[Ads-l] crudit=?utf-8?Q?=C3=A9s_?=(1940)

[dave@wilton.net]

The word makes its way into the TV show "The Wire" in episode 3.5, "Straight and True," aired 17 October 2004, David Simon, Ed Burns, and William F. Zorzi, writers. It's played as a joke about the word being unfamiliar to working-class folk:
 
"D'Agostino: Not much of a spread, but you can't go wrong with crudités.
 
"McNulty: Crudity? ... I'm sorry. You know, I came straight from work, or I'd have changed."
 
The scene is at a parent-teacher night at an expensive private school. D'Agostino is an alumna and high-powered political operator, accustomed to high social circles. McNulty is a police detective and not dressed for the occasion. The way the actors play it, McNulty is making a joke, playing on the class differences as a bit of flirtatious banter. (The pair end up sleeping together.) He either knows what crudités are or understands what she is saying via the context.
 
-----Original Message-----
From: "Barretts Mail" <mail.barretts at GMAIL.COM>
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Subject: Re: [ADS-L] crudités (1940)



I asked friends and family the other day about this word. None of them knew it, so neither Oz’s circle of friends nor news stories about him seem to be intersecting with me by at least two degrees. 

I seem to be out of Martha Stewart’s loop as well, and fruit crudité (whether in French https://alimentation.ooreka.fr/qr/voir/675887/quelles-sont-les-crudites <https://alimentation.ooreka.fr/qr/voir/675887/quelles-sont-les-crudites> or English https://www.forkintheroad.co/summer-crudite-platter/ <https://www.forkintheroad.co/summer-crudite-platter/>) is also a thing outside of the mundane bubble occupied by myself and lexicographers.

https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/crudites <https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/crudites>
Assorted raw vegetables served as an hors d'oeuvre, typically with a sauce into which they may be dipped.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crudit%C3%A9s <https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crudit%C3%A9s>
pieces of raw vegetables (such as celery or carrot sticks) served as an hors d'oeuvre often with a dip

Well, Wiktionary has the fruit:
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/crudit%C3%A9s#English <https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/crudit%C3%A9#English>
Raw vegetables often served as an appetizer before a main dish; sometimes including fruits.

And at least I have charcuterie to keep me company even if nobody I know actually says the word.

Benjamin Barrett (he/his/him)
Formerly of Seattle, WA



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