why are drinking straws so called?

Answer 1

There are two parts to the word, and thus, two parts to answer. I'll go in reverse order, because that amuses me.

Drinking straws were invented by the Summarians, in order to avoid drinking the solid particles that were floating in their beer. To do this, they took hay straw from their farms, and drank the beer throw them. This is where the 'straw' part of 'drinking straw' comes from.

The 'drinking' part is because that's what it's used for, and because it distinguishes a drinking straw from other sorts of straw - bedding straw, feed straw, and straw polls, to name but three.

Nowadays though, with carbonation and filtration, I wouldn't recommend using drinking straws for their original purpose - or at least not in public; you might get laughed at. ;)

Answer 2

Used to be lengths of straw, and used by several people to drink out of a communal bowl/cup/tankard.

Answer 3

Used to be straw! You know, the hollow bit of stalk of wheat.

Answer 4

straws

Answer 5

they resemble straw (long and hollow) and are for drinking

Answer 6

so called straws? well i think thts wht farmer Giles wanted to name them :P

Answer 7

are you asking why drinking straws are called "drinking straws" ??

ummm i guess cuz they look like straw and you drink out of them? lol idk

Answer 8

Holy crap, you people are stupid. It's a simple enough bloody question. I have no idea, sorry :P

Answer 9

rephase your question.......do not understand

Answer 10

what