Steak Fingers (West Texas drive-in food, 1950s) (UNCLASSIFIED)

[Barry A. Popik]

In a message dated 10/11/2007 10:50:51 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
Bill.Mullins at US.ARMY.MIL writes:

Isn't  the relevant sense of "finger" already covered in the  OED?:

9. a. A short and narrow piece of any  material.    b. Short for 
finger-biscuit (see 14b).

1846  FRANCATELLI Mod. Cook 397 Fingers, or Naples biscuits. 1865 Athenæum 
No. 1989.  803/2 Elderberry wine and fingers of toast.

The fact that it is  colocated with steak, chicken, or any of several other 
items (Googling shows  catfish, turkey, pork, beef, potato, sweet potato, 
shrimp, calamari, eggplant,  cornbread, french toast, doughnut, etc.) doesn't 
necessarily mean it should  get a new entry, does it?


...
...
Yes, it is true that there are many foods that are called "fingers." But  
"steak fingers" are more than merely "short and narrow pieces" of steak. They  
are breaded and deep-fried. 
...
For example, OED (Second Edition, 1989) has this in its "steak"  entry:
"attrib. and Comb., as steak dinner, -meat,  pie,  piece,  pudding,  
sandwich;"



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