Where did the word picnic come from

A picnic is where did the word picnic come from meal taken outdoors al fresco as part of an excursionespecially in scenic surroundings, such as a parklakeside, or other place affording an interesting view, or else in conjunction with a public event such as preceding an open-air theater performance, [1] and usually in summer or spring. It is different from other meals because it requires free time to leave home. History shows us that the idea of a meal that was jointly contributed to and enjoyed out-of-doors was essential to picnic from the early 19th century.

Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe. Frederick Douglass. Is it true that the word picnic originally came from the word pick-a-nig or pick-a-nigger? Apparently, a black person was randomly "picked" and hanged for the entertainment of whites. The whites, including families, ate from box lunches while enjoying the barbaric act. If this is true we should stop using the word picnic, replacing it with outing or gathering. Your question has several components; we will address each component.

Where did the word picnic come from

Picnics are a fun and inexpensive way to spend time with family and friends and enjoy the fresh air and sunlight. Though picnics have been around since the beginning of human existence, the modern picnic was shaped in the 18th century — long before plastic containers and the invention of the thermos. Some time in the 17th century, the meaning of the word changed to mean dining outside on a blanket. This change likely occurred after the French term was substituted by the English word. In the Middle Ages, picnics occurred during royal hunts, which typically started as formal affairs but could quickly become wild and excessive. These picnics were often depicted in artwork, such as the ballads of Robin Hood and the Bayeux tapestry. The Victorians also enjoyed picnics — but they believed picnics could be enjoyed by all, not just the wealthy. Common picnic foods during the 19th century included roast duck or chicken, meat pie, plum pudding, cheesecake and cold roast beef. To drink, picnickers would have beer, clarety, sherry and brandy. The frankfurter made its way from Germany to American shores during the 19th century and was remade into the hot dog, which became a staple at baseball games, street side food carts and eventually picnics. Another interesting tidbit about picnics is the fact that potluck — a predecessor of the modern picnic — dates back to the Great Depression in the s. With millions of Americans pinching pennies and doing their best to put food on the table, one of the best ways to feed everyone was to ask each guest to bring a dish and share with everyone. Many picnics today are a form of potluck, where guests bring casseroles, pies and dips.

The Lynching of Cleo Wright. The New Statesman Uk Edition. Parties and festivals.

How do we have these necessary conversations about language without sounding like the language police? The idea was surprising to many, but old news to others. Etymologically speaking , picnic — from the French words pique-nique — is nothing more than a potluck dinner. Yet when Southern white people made lynchings a regular occurrence at picnics, the word took on a different meaning for Black Americans. And a global pandemic disproportionately killing people of color coupled with the unjust deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd have left many Americans asking: How did we get here?

Detail of Bayeux Tapestry: William at the battle of Hastings. Image by Myrabella, , licensed under Creative Commons. Men, women, and children sitting on blankets and eating and drinking in a bucolic setting. One man is playing the guitar. The English word picnic ultimately comes from the French pique-nique , although it may have come via German. The French word originally referred to a meal where everyone paid for or contributed their share of the food, but later came to mean a meal eaten outdoors. The pique comes from the verb piquer , to stick or sting, to bite like an insect. So, a pique-nique would be a light, informal meal, where one would leisurely pick at and nibble food. But the proximate source for early appearances of the English word may have been the German Picknick , which is also borrowed from the French. And the earliest recorded use of the word in English is in a German context.

Where did the word picnic come from

The first picnics were a favourite pastime of the aristocracy, and purely indoor affairs. In the 19th century, the emergent middle classes moved lunch outdoors. It is hard to disagree with W. Even if ants and wasps occasionally join the fun, picnics are the very epitome of innocent pastoral delight. What is certain, however, is that, originally, it did not refer to anything we would now recognise as a picnic. Picnics really started to come into their own during the 18th century. Attendees were still required to contribute, but, as Philibert-Joseph Le Roux pointed out in his Dictionnaire comique, satyrique, critique, burlesque, libre et proverbial , they could either bring a dish or drink as before , or pay a share of the cost. Much like other features of salon life, they were associated with conversation and wit — and, as such, were often seen as intellectual refinement. Picnics were, however, nothing if not adaptable. The French Revolution changed everything, though.

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Britannica English: Translation of picnic for Arabic Speakers. Outdoor games or some other form of entertainment are common at large picnics. In , a fashionable group of over aristocratic Londoners formed the Pic Nic Society. Tables and chairs may be used but this is less common. Understand that language denotes value. Examples of picnic in a Sentence. Allow us to teach our story correctly and respect when we say NO! Webster's Third New International Dictionary. Capeci, a historian, when it came to lynching, "one black man served as well as another. The term picnic does not appear in the English language until around The members were Francophiles, or may have been French, [9] who flaunted their love for all things French when the wars with France lulled between and There were many blacks lynched randomly, to send a message of white supremacy to black communities. Yet when Southern white people made lynchings a regular occurrence at picnics, the word took on a different meaning for Black Americans.

About this rating. Specious etymologies seem to be all the rage of late, and a dubious claim about 'picnic' fits that trend:. This e-mail is being sent to you as a public service announcement and as information in the form of a little known Black History Fact.

A borrowing from French. Know that changing the words you choose can make a difference. London: Grub Street. While these outdoors meals could be called picnics there are, according to Levy, reasons not to do so. Article Talk. In other projects. Oh my! Top 10 Words of Summer Where did 'frisbee' come from? Although many contemporary etymologists smugly dismiss this claim, it should be noted that there is a kernel of truth in this month's question. In The Oxford Companion to Food , Alan Davidson offers hard-boiled eggs, sandwiches and pieces of cold chicken as good examples. Your question has several components; we will address each component. Native American people made it crystal clear, for decades now, that the name of the Washington team was offensive to them. Etymologically speaking , picnic — from the French words pique-nique — is nothing more than a potluck dinner.