[Ads-l] 2nd try: Query from reporter concerning restaurant term "check"

[Peter Reitan]

This accoubt from 1901 uses "check" and "bill" in the same article.  The "bill" is the amount owed, the "check" is the paper handed to the customer to be paid.

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106883416/pittsburgh-daily-post/

I speculate it is related to a "check" as an instrument to be paid upon presentation, as when a bank must may a paper check in the amount on its face. Similarly, the customer pays the amount on the dinner "check" when presented.

A reasonable possibility, in any case.
________________________________
From: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> on behalf of Cohen, Gerald Leonard <gcohen at MST.EDU>
Sent: Wednesday, August 3, 2022 2:35:15 PM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Subject: 2nd try: Query from reporter concerning restaurant term "check"

---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Poster:       "Cohen, Gerald Leonard" <gcohen at MST.EDU>
Subject:      2nd try:  Query from reporter concerning restaurant term "check"
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Dear members of ads-l,

 My message about a reporter's query to me concerning "check"
arrived partially in gibberish. Here is a second try at passing along her
request. And again, any help would be very gratefully received.

She wrote (Aug. 3, 2022, 12:11 p.m.):

Hi professor Cohen,
My name is Janet Nguyen, and I'm a reporter for the public radio
program/website Marketplace.  I'm reaching out to you because
I'm currently writing a piece as part of our I've Always Wondered series, w=
here
we answer listener questions, about why people refer to the bill at restaur=
ants
as "the check" (e.g. People will say "check, please!" instead of asking for
"the bill").

I was wondering if you are familiar with its origins or have any insight in=
to why
we might call it that.  If this is a topic you could speak to, would you ha=
ve some time
to chat this week before Friday?  (

This would be for an online, written piece (so no audio recording would be =
publicly posted)

Your time and insight would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you!

Best,

Janet.









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