Unusual names for cutlery

[Wilson Gray]

I haven't the foggiest, but I do recall that 1847 Rogers Bros.
sponsored the old radio program, "Fibber Magee(sp?) and Molly" and that
the couple lived at 1847 Rogers Road.

-Wilson Gray

On Jan 19, 2005, at 2:55 PM, Jesse Sheidlower wrote:

> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Jesse Sheidlower <jester at PANIX.COM>
> Subject:      Unusual names for cutlery
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> --------
>
> No, I'm not talking about runcible spoons.
>
> A friend who is working on a late-nineteenth century American
> cutlery catalogue has e-mailed a question about certain
> descriptive (?) words found with the names of each piece of
> cutlery.
>
> Her message is below. Note her observations that the words
> are generally in the same alphabetical range (two different
> ranges, the difference between which is unclear), and notably
> that many of the words are not complimentary, which would seem
> to argue against an adopted name for a particular kind of
> piece.
>
> Anyone have an idea what the purpose of these words is?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Jesse Sheidlower
> OED
>
> ----- begin included message -----
>
> Catalogue no. 43 of the Meriden Britannia Company, published around
> 1890 in Meriden, CT (the date is uncertain), shows spoons, forks, and
> knives from the product line known as "1847 Rogers Bros." The various
> patterns are illustrated, with descriptive lists of the pieces in each
> pattern. What fascinates and intrigues me are the words listed to the
> left of each item. For instance, here are some examples from the
> "Lotus" price list:
>
> SPOONS                                                           Extra
> plate, per dozen
>
> Leper                   Mustard                                 $4.75
> Leporine                Salt, Individual                         3.75
> Letterbox               Vegetable                               36.00
>
> FORKS
>  etc.
>
> Levigated               Pickle, Long
> Levitical               Fruit
> Lewdly                  Child's
> Lewdness                Fish
>
> KNIVES
>
> Lexicology              Fish
> Lexigraphy              Pie
>
> SHELLS
>
> Libellous               Sugar
>
> SIFTERS
>
> Magically               Sugar
>
> CHILD'S SETS
>
> Libertine               No. 192
>
> LADLES
>
> Libidinous              Cream
> Licentious              Medium
> Licorice                Soup
>
> Under the "Columbia" Pattern we find:
>
> SPOONS
>
> Daunted                 Egg
> Dauphin                 Ice Cream
> Dayspring               Orange
> Limewater               Ice, Perforated Bowls
> Deaconry                Bouillon
>
> FORKS
>
> Deafness                Dessert
> Deathbed                Oyster
> Deathless               Fruit
> Debauch                 Child's
> Limitedly               Cake
> Debility                Fish
>
> and so on. The insertion of various words beginning with "L" breaks up
> the alphabetical order, which is not in any case consistent in the
> catalogue. I really can't figure out what's going on -- it would make
> sense to me if positive words were attached to the pieces, but at least
> half of them are decidedly negative. No key is provided.
>
> ----- end included message -----
>