In a discussion about the difference between “crisps” and “chips.”
Me: Why do you think the name changed as it crossed the pond?
Puppy: Because the Pilgrims had a large store of Doritos on board and it got very confusing to tell the difference between french fries as chips and Doritos as chips.
Dude. He’s a freak.
I like him.
To confuse the issue further, the first reference I know to “Fried Potatoes (French Style)” (from 1861) describes crisps, not french fries.
“Crisps” has been used to describe small fried things since the 15th century. However, “Potato Crisps” do not turn up until the early 20th century. “Potato Chips” first appeared in the UK in the mid 19th century” and “Saratoga Chips” in the US in the late 19th century.