What is a spoon, everyone knows. It is a cutlery, which in some way resembles a small scapula, having the form of a small cup-vessel. It is connected using a jumper with a handle. In this case, the cup is called a scoop, and the handle is called a scoop. The size of the calyx is proportional to the parameters of the human mouth.
No one will argue that this item is essential for our daily lives. However, its purpose as a cutlery is not unique. Another spoon is used as a laboratory and musical instrument, a souvenir. A spoon is an item that we use daily. The history of its occurrence and use we will consider in the article.
Dictionary Interpretation
The meaning of the word spoon in the dictionary is as follows:
- One of the cutlery, having the form of a shallow vessel attached to the handle. Designed to convey food to the mouth or to scoop up bulk or liquid products. (From an early age, my grandmother began to accustom Andrei to correctly hold a spoon in her hand).
- In cooking, when taking medicine - a measure of volume, which corresponds to the contents of one spoon. (In order to flavor porridge with sunflower oil, one tablespoon will be enough).
- In the plural - a musical instrument that combines several spoons. (The choir director Nina Grigoryevna attracted local village people to singing and playing on spoons).
Hyperonyms and Etymology
As such, there are no synonyms for this concept, but it has hyperonyms, that is, words, although they are close in meaning, but have a broader meaning. It expresses a general concept, generic, being the result of generalization.
These include:
- Fixture, cutlery.
- Unit, measure of volume.
- Musical instrument.
As for the etymology of the word “spoon,” there are two versions to this effect. The first is the derivation of the word "log", which means "deepening, ravine." The second - from the old Russian “false”, the Church Slavonic “false”, which came to these languages, as well as Ukrainian, Serbian, Czech, Polish, Bulgarian from the Proto-Slavic. To date, the second version among linguists is more in demand.
Phraseologisms
In Russian, there are a number of expressions related to the word we are considering. For example, "an hour per teaspoon." Its significance is as follows. By it is meant that the result of certain actions is achieved much more slowly than it should be. Has a disapproving shade.
There is another expression: "Road spoon to dinner." The meaning of this phrase is that it is timely actions, words, actions that are important. Otherwise, they become irrelevant. It is instructive. (The manuscript must be submitted to the publisher exactly one week later, because the spoon is only for dinner and is expensive).
Big variety
Today, there is a wide variety of types of spoons. The main ones are a tea, dessert dining room. And additional types of spoons are:
- A bar room used by bartenders to make cocktails and mixes. It has a slightly elongated, fully or only in the middle twisted handle.
- For absinthe - perforated (having holes) through which absinthe is poured. Used by the bourgeoisie to emphasize their social status.
- For caviar. It is usually made of gold, animal horns, mother of pearl, crystal, wood, glass - that is, inert materials, as it is believed that the metal gives the caviar an undesirable taste.
- Wooden painted decorative spoon.
- Ceramic Chinese Soup Spoon.
- Coffee, which is a reduced teahouse.
- Porcelain laboratory.
- Measuring spoon.
- Serving to form balls in ice cream.
- A souvenir, similar in size to a teahouse, but having the image of flags, emblems, various sights.
- Used by surgeons - curette.
In addition, there are special spoons for broth, grapefruit, olives, eggs, honey and other products.
Ancient cutlery
Spoons began to be used as cutlery from ancient times, in contrast to forks, which were invented much later. Edible spoons were observed in one of the African nationalities, they were part of a ugali dish.
A spoon is an object that, in ancient times, people, while still primitive creatures, already used when eating. These were seashells, comfortable in shape. They were also used by the ancient Greeks. And spoons were made of wood, horns and animal bones, of stone. They were also among the Egyptians, who often put religious images on them.
During the heyday of Greek and Roman civilizations with the advent of bronze and silver utensils, spoons from these materials also appeared. Today, they are in large quantities stored in museums around the world.
Royal spoons
In the Middle Ages, mainly wooden spoons and horny ones existed. In addition, copper, tin, and brass were periodically used in their production. And such spoons gained popularity in the 15th century. The royals and aristocrats had silver and gold spoons. The earliest mention of such cutlery dates back to the middle of the XIII century.
Among the things that belonged personally to Edward I, king of England, in 1300 were silver and gold spoons, on which there was a marking of one of the Paris workshops. An interesting fact is that when the anointing of the English kings took place on the kingdom, coronation spoons were used.
In the Russian state, spoons of silver were first made in 998 for the retinue of Prince Vladimir on his orders. Spoons made of wood and silver were mentioned in The Tale of Bygone Years.
Apostolic Spoons
In the Renaissance, spoons called apostolic were widely spread throughout Europe. The moment of their appearance dates back to the beginning of the 15th century, and they gained popularity in the 16th century - as gifts for Christian holidays. They usually depicted the disciples of Jesus Christ. Much less often, but still the image of Jesus himself was applied to the spoons.
Around the same time, a change in the shape of the spoon also applies. Its handle becomes flat, and the scoop takes the form of an expanded ellipse. In the XVIII century, the scoop narrows, and the handle is turned a few degrees in relation to it. In a modern form, in which the end of the cup-shaped part is narrower than at the base, the spoon acquired in 1760.