREMIUM MATCHSTIX FRENCH-CUT COOKING CARROTS
Goods and Services IC 029. US 046. G & S: Packaged cut vegetables, namely, carrots. FIRST USE: 19980601. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19980601
Standard Characters Claimed
Mark Drawing Code (4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK
Serial Number 78951499
Filing Date August 14, 2006
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Published for Opposition April 10, 2007
Registration Number 3256053
Registration Date June 26, 2007
Owner (REGISTRANT) Wm. Bolthouse Farms, Inc. CORPORATION MICHIGAN 7200 East Brundage Lane Bakersfield CALIFORNIA 93307
Assignment Recorded ASSIGNMENT RECORDED
Attorney of Record James B. Muskal
Disclaimer NO CLAIM IS MADE TO THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO USE “COOKING CARROTS” APART FROM THE MARK AS SHOWN
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL-2(F)
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE