Ketchup
/ˈkɛtʃ.əp/noun
A tangy sauce made from tomatoes, vinegar, and spices, commonly used as a condiment.
Did you know?The word 'ketchup' is believed to have originated from the Chinese word 'kê-tsiap', which referred to a fermented fish brine — a far cry from the tomato-based condiment we know today!
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Malay
Malay
kecap
“A sauce or condiment, often made with fermented ingredients.”
17th Century
Chinese
kê-tsiap
“A fermented fish brine used as a flavoring.”
18th Century
English
ketchup
“A term adopted for various sauces, particularly those made with mushrooms or walnuts.”
19th Century
English
ketchup
“Standardized to refer specifically to the tomato-based sauce we recognize today.”