"sammies"; was: Becky Mercuri's book American Sandwich

[Wilson Gray]

On Feb 5, 2005, at 12:11 PM, Cohen, Gerald Leonard wrote:

> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       "Cohen, Gerald Leonard" <gcohen at UMR.EDU>
> Subject:      Re: "sammies"; was:  Becky Mercuri's book  American
> Sandwich
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> --------
>
> Yesterday Wilson Gray reacted quizically to the term "sammies" in a
> message
> from sandwich-researcher Becky Mercuri.  I therefore forwarded his
> message to
> her and now share her reply below with ads-l.
>
> Gerald Cohen
>
>         ******************
>
>> Gerald:
>>
>> Apparently, Mr.Gray is asking about the use of the term "sammies" in
>> the Houston Chronicle article?
>>
>> I never even questioned the use, since it's a very common term among
>> people I talk to daily - my own area (Western New York State), food
>> writers, chefs, cooks, sandwich fans, and now, of course, we see it's
>> used and likely common (or at least understood) in Houston.
>>
>> There is reference to the term in the ADSL archives by Barry Popik:
>> item 020543 dated 02/02/24:   SAMMIE--a sandwich.
>>
>> I would classify it among the other common terms in use for sandwich,
>> including sangwich and sammich. I say "common" because I hear these
>> terms frequently and interchangeably all over the country. In many
>> cases, I think people use the terms deliberately, often because it
>> was part of their childhood vocabulary which, in turn, relates
>> sandwiches to favorite food - perhaps even "comfort food." Maybe
>> these are terms of endearment for the sandwich, a beloved American
>> food that has certainly assumed a position of prominence in our food
>> culture.
>>
>> I hope this makes sense to you. I am, quite obviously, not a
>> professional when it comes to words and their use, but I do take
>> careful note of what I hear from the public when I'm researching
>> food.
>>
>> Best,
>> Becky
>>
>

The use of "sammie/sammy" as a (nick)name/slang term for "sandwich" is
new to me. Thank you for going to the trouble to explain it to me.

-Wilson Gray