Pico de gallo (1958)
Peter Farruggio
pfarr at CAL.BERKELEY.EDU
Sat Jul 29 04:31:28 UTC 2006
Another form of pico de gallo is now sold throughout
California. It's a mixture of chile powder and lime powder sold in a
shaker (like a salt shaker), intended to be sprinkled on fruits to
give them a kick. Pushcart vendors in Mexican neighborhoods sprinkle
it on peeled mangoes on a stick
Pete Farruggio
At 08:41 PM 7/28/2006, you wrote:
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>Sender: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>Poster: Bapopik at AOL.COM
>Subject: Pico de gallo (1958)
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>
>I have endless meetings with relatives (a funeral is tomorrow) and one=20
>served "pico de gallo," prompting this re-check.
>...
>...
>...
>23 February 1958, <i>Independent Star-News</i> (Pasadena, CA), Scene sectio=
>n=20
>(story about Guadalajara, Mexico), pg. 29:
>Ponder this near-fatal event and its historical repercussions over a tequil=
>a=20
>chased by a "pico de gallo" (orange, jicama fruit and small, red and hot=20
>chile pepper) and the stern stuff of the Mexican Revolution will seem real.
>...
>...
>...
>(Oxford English Dictionary)
>pico de gallo, n.
>Chiefly U.S. =20
>[< Mexican Spanish pico de gallo a spicy Mexican relish, lit. =E2=80=98cock=
>erel's=20
>beak=E2=80=99 < Spanish pico (see _PICO-_=20
>(http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/crossref?query_type=3Dfulltext&queryword=3Dpi=
>co+de&first=3D1&max_to_show=3D10&search_spec=3Dfulltext&sor
>t_type=3Dalpha&search_id=3Dny3D-ANeyMp-7671&control_no=3D30005171&result_pla=
>ce=3D4&xre
>fword=3Dpico-&ps=3Dcomb.%20form) comb. form) + de _DE_=20
>(http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/crossref?query_type=3Dfulltext&queryword=3Dpi=
>co+de&first=3D1&max_to_show=3D10&se
>arch_spec=3Dfulltext&sort_type=3Dalpha&search_id=3Dny3D-ANeyMp-7671&control_=
>no=3D30005
>171&result_place=3D4&xrefword=3Dde&ps=3Dprep.) prep. + gallo cockerel (120=
>7; <=20
>classical Latin gallus: see _GALLINE_=20
>(http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/crossref?query_type=3Dfulltext&queryword=3Dpi=
>co+de&first=3D1&max_to_show=3D10&search_spec=3Dfulltext
>&sort_type=3Dalpha&search_id=3Dny3D-ANeyMp-7671&control_no=3D30005171&result=
>_place=3D4
>&xrefword=3Dgalline&ps=3Dadj.) adj.).
>It is uncertain why the Spanish phrase should be used in this sense; one=20
>suggested explanation is that this is due to the heat of the dish
>creating=20=
>a=20
>painful sensation on the tongue, similar to being pecked by a bird.] =20
>A Mexican salsa or salad, typically made with coarsely chopped tomatoes,=20
>onions, lemon juice, chillies, and coriander, and served as an accompanimen=
>t. =20
>1962 Los Angeles Times E17/1 (heading) Pico de Gallo (Comb of the Rooster)=
>.=20
>1970 Pomona (Calif.) Progress-Bull. 20 Feb. B3/5 Mexican fried rice,=20
>orange and cucumber salad called pico de gallo, and lemonade. 1991 Food & W=
>ine=20
>Aug. 79/1 With the addition of cilantro, it is known as pico de gallo, a=20
>popular, all-purpose salsa. 2002 Time Out N.Y. 25 Apr. 35/4 Jamaican-seaso=
>ned=20
>scallops with pico de gallo.
>
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