Why is a square meal served on round plates?

Answer 1

So long as I get me 3 square meals a day I'll be happy on whatever plate they are served on, but the meals better be square! lol

Answer 2

It is widely reported, by tour guides and the like, that this originated from the Royal Navy practise of serving meals on square wooden plates. Such plates did exist and so that sounds like a plausible story. There's no evidence to support it though. In fact, the lateness of the first printed record (see below) pretty well rules this out as a reasonable theory. The Royal Navy's records and many thousands of ship's logs are still available and, if the phrase came from that source, it would surely have been recorded before the mid-19th century.

This 'square plate' theory is a clear example of folk-etymology. The phrase exists, the square plates exist, and two and two make five.

The word square has many meanings, including 'proper, honest, straightforward', and that's the meaning here. This isn't a rectilinear meal on right-angled crockery, but a good and satisfying meal.

The phrase is of US origin. All the early citations are from America, including this, which is the earliest print reference I have found - an advertisement for the Hope and Neptune restaurant, in the California newspaper The Mountain Democrat, November 1856:

"We can promise all who patronize us that they can always get a hearty welcome and 'square meal' at the 'Hope and Neptune. Oyster, chicken and game suppers prepared at short notice."

William Brohaugh, in his usually reliable 'English Through the Ages', dates the saying as having entered the language in 1840, although no supporting evidence is provided. There certainly was a spate of coinages of 'food words' in the USA around that date

Answer 3

could always have a well rounded meal on square plates.

Answer 4

and why can't I get a round meal on a square plate?!!

Answer 5

same reason that round plates are bought in square boxes

Answer 6

And how do three square meals fit in a well-rounded diet?

Answer 7

Because they are out of square plates.

Answer 8

That is not strictly true for everyone. I have a crockery set that has square plates, saucers, dessert and soup dishes.

Answer 9

you can get all sorts of shaped plates including square ones

Answer 10

same reason why King Arthur had a round table