anchovy
(ænˈtʃəʊvɪ, ˈæntʃəvɪ)
Forms: 6–8 anchoue, -ove, 7 -oua, -oveye, 7–8 -ova, -ovie, 7– anchovy.
[a. Sp., Pg. anchova, anchoa (It. acciuga, dial. anciova, ancioa, anciua), of disputed origin; Diez took the It. as the typical form, deriving it from a L. *apya for aphya, ad. Gr. ἀϕύη, name of some kind of small fish, with suffix -ug; Mahn considers the Sp., Pg., and It. dial. form to be an adoption of the Basque name anchoa, anchua, which he identifies with antzua adj. ‘dry,’ as if ‘dried fish.’]
1. A small fish of the Herring family (Engraulis encrasicholus) found on the European coasts, especially in the Mediterranean, where it is extensively caught, and pickled for exportation.
| 1596 Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, ii. iv. 588 Item, Anchoues, and Sacke after Supper, ijs. vid. 1620 Venner Via Recta iv. 78 Anchoua