Why are sandwiches called sandwiches?

[BigToque]

They aren't made of sand, they're made from bread. Why not call it a Breadwich?

 

[Raspewtin]

Something to do with the Earl of Sandwich in England. At least that's what i heard.

 

[kassy]

The word 'sandwich' for an item of food was possibly named after John Montagu who was the 4th Earl of Sandwich. It is said that in approx.1762, he asked for meat to be served between slices of bread, to avoid interrupting a gambling game.

Hereditary English titles can be confusing. The family of the Earls of Sandwich has no real connection to the town itself, only the title. The 1st Earl, Edward Montagu, originally intended to take the title of the Earl of Portsmouth - this may have been changed as a compliment to the town of Sandwich, because the fleet he was commanding in 1660 was lying off Sandwich, before it sailed to bring back Charles II to England.

It is generally thought here,that the word 'sandwich' as an item of food, has no connection with the town, only with John Montagu, who happened to have the title, a 'sandwich' could just as easily have been called a 'portsmouth' if the 1st Earl, Edward Montagu, had not changed his mind.

 

[BigToque]

whoa... thanks guys

 

[BigSmooth]

For questions like this, I usually check out Britannica.com.

Or for more esoteric stuff, I check out The Straight Dope.

If it's more technical, I sometimes check out How Stuff Works.

 

[MrBond]

Now I'm all hungry

 

[Amused]

Me too. I could go for a hot Pastrami sandwich on rye.

Mmmmmmmmmm

 

[yakko]

Cause if we called them mudwiches no one would eat them.

 

[Platypus]

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