Tiffin: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|type of meal in South Asia}}
{{Short description|Type of meal in South Asia}}
{{Other uses|Tiffin (disambiguation)}}{{Meals}}
{{Other uses|Tiffin (disambiguation)}}{{Meals}}


'''Tiffin''' is an [[Indian English]] word for a type of meal. It refers to a light tea-time meal at about 3pm, or to a light breakfast consisting of typical tea-time foods.<ref name="Telugu Usage">{{cite web|last1=Purnachand|first1=G V|title=History of Traditional Telugu Food Culture: A new interpretation|url=https://drgvpurnachand.blogspot.in/2012/10/history-of-traditional-telugu-food_1.html|website=Dr. G. V. Purnachand, B.A.M.S.|publisher=Dr. G V Purnachand, B.A.M.S.|access-date=28 July 2017}}</ref> In certain parts of India, it can also refer to the midday [[luncheon]] or, in some regions of the [[Indian subcontinent]], a between-meal [[snack]].{{sfn|OED staff|2013|loc="tiffin, n."}} When used in place of the word "lunch", however, it does not necessarily mean a light meal.{{sfn|Murray|2008|p=88}}
'''Tiffin''' is an [[Indian English]] word for a type of meal. It refers to a light breakfast or a light tea-time meal at about 3&nbsp;p.m., consisting of typical tea-time foods.<ref name="Telugu Usage">{{cite web|last1=Purnachand|first1=G V|title=History of Traditional Telugu Food Culture: A new interpretation|url=https://drgvpurnachand.blogspot.in/2012/10/history-of-traditional-telugu-food_1.html|website=Dr. G. V. Purnachand, B.A.M.S.|publisher=Dr. G V Purnachand, B.A.M.S.|access-date=28 July 2017}}</ref> In certain parts of India, it can also refer to the midday [[luncheon]] or, in some regions of the [[Indian subcontinent]], a between-meal [[snack]].{{sfn|OED staff|2013|loc="tiffin, n."}} When used in place of the word "lunch", however, it does not necessarily mean a light meal.{{sfn|Murray|2008|p=88}}


==Etymology==
==Etymology==
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==Current usage==
==Current usage==
[[File:Mumbai Dabbawala or Tiffin Wallahs- 200,000 Tiffin Boxes Delivered Per Day.jpg|thumb|left|Two [[dabbawala]]s in [[Mumbai]] delivering meals packed in [[tiffin carrier]]s]]
[[File:Mumbai Dabbawala or Tiffin Wallahs- 200,000 Tiffin Boxes Delivered Per Day.jpg|thumb|left|Two [[dabbawala]]s in [[Mumbai]] delivering meals packed in [[tiffin carrier]]s]]
In [[South India]] and in Nepal, tiffin is generally a snack between meals: [[dosa]]s, [[idli]]s, [[vada (food)|vada]]s etc.{{sfn|Hughes|Mookherjee|Delacy|2001|p=25}} In other parts of India, such as [[Mumbai]], the word mostly refers to a [[packed lunch]] of some sort.{{sfn|Harding|2002}} In Mumbai, it is often delivered to them by [[dabbawala]]s, sometimes known as ''tiffin wallahs'', who use a complex system to get thousands of [[tiffin carrier]]s to their destinations. In Mumbai, a school-going child's lunch box is fondly called a tiffin box.{{sfn|Thakker|2005}}
In [[South India]] and in Nepal, tiffin is generally a snack between meals: [[Dosa (food)|dosa]]s, [[idli]]s, [[vada (food)|vada]]s etc.{{sfn|Hughes|Mookherjee|Delacy|2001|p=25}} In other parts of India, such as [[Mumbai]], the word mostly refers to a [[packed lunch]] of some sort.{{sfn|Harding|2002}} In Mumbai, it is often delivered to them by [[dabbawala]]s, sometimes known as ''tiffin wallahs'', who use a complex system to get thousands of [[tiffin carrier]]s to their destinations. In most of India, a school-going child's lunch box is fondly called a tiffin box.{{sfn|Thakker|2005}}


When used in place of the word "lunch", tiffin often consists of rice, [[lentils]], [[curry]], vegetables, [[chapati]]s or "spicy meats".{{sfn|Murray|2008|pp=85–108}} In addition, the [[lunch box]]es are themselves called [[tiffin carrier]]s, tiffin-boxes or just tiffins.
When used in place of the word "lunch", tiffin often consists of rice, [[lentils]], [[curry]], vegetables, [[chapati]]s or "spicy meats".{{sfn|Murray|2008|pp=85–108}} In addition, the [[lunch box]]es are themselves called [[tiffin carrier]]s, tiffin-boxes or just tiffins.
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*{{Citation |last=Wedgwood |first=H. |year=1872 |title=A Dictionary of English Etymology |edition=second|page=[https://archive.org/stream/dictionaryofengl00wedgrich#page/682/mode/1up 682]}}
*{{Citation |last=Wedgwood |first=H. |year=1872 |title=A Dictionary of English Etymology |edition=second|page=[https://archive.org/stream/dictionaryofengl00wedgrich#page/682/mode/1up 682]}}


[[Category:Lunch]]
[[Category:Meals]]
[[Category:British English]]
[[Category:Indian cuisine]]
[[Category:Indian cuisine]]
[[Category:Indian English idioms]]
[[Category:Indian English idioms]]
[[Category:Indian slang]]
[[Category:Indian slang]]

Latest revision as of 22:54, 3 June 2022


Template:Meals

Tiffin is an Indian English word for a type of meal. It refers to a light breakfast or a light tea-time meal at about 3 p.m., consisting of typical tea-time foods.[1] In certain parts of India, it can also refer to the midday luncheon or, in some regions of the Indian subcontinent, a between-meal snack.[2] When used in place of the word "lunch", however, it does not necessarily mean a light meal.[3]

Etymology[edit]

In the British Raj, tiffin was used to denote the British custom of afternoon tea that had been supplanted by the Indian practice of having a light meal at that hour.[4] It is derived from "tiffing", an English colloquial term meaning to take a little drink. By 1867 it had become naturalised among Anglo-Indians in northern British India to mean luncheon.[5]

Current usage[edit]

Two dabbawalas in Mumbai delivering meals packed in tiffin carriers

In South India and in Nepal, tiffin is generally a snack between meals: dosas, idlis, vadas etc.[6] In other parts of India, such as Mumbai, the word mostly refers to a packed lunch of some sort.[7] In Mumbai, it is often delivered to them by dabbawalas, sometimes known as tiffin wallahs, who use a complex system to get thousands of tiffin carriers to their destinations. In most of India, a school-going child's lunch box is fondly called a tiffin box.[8]

When used in place of the word "lunch", tiffin often consists of rice, lentils, curry, vegetables, chapatis or "spicy meats".[9] In addition, the lunch boxes are themselves called tiffin carriers, tiffin-boxes or just tiffins.

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. Purnachand, G V. "History of Traditional Telugu Food Culture: A new interpretation". Dr. G. V. Purnachand, B.A.M.S. Dr. G V Purnachand, B.A.M.S. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  2. OED staff 2013, "tiffin, n.".
  3. Murray 2008, p. 88.
  4. Quinion 2006, Tiffin.
  5. OED staff 2013, "tiffin, n."cites H. Wedgwood (1862) "Tiffin, now naturalised among Anglo-Indians in the sense of luncheon, is the North country tiffing (properly sipping)". See also Wedgwood 1872, p. 682.
  6. Hughes, Mookherjee & Delacy 2001, p. 25.
  7. Harding 2002.
  8. Thakker 2005.
  9. Murray 2008, pp. 85–108.

References[edit]