lunch English · revision 4000

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=clipping|attested=1786|origins=en luncheon}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /lʌntʃ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a shortening of [[luncheon]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998) which is of uncertain origin^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) and appears to be the same as an older lunch “thick piece, hunk” (1570s),^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(Cresswell 2021) perhaps from [[lump]]^(Etymonline) or from Spanish lonja “slice”.^(Hoad 1986)^(Cresswell 2021)^(SOED 2002) There was also a contemporary nuncheon “light midday meal”, from noon and Middle English schench “drink”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A small meal between breakfast and dinner: 1786 in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) 1829 in the OED and Barnhart.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) Merriam-Webster dates the noun to 1812 and the verb to 1811.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Until the 19th century a light midday meal was a luncheon,^(Cresswell 2021) and when lunch appeared in the 1820s people regarded it either as lower-class or as a fashionable affectation.^(Cresswell 2021) The meal grew from a light snack (mid-17th century) to a full meal in the 19th century.^(Cresswell 2021) Old English had nonmete “noon-meat”.^(Etymonline) The verb is attested from 1786,^(Etymonline) and 1823 in Isaac D'Israeli according to Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) ''Out to lunch'', “crazy, unaware”, is North American slang from 1955,^(OED 1989) and ''there's no such thing as a free lunch'' was used in the 1950s among American economists.^(Cresswell 2021) In northern and eastern English dialect a lunch was a lump or large slice of bread or meat.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1570s – a thick piece, a hunk.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1786 – a light meal; verb.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1823 – verb, to take lunch.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1829 – noun in the OED.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1955 – ''out to lunch''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A meal eaten in the middle of the day.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # The food for such a meal.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To eat lunch.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To give lunch to.^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[luncher]]

+ * [[lunchless]]

+ * [[lunchtime]]

+ * [[prelunch]]

+ * [[brunch]]

+ * [[lunchroom]]

+ * [[box lunch]]

+ * [[free lunch]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[luncheonette]]

+ * [[luncheon]]

+ * [[lump]]

+ * [[nuncheon]]

+ * [[noon]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}