Who killed the lettuce?

What is Head Cheese? Here’s the truth behind 12 peculiar food names

Image: Spencer Davis

We often take these words for granted, but if we stop to think about them, they might not make sense. What is a possum pie? Is monkey bread made by monkeys? These 12 otherwise common foods have names that might surprise anyone unfamiliar with them. Do you know the origin of any of these names?

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A very Canadian thing to eat, poutine means "mess" in Québécois slang. It has also been jokingly said to stand for "put in everything," as the dish is a mixture of various ingredients.

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There are no oysters in the Rocky Mountains, which should be the first clue about the true nature of this dish. Rocky Mountain oysters are actually bull testicles that are battered, fried, and served as a delicacy in some parts of the Western US. The name is a humorous euphemism designed to make the dish sound more appealing.

Image: Dana Ward

As with Rocky Mountain oysters, the name of this dish does not describe exactly what its ingredients are. It has no cheese. It is a savory jelly made from the head of a pig or calf, typically including various bits of meat, cartilage, and skin. The name comes from its firm, cheese-like consistency and the fact that it is often served cold.

Image: Blake Guidry

An odd name to anyone from outside the US, a corn dog is a hot dog on a stick, coated in cornmeal batter and deep-fried. The name comes from the cornmeal coating and its shape, which somewhat resembles a dog on a stick.

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We are used to hearing certain words and we don’t question what they mean. Chowder, at least for many, is one of those words. This thick, often creamy, seafood-based soup likely derives its name from the French word chaudière, meaning a large cooking pot.

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An unusual name for an otherwise ordinary salad. This recipe features wilted lettuce dressed with a hot vinaigrette or another type of dressing. The term "killed" refers to how the hot dressing wilts the lettuce, making it appear "dead."

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These tasty Louisiana sandwiches were originally served to striking workers during a New Orleans streetcar strike in 1929. A restaurant owner decided to help the workers with these "poor boy" sandwiches.

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No, it’s not made of monkeys or by monkeys. Monkey bread is a sweet, pull-apart bread made from small balls of dough dipped in butter and cinnamon sugar before baking. The name likely comes from the way people "pick" at it, similar to how monkeys groom each other.

Image: alberto lionardi

Sometimes, a plate of garbage is just that. But if you’re in Rochester, New York, it’s a big, messy dish starting with a base of fried potatoes and macaroni salad, topped with meat like a hamburger, hot dog, or sausage, and usually smothered in a chili-like "hot sauce." Unsurprisingly, legend has it that it was created for college students.

Image: Artur Kornakov

It may sound like a joyous cry, but at least in northern Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula, booyah is actually a humble stew with a peculiar name, likely derived from the word bouillon. It’s made with chicken, sausage, or beef, and vegetables like carrots, onions, and potatoes.

Image: Prabir Kashyap

While in some countries, ant-eating is a pretty normal thing, that is not the main ingredient in this dish which consists of peanut butter in celery stalks, topped with raisins that resemble ants crawling along the "log." A pretty self-explanatory name, don't you think?

Image: David Clode

Thankfully, possum pies are not made with possum. Instead, this dessert is layered with chocolate and vanilla puddings, usually with pecans. The name likely comes from the color scheme, which resembles that of a possum.

Deep roots

11 everyday words with indigenous roots

English is a very welcoming language in the sense that it incorporates terms from many other languages from all over the world. And, as it couldn’t be otherwise, Native American languages have lent many of their words and terms to English speakers. Some traveled through Spanish or French before settling into English, and others arrived directly through early contact and trade, helping shape the way we speak today. Did you know about these 11 terms?

The word "canoe" comes from the Taino term canoa, which was first used by Caribbean islanders long before Europeans arrived. Early explorers adopted it to describe the slim, sturdy boats they saw.

Over time, "canoe" became the standard English word for a small paddled craft. Today it still carries that sense of simplicity and closeness to nature.

The word "barbecue" comes from barbacoa, another Taino term for a wooden frame used for cooking meat over fire. Europeans adopted it and applied it to both the method and the gathering itself.

Today, "barbecue" means everything from a backyard cookout to a regional cooking style. Its origins highlight the deep culinary influence of Native Americans in the nation's current culture.

"Skunk" comes from the Algonquian word squnk, which means "urinating fox" (quite a fitting term, indeed). This was an obvious reference to the animal’s strong defensive spray. Early settlers adopted the term directly.

Since English had no better name for the creature, the Native word stuck. Today, the word skunks is also used as playful slang.

The word "moose" originates from Eastern Abenaki, a part of the Algonquian family, where it meant "he strips off bark." Yes, it described the animal’s habit of tearing bark from trees.

The name entered English quickly because settlers relied on Native knowledge of local fauna. The word remains unchanged because of its accuracy and usefulness.

"Raccoon" comes from the Powhatan word arakun, meaning "he scratches with his hands." It described the animal’s clever, humanlike front paws.

Settlers adopted the term because it captured the creature’s behavior beautifully. Today, the raccoon is used as a household symbol of curiosity, not unlike the animal itself.

The term "chipmunk" most probably comes from the Ojibwe word ajidamoo, which means "one who descends trees headfirst." Early English settlers adapted the sound into today’s form.

Though the spelling changed over time, the lively image of a chipmunk racing down a tree face-first stayed.

The word "caribou" comes from the Mi’kmaq term qalipu, which means "snow shoveler," referring to the animal’s habit of digging through snow for food.

French settlers brought the word into English, keeping its descriptive nature. The name still connects the modern animal to the winter landscapes it belongs to.

"Totem" comes from the Ojibwe word ototeman, which means "kinship group." It described symbols representing clans and shared roots.

English adopted it to describe carved poles and symbolic elements. Though broader in modern usage, it still hints at the original sense of community, identity, and heritage.

"Coyote" comes from the Nahuatl word coyōtl, which was used by Indigenous tribes of central Mexico. Spanish speakers adopted it, and English borrowed later.

The word kept its meaning, and it remains one of the most direct links between the English language and Nahuatl.

The tasty avocado’s name traces to the Nahuatl word ahacatl, which refers to the fruit and to a body part as well. Spanish speakers transformed it into aguacate.

Later on, English speakers adapted it to avocado. While the name sounds contemporary and culinary, it has ancient Native roots.

The last Nahuatl word and also the last word on the list comes from the term xocolātl, which describes a bitter cacao drink that was consumed long before Europeans arrived in America. The name traveled from Spanish to English.

Though the product changed dramatically, the word survived. Today, chocolate is a universal symbol of sweetness, with rich and deeply indigenous roots.