Ethan Brooks
The word breakfast is a compound word that combines the words “break and fast. It refers to the first meal of the day, which breaks the fasting period that follows dinner from the night before. The term originated in 15th-century Europe, when meal timing and contents were dictated by the Catholic Church. Fasting until after Mass was common, which is why the first meal of the day was considered important. In Old English, a morning meal was called morgenmete, and the word dinner, which originated from the Gallo-Romance word desjunare (to break one's fast), referred to a meal after fasting.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Origin of the word 'breakfast' | The word 'breakfast' is a compound word that combines the words ['break' and 'fast'] |
| Meaning | Refers to breaking the fasting period of the previous night |
| Origin | The word originated in 15th-century Europe |
| Historical context | At the time, meal timing and contents were highly regulated by the Catholic Church, and fasting until after Mass was common |
| Old English word | 'Morgenmete' or 'undernmete' |
| Other languages | In Turkish, breakfast is called 'Kahvaltı', in French, 'déjeuner', and in Spanish, 'desayuno' or 'almuerzo' |
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What You'll Learn
- The word 'breakfast' comes from the breaking of a fast
- In the Middle Ages, only the poor ate breakfast
- In the 16th century, some doctors advised against eating breakfast
- In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Industrial Revolution increased breakfast consumption
- In the 20th century, an advertising campaign helped make breakfast an American staple
The word 'breakfast' comes from the breaking of a fast
The word "breakfast" comes from the breaking of a fast. The word is a compound of "break" and "fast", referring to the first meal of the day after a period of not eating. The word originated in 15th-century Europe, when meal timing and contents were dictated by the Catholic Church. It is also related to the Latin "disieiunare", which means "to breakfast", and is derived from Latin "ieiunare" or "jejunare", meaning "fast". The word "dinner" also has its roots in this Latin term.
In Old English, the morning meal was called "morgenmete", and dinner referred to a meal after a period of fasting. By the mid-13th century, the meaning of "dinner" had shifted to a midday meal, and by the 15th century, "breakfast" was being used in written English to describe the morning meal.
The word "breakfast" also has cognates in other languages. In Spanish, "desayuno" means "breakfast", and in French, "déjeuner" originally meant "breakfast" but now means "lunch". In German and Turkish, the word for breakfast also translates to "breaking the fast".
The concept of breaking the fast has been around for a long time. In the post-Homeric classical period of Greece, a meal called akratisma was consumed in the morning and consisted of barley bread dipped in wine, sometimes with figs or olives.
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In the Middle Ages, only the poor ate breakfast
The word "breakfast" comes from the idea of breaking the fast following the previous night's dinner. In Old English, a morning meal was called "morgenmete", and the word "dinner" referred to a meal after a fast. By the 15th century, the word "breakfast" was used in written English to describe this morning meal.
In the Middle Ages, social status played a significant role in determining one's meals and eating habits. While there were typically two meals a day, a midday dinner and a lighter supper in the evening, smaller intermediate meals became a matter of social status. Those who did not perform manual labour could forgo these additional meals without issue. Members of the church and the gentry avoided eating early in the morning, as moralists frowned upon breaking the overnight fast too early.
In contrast, working people, including manual labourers, children, the elderly, and the sick, ate breakfast out of necessity to sustain their morning's labour. Eating breakfast was associated with poverty and low status, and those who ate it were often ashamed due to the church's teachings against gluttony. The upper classes did not speak of or partake in morning meals, instead waiting until midday for their first meal. This two-meal system remained consistent throughout the Middle Ages, with the exact times varying by period and region.
The food consumed during this period also reflected social status. Cereals, barley, oats, and rye were staples for the poor, while wheat was more expensive and generally accessible to the wealthy. Meat was costly and considered prestigious, with game meats exclusively available to the nobility. The lower classes relied on cheese, fruits, and vegetables as important supplements, and beer was a common drink, with ale being consumed by peasants due to the lack of safe water.
