Interesting histories here. The archaic word “pease”, meaning “pea”, was a collective noun (like “corn” or “wheat”), but it sounded like a plural, which subsequently gave rise to the modern singular “pea” with its own plural “peas”.
As for “porridge”,… after the collapse of the Roman Empire, so much technology was lost that Europe forgot how to bake bread! So for centuries the main staple was boiled grains or legumes; hence the preoccupation of fairy tales and the like with “porridge”, as in Goldilocks.
It wasn’t until Crusaders brought it back from the Middle East that Europe rediscovered bread baking (along with the works of Aristotle, which eventually overturned the Dark Ages and brought about the Renaissance).
Of course, old bread will be hard and maybe moldy, but at least it won’t ferment and stink to the skies like “pease porridge in the pot nine days old”.
Depends on whether or not the pot was kept on the fire all that time. My aunt had a pot of perpetual oatmeal - it sat in the simmer well in her old Wedgewood stove, just ‘perkin away. When it got low, a bit more water and a bit more oatmeal went in. Great stuff.
Interesting interpretation, farren. I’m still leaning to the idea that 9-day-old porridge was expected to be disgusting, but I’m open to the idea it might have referred to a running pot. In fact, Google showed me a site that thinks it refers to a boring diet of the same dish for 9 days running. We’ll probably never know for sure.
pschearer Premium Member over 15 years ago
Interesting histories here. The archaic word “pease”, meaning “pea”, was a collective noun (like “corn” or “wheat”), but it sounded like a plural, which subsequently gave rise to the modern singular “pea” with its own plural “peas”.
As for “porridge”,… after the collapse of the Roman Empire, so much technology was lost that Europe forgot how to bake bread! So for centuries the main staple was boiled grains or legumes; hence the preoccupation of fairy tales and the like with “porridge”, as in Goldilocks.
It wasn’t until Crusaders brought it back from the Middle East that Europe rediscovered bread baking (along with the works of Aristotle, which eventually overturned the Dark Ages and brought about the Renaissance).
Of course, old bread will be hard and maybe moldy, but at least it won’t ferment and stink to the skies like “pease porridge in the pot nine days old”.
farren over 15 years ago
Depends on whether or not the pot was kept on the fire all that time. My aunt had a pot of perpetual oatmeal - it sat in the simmer well in her old Wedgewood stove, just ‘perkin away. When it got low, a bit more water and a bit more oatmeal went in. Great stuff.
pschearer Premium Member over 15 years ago
Interesting interpretation, farren. I’m still leaning to the idea that 9-day-old porridge was expected to be disgusting, but I’m open to the idea it might have referred to a running pot. In fact, Google showed me a site that thinks it refers to a boring diet of the same dish for 9 days running. We’ll probably never know for sure.
Shikamoo Premium Member over 15 years ago
My question is, how did he get hot porrige into his briefcase?
r.dauphinee over 15 years ago
Must have a nice wide-mouth thermos full of the stuff tucked away