iced tea - Word for the Wise, June 1, 1998

[A. Vine]

>From the Merriam-Webster Web site (http://www.m-w.com/wftw/98jun/060198.htm):

(warning:  Barry, don't read this!)

  June is National Iced Tea Month. Iced tea was introduced in
  1904 at the Saint Louis World's Fair when an Englishman
  unable to sell the heated version because of the hot weather
  was inspired to pour the beverage over ice.

But the interesting thing is that the script goes on to discuss the controversy
about the combinations "ice cream" and "ice water" vs. "iced cream" and "iced
water":

  Commentator Alfred Ayres explained, "What is called
  ice-cream is cream iced; hence, properly, iced cream and not
  ice-cream. The product of melted water is ice-water,
  whether it be cold or warm; but water made cold with ice is
  iced water, and not ice-water."

The thing is, I don't agree with his explanation of ice cream.  We do not pour
cream over ice and call it "ice cream".  We freeze the cream, making it ice,
cream ice, if you will.  So I actually find "ice cream" makes perfect sense.  If
you did want a drink of cream poured over ice, then I suspect you'd call it
"iced cream" to differentiate.

Drink for thought,
Andrea