A few broth
August 11, 2006
Our language is a fascinating thing. From the Forgotten English Calendar for August 10, quoting Samuel Pegge’s Anecdotes of the English Language, c. 1800, I learn that in the northern counties of England, the common people will always say “Will you have a few broth?” It seems that they don’t say a a few ale, or a few milk, or a few any other liquid. The writer speculates that it may be an elliptical way of saying, a few spoonfuls of broth, for broth cannot be considered as one of those hermaphroditical words which are singular and plural, such as sheep and deer.
From a sermon at St. Paul’s Cross in 1550: “At ten of the clocke they go to dynner, whereas they be content with a penny pyce of byefe amongst four, having a few potage made of the brothe.”
Can you think of any other liquids of which we might have a few? (Beer doesn’t count.)
Dave
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