A square meal

Posted by Gary on May 14, 2003

In Reply to: A square meal posted by toastie on May 14, 2003

: this term I belive actually comes from medevil castles, where meals were served on square bits of bread, thus letting the gravey and the sorts soak in, and if the person eating the meal felt generous he/she would through the bread out of the window to the peasants below, who would then eat the bread as there "square meal"

I can't find any evidence to support that. In William Brohaugh's 'English Through the Ages', the phrase is cited as having entered the language in 1840 - far too late for the mediaeval theory. I think the correct derivation is at www.phrases.org.uk meanings square-meal.html - Origin of the saying 'square meal'

• A square meal & on the fiddle James Briggs 05/15/03
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