Organization: University of Illinois at Chicago
Date: Tuesday, 18 Aug 1992 23:35:24 CDT
From: Barry Grau <U42054@uicvm.uic.edu>
Newsgroups: rec.food.historic,rec.food.cooking
Subject: Re: Curry: A war rages on

In article <11AUG199209091499@zeus.tamu.edu>, jmd9888@zeus.tamu.edu (DURHAM,
JAMES MICHAEL) says:
>
>Currently there is a small thread on R.F.C about the history of cury powder
>and curry food in general.  Most of the talk has been about not wanting all
>curries to taste the same.  However I would like to know if anyone knows more
>of the history of curry?
>
>Michael

i saw someone suggest that "curry powder" was invented by an american named
curry, the powder was the basis of the curry family fortune, and that the
similarity in names and spices was responsible for the common mistaking of
"curry powder" for having some relationship to the curries of india.

the following, taked from the oxford english dictionary seems to indicate
that the term "curry powder" was used before the american civil war.
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curry ('k&revv.rI), sb.2 Forms: (6 carriel, 7 carree), 8 carrye, curree,
kerry, 8- currie, curry. a. Tamil kari sauce, relish for rice, Canarese
karil, whence Pg. caril, and earlier Eng. and Fr. forms; mod.Fr. is cari.
  1 a A preparation of meat, fish, fruit, or vegetables, cooked with a quantity
of bruised spices and turmeric, and used as a relish or flavouring, esp. for
dishes composed of or served with rice.  Hence, a curry = a dish or stew (of
rice, meat, etc.) flavoured with this preparation (or with curry-powder).
  1598 W. PHILLIPS Linschoten 88 (Y.) Most of their fish is eaten with rice,
which they seeth in broth, which they put upon the rice, and is somewhat
soure..but it tasteth well, and is called Carriel. 1681 R. KNOX Hist. Ceylon
12 They..boyl them fruits to make Carrees, to use the Portuguez word, that
is somewhat to eat with and relish their Rice. 1747 Art of Cookery 52 To make
a Currey the Indian way. 1766 GROSE Voy. E. Indies (1772) I. 150 (Y.) The
currees are infinitely various, being a sort of fricacees to eat with rice,
made of any animals or vegetables. 1848 THACKERAY Lett., If you can come to
dinner, there's a curry. 1891 SHARMAN Fam. Cookery 16 Pour the curry on the
dish with the rice.
  b attrib. and Comb., as curry-sauce, -stuff; curry-leaf tree, a name for
Bergera Konigii, the aromatic leaves of which are used to flavour curries;
curry-paste, -powder, preparations of turmeric and strong spices, for making
curried dishes.
  1855 E. ACTON Mod. Cookery (rev. ed.) i. 45 A large tablespoonful of Captain
White's currie-paste. 1906 MRS. BEETON Bk. Househ. Managem. xvi. 450 Add the
stock, curry-paste, sliced apple.
  1810 R. J. THORNTON Family Herbal 12 Turmeric..a principal ingredient in the
composition of curry-powder. 1883 MRS. BISHOP in Leisure Ho. 146/1 Curry is at
each meal, but it is not made with curry powder.
  1845 E. ACTON Mod. Cookery viii. 201 Currie sauce, highly onioned, is
frequently served. 1948 Good Housek. Cookery Bk. 280 Curry sauce..is much
improved by the addition of 1 tbsp. cream immediately before use.
  1860 TENNENT Ceylon I. 463 (Y.) Plots of esculents and curry-stuffs of every
variety, onions, chillies, yams etc..
  2 to give (a person) curry: see quot. 1941.  Austral. slang.
  1941 BAKER Dict. Austral. Slang 21 To give someone curry, to abuse, reprove,
express anger at a person. 1944 Coast to Coast 1943 113 I'd like him not to be
writing!  Wouldn't I give him curry! 1944 Coast to Coast 1943 124 I'm going to
give those old tarts a bit of curry to-night, Ron. 1945 BAKER Austral. Lang.
vi. 120 A man who attacks another is said..to give him curry or curried hell.