Irish Potatoes and Pennsylvania Dutch

Irish Potatoes and Pennsylvania Dutch Irish Potatoes and Pennsylvania Dutch Irish Potatoes and Pennsylvania Dutch By Maeve Maddox Here are some terms associated with places. In each case something about the term is misleading. German silver: A white alloy consisting of nickel, zinc, and copper originally obtained from an ore found at Hildburghausen. The product is German, but contains no silver. Hudson seal:   Muskrat fur that has been plucked and dyed to give the appearance of seal fur. The fur is from Hudson Bay, but its not from a seal. Jordan almond: an almond imported from Mlaga and used extensively in confectionery, or an almond coated with sugar of various colors. The almonds are not from Jordan and never were. Jordan in this expression is an altered form of French jardin, garden. Pennsylvania Dutch: people living mostly in eastern Pennsylvania whose characteristic cultural traditions go back to the German migrations of the 18th century. The German word Deutsch predictably became Dutch in American mouths, but at one time in English, Dutch referred to Germans in general. In the 17th century Dutch narrowed in meaning to of the Netherlands. Irish potato: the white potato (Solanum tuberosum). The white potato came to Europe from Peru. It became permanently associated with Ireland because of the dreadful Irish Potato Famine (1845-1852) during which a million Irish died and a million emigrated. Ireland wasnt the only European country to experience a potato blight at that time, but a third of the Irish population depended entirely upon the potato for food. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:35 Synonyms for â€Å"Look†Between vs. In Between20 Slang Terms for Law Enforcement Personnel