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In the 16th century, some doctors advised against eating breakfast
The word "breakfast" comes from the Old English "morgenmete", which means "morning meal". The word "dinner", which originated from the Gallo-Romance "desjunare" ("to break one's fast"), referred to a meal after fasting. In the mid-13th century, the meaning of "dinner" shifted, and around the 15th century, "breakfast" came into use in written English to describe a morning meal. The word "breakfast" is a compound word that combines the words "break" and "fast", referring to breaking the fast of the previous night.
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In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Industrial Revolution increased breakfast consumption
The word "breakfast" comes from the Old English "morgenmete", which means "morning meal". The word "dinner", which originated from the Gallo-Romance "desjunare" ("to break one's fast"), referred to a meal after fasting. In the mid-13th century, the meaning of "dinner" shifted to a midday meal, and by the 15th century, "breakfast" was used in written English to describe the morning meal. The word "breakfast" itself is derived from the verbal phrase "break" (from the Proto-Germanic *brekanan, meaning "to break") and "fast" (from the Latin "ieiunare, jejunare", meaning "fast"). This reflects the idea of breaking the fasting period of the previous night.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Industrial Revolution had a significant impact on breakfast consumption. The shift from working on farms to working in factories, as well as the move from rural to urban areas, disrupted people's schedules and lives. Breakfast started becoming more standardised during this time, especially as it was sometimes provided in factories. In the Early Modern period, the wealthy began to prioritise leisure, nutrition, and health, and it was recognised that eating breakfast before starting work was beneficial. This contributed to the increasing popularity of breakfast.
In the 18th century, a standard breakfast in the US consisted of bacon, eggs, and toast. By the 19th century, cornmeal pancakes (known as "Johnny cakes" or "journey cakes") were also common breakfast foods. In the US and Britain, the middle and upper classes often consumed heavy, greasy, and meaty breakfasts, which caused indigestion and led to the development of cold breakfast cereals. The Industrial Revolution also influenced lunch, which was once considered a small meal or snack. As work patterns changed, lunch became a more established meal, although it remained informal and could be eaten alone.
The Industrial Revolution also impacted the diets and nutrition of workers. Studies suggest that work intensity increased in industrial heartlands, but there is limited evidence regarding the diets of these workers. Economic historians have examined various factors, including real wages, family incomes, calorie availability, and nutrition, to understand the impact of the Industrial Revolution on workers' lives.
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In the 20th century, an advertising campaign helped make breakfast an American staple
The word "breakfast" refers to breaking the fasting period of the previous night. In Old English, a regular morning meal was called "morgenmete", and the word "dinner" referred to a meal after fasting. The meaning of dinner changed around the mid-13th century, and "breakfast" came into use in written English in the 15th century to describe a morning meal.
In the late 19th century, people began to worry about indigestion as the Industrial Revolution shifted work from farms to factories and offices, where people sat or stood in one place. Heavy farm breakfasts were blamed for indigestion, and a lighter version became ideal. This concern for healthier living contributed to the rise of breakfast cereals, which were invented in sanatoriums founded by followers of the Seventh-day Adventist religion. The first cereal was invented by James Caleb Jackson, and the better-known Kellogg's brand by John Harvey Kellogg. These cereals were soon fortified with vitamins and advertised as essential for health, especially as women entered the workforce during the war and needed quick, nutritious meals for their children.
The idea that a lighter, healthier breakfast would lead to increased efficiency and productivity at work added a "moralizing layer" to breakfast, according to Abigail Carroll, author of "Three Squares: The Invention of the American Meal". This helped solidify the notion of breakfast as the most important meal of the day, with specific prescribed food groups.
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Frequently asked questions
Breakfast means the "first meal of the day".
The word breakfast comes from the breaking of the fast, which is the period of time spent without eating since the night before.
The word breakfast came into use in the 15th century in Europe.
In the past, breakfast was not always considered the most important meal of the day. In the Middle Ages, it was common for only working people, children, the elderly, and the sick to eat breakfast. A typical breakfast might include a piece of rye bread and some cheese, and perhaps some low-alcohol beer.
