Hamburgers (1883)

[Jonathan Lighter]

This cite is especially interests me, because my grandmother was certain that she didn't become familiar with the word "hamburger" till she was a teenager, ca 1903.  Her earlier word was " 'chopmeat" (initial syllable stressed), which she continued to prefer all her life unless a bun was involved, in which case "hamburger" was it.

  "Chopmeat," as I understod it, was not generally eaten in a sandwich, much less on a specially designed bun, but newfangled "hamburgers" were.  The bun made teh difference.

  JL


  Bapopik at AOL.COM wrote:
  ---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
Sender: American Dialect Society
Poster: Bapopik at AOL.COM
Subject: Hamburgers (1883)
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I got stopped in the street and was asked by someone from Japanese
television about "hamburgers." So I said that it's good you asked that, I'm Barry
Popik...
...
I don't think I posted this article, originally from the New York Sun.
...
...
_NOT EATEN ON THE PREMISES.; Hamburg Steaks and Pork Chops Which Cost but
Little and Are in Great Demand. _
(http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=0&did=589142572&SrchMode=1&sid=7&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1133
393507&clientId=65882)
Boston Daily Globe (1872-1960). Boston, Mass.: Apr 29, 1883. p. 11 (1 page)
...
(New York Sun)
"Give me six Hamburgers, four chops, half a pound of sliced ham and five
cents' worth of pickles," said a bareheaded girl, as she entered a small store
that stands near a towering cigar factory on Second Avenue.
(...)
"Those flat, brown meat cakes on that dish there are Hamburg steaks; the
people call them 'Hamburgers.' They are made from raw meat chopped up with
onions and spices, and are very good."




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