Hamburgers
/ˈhæm.bɝː.ɡɚrz/noun
Sandwiches consisting of a cooked ground-meat patty served in a sliced bun, often with toppings.
Did you know?The term “hamburger” originally referred to a Hamburg-style chopped beef steak, and the association with the word “ham” later encouraged shortened forms like “burger.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰerǵʰ-
“To rise, become high, or form a fortified height”
Proto-Germanic
Proto-Germanic
*burgz
“Fortified place or stronghold”
8th–9th Century
Old High German
burg
“Fortified settlement or castle”
9th Century
Old Saxon
Hammaburg
“The fortified settlement associated with Hamma, the name of the area or district”
19th Century
English
Hamburg steak
“A chopped or minced beef steak prepared in the Hamburg style”
Late 19th–20th Century
American English
hamburger
“A ground-beef patty, later commonly served in a bun”
Modern English
English
hamburgers
“Multiple sandwiches or patties known as hamburgers”