[Sca-cooks] Period Tomatoes

[Terry Decker]

Joy.

If the English got tomato from the Turkish "domatesli," why does the OED 
(which does detailed work on English word origins) have it from Nahautl via 
Spanish?  The fact that a Turkish language instructor says that "tomato" 
derives from Turkish does not make it so.  Without supporting documentation, 
this is a single point of reference, making it of questionable validity.

Bear

> I've run into a character on another list who insists that the Turks were 
> using tomatoes for thousands of years before the rest of Europe.  Claims 
> his Turkish Language teachers in the '60's taught him that the English 
> word 'tomato' comes from the Turkish "domatesli" and that he has recipes 
> from the Seljurk Empire.  When asked for a recipe he came up with one from 
> the Turkish embassy that is obviously modern.  When faced with the 
> research material I have on the subject, he insisted that American sources 
> were clueless about Old World botany. He's one of these people that refuse 
> to be relieved of their delusions, so I've quit arguing with him.
> Problem is, he's in a forum where a lot of SCA cooks are, who are, and we 
> know that sometime in the future this recipe is going to show up at a 
> feast or as an A&S entry.
> Oh well, I did my best.  Any more would be wasted breath.
>
> Pat Griffin
> Lady Anne du Bosc