Afters
/ˈæf.təz/noun
A term used in British English to refer to dessert or a sweet course following the main meal.
Did you know?The term 'afters' reflects a cultural shift in dining practices, where the dessert course evolved from a mere afterthought to a cherished finale of meals.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
æfter
“meaning 'after' or 'following', indicating something that comes after.”
Middle English
ME
after
“retained the meaning of 'after', often used in the context of meals.”
16th Century
English
afters
“began to be used specifically to denote sweet courses served after the main meal.”
19th Century
English
afters
“became more popular in British vernacular, synonymous with dessert.”
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