Wednesday
(0)The result from tonight's European Soccer Championship qualifying match between England and Turkey:
On the battlefield, on the football field: Rosbeefs rule!
What is the origin/etymology(?) of the slur "rosbeef"?
Posted by Brian Doss at April 2, 2003 10:04 PM
Brian,
Big story reverberating around the blogosphere
War graves desecrated in France
And I don't consider it a 'slur'. I'm quite proud of it!
Posted by David Carr at April 2, 2003 10:20 PM
I believe the French spell it rosbif. It refers to the British penchant for eating roast beef, something which, alas, is not a common food item for the French and therefore aptly evokes anglo-saxon culture while simultaneously disparaging their cuisine.
It is therefore similar to the epithet "frogs," which originated in the disparagement of the French delicacy of "cuisses de grenouille" or frog's legs. Secondarily, it benefits from having alliteration.
At least, I think this is right.
Posted by Geo at April 2, 2003 10:28 PM
I thought it was to do with the colour we turn when exposed to the sun. In France, roast beef is, of course, pink.
Posted by Patrick Crozier at April 3, 2003 01:23 PM
Over here we call Brits "bifes". It means, well...Beef! ;) And what's the deal with "soccer"?!? It's football! You guys should know this!!!
Posted by PortugueseGuy at April 3, 2003 05:43 PM
I've never heard this "rosbif" epithet until I saw the defaced monument. In French-speaking Canada you might hear "tete-carree" and the good old "maudit anglais". (And personally, I've never heard much of it here.)
Posted by P. Duffy at April 3, 2003 06:46 PM
I thought it was to do with the colour we turn when exposed to the sun. In France, roast beef is, of course, pink.
Hmm. That might explain why they call me "homard." At least, I think that's what they're calling me... :-)
Posted by Geo at April 3, 2003 09:56 PM
