Supper
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Supper is the name for the evening meal in some dialects of English - ordinarily the last meal of the day. The term is derived from the French souper, which is still used for this meal in Canadian French and sometimes in Belgian French. It is related to soup. It is also related to the German word for soup, suppe. (The OED, however, suggests that the root, "sup," retains obscure origins. OED Online, Accessed 31 Oct 2007.) Other meaningsSupper is always an evening meal, but must be noted that supper is not a common meal in many cultures. In Britain, whereas "dinner" is a fairly formal evening meal, "supper" is used to describe a less formal, simpler family meal. In working class British homes (and also in Australia) "tea" can be used for the evening meal. In some areas in the United Kingdom, supper is a term for a snack eaten after the evening meal and before bed, usually consisting of a warm, milky drink and British biscuits or cereal. In the United Kingdom, particularly in Scots and Scottish English, a fish supper is a portion of fish and chips. In Northern Ireland the word is used also as a modifier in this way for a range of other similar meals, such as a sausage supper or pastie supper, and appears to indicate the addition of chips. In Australian English, supper may refer to a late light dessert or snack (such as toast and cereal) had some time after dinner. In New Zealand it is similar – generally cake and tea/coffee served later in the evening, particularly when people have visitors. In most of the United States and Canada, "supper" and "dinner" are considered synonyms, both served between six and eight o'clock, although in the rural American South serving between three and five o'clock is common. In the south also, dinner can be used to describe the meal at around 11:00 a.m., while supper is used to denote the evening meal. You may also hear poor mans supper in the south which is consistent upon some type of beans such as pintoes, potatoes, fatback, and cornbread. Supper is usually considered lighter fare and a more casual setting, and may be served before a usual dinner time so that evening activities may be unaffected. In the Republic of Ireland, a chicken supper is a meal of chips, gravy, onions, peas and chicken breast. In Portugal, Spain, Latin America, Asia and the Arab World, supper may be taken as late as 10 or 11 p.m. See alsoit:Cena he:ארוחת ערב ja:夜食 no:Kveldsmat pl:Kolacja pt:Ceia ru:Ужинzh-yue:宵夜 |
