Catchup
/ˈkætʃˌʌp/noun
A thick condiment made from tomatoes, vinegar, sugar, and spices.
Did you know?The modern spelling ketchup became standard in English after earlier forms like catchup and catsup, but the word itself ultimately comes from a Southeast Asian fish sauce name, not from English at all.
Etymological Timeline
17th Century
Malay/Chinese
ke-tsiap / kôe-chiap
“A fermented fish sauce or brine-like seasoning in Southeast Asia.”
Early 18th Century
English
catchup
“An English spelling for a pungent sauce, especially a spiced fish or mushroom sauce.”
18th Century
English
catsup
“A variant English spelling used for the same sauce, later often applied to tomato versions.”
19th Century
English
ketchup
“The spelling that gradually became standard in American and British English for the tomato-based condiment.”
Modern English
English
catchup
“A nonstandard or variant spelling of ketchup.”