Talk:potluck

Etymology and potlatch

In the sense of “communal meal”, potluck seems to derive from potlatch; I looked at numerous references (collected in this revision), but was unable to find any 19th-century uses in the sense of “communal meal, bringing own food”, so I conclude that the sense “communal meal” is indeed derived from potlatch (as a misspelling), which entered American usage in the mid-19th century.

While some assert that “potluck” is in no way related to potlatch, dismissing it as a folk etymology, this seems wrong – yes, the word potluck dates to 16th century England, but it was not used in the sense “communal meal” until the mid-20th century, and it is hard to believe that after 75 years of using “potlatch” to mean “a communal meal”, the homophonous “potluck” independently was extended to mean “communal meal” without any influence. Far more believable is that, indeed, “potluck” to mean “communal meal” is a simple misspelling of “potlatch”, now well-established but not universal in American usage.

Further references show it to have earlier been an American regional usage, particularly in the West (hence spread), which further support the potlatch (Pacific Northwest) origin of the sense.

If someone could provide further references or authorities on the etymology, I’d be appreciative – this seems to not get much detailed attention. Thanks!

—Nils von Barth (nbarth) (talk) 22:51, 21 March 2010 (UTC)

Western Words

I removed this from the entry as it seems not entirely relevant (if seems to just confirm the "communal meal" sense):

• Some dictionaries list other senses; for example, the Western Words Dictionary of the American West of 1968 considers potluck a Western American dialectal word for “food brought with one”. (Ramon F. Adams, Western Words: A Dictionary of the American West, new edition, revised and enlarged (University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, 1968), page 234: “Potluck. A word used by the cowman and other frontiersmen, for food contributed by a guest. To bring potluck means to bring food with one.”)

- -sche (discuss) 22:01, 14 February 2013 (UTC)