Ketchup ? Why is not called Catsup much anymore ?

Answer 1

CATSUP [KETCHUP] HISTORY ***


------------------------HISTORY-------------------------------

KETCHUP: Also catchup, Catsup. A condiment consisting of a thick,
smooth-textured, spicy sauce usually made from tomatoes.[Probably
Malay kechap, fish sauce possibly from Chinese (Cantonese) ke-tsiap]

Notes: The word ketchup exemplifies the types of modifications that
can take place in the borrowing process, both in the borrowing of a
word and in the borrowing of a substance. The source of our word
ketchup may be the Malay word kechap, possibly taken into Malay from
the Cantonese dialect of Chinese. Kechap, like our word, referred to
a kind of sauce, but a sauce without tomatoes; rather, it contained
fish brine, herbs, and spices. The sauce seems to have emigrated to
Europe by way of sailors, where it was made with locally available
ingredients such as the juice of mushrooms or walnuts. At some point,
when the juice of tomatoes was first used, ketchup as we know it was
born. However, it is important to realize that in the 18th and 19th
centuries ketchup was a generic term for sauces whose only common
ingredient was vinegar. The word is first recorded in English in 1690
in the form catchup, in 1711 in the form ketchup, and in 1730 in the
form catsup. These three spelling variants of a foreign borrowing
remain current.

Source: American Heritage Dictionary, Third Edition 1992 MM by Dorothy
Flatman 1997 From: Dorothy Flatman Date: 06 Mar 97

Answer 2

because that is what is on the Heinz bottle and Heinz is most popular. It's still a correct spelling. Maybe someone should come out with a brand of Catsup instead of just Ketchup.

Answer 3

I think over time it simply turned into "Ketchup" - perhaps people found it easily to say "Ketchup" over "Catsup."

Personally, I like the name and spelling Ketchup much better.

Answer 4

Its been Americanized? ketchup is slang and lower english for "catsup" the true pronunciation of the word? the dumbing down of the populance at work???

Answer 5

Ketchup is a name used by Heiz Corporation

Answer 6

to answer with another question is jeopardy like, but anyway have you heard the prairie home companion radio program on pbr with Garrison Kiellor ? He has a bit where he sings about ketchup.

Answer 7

Same reason why we say Kleenex instead of Facial Tissue. We end up referring to something as the name brand for all versions of it, instead of the generic name.

Answer 8

Because not eveybody can Ketchup-- but-- everybody mustard!

Answer 9

that must be old school. i like ketchup better.

Answer 10

That is such an interesting question I often wonder that too hmmm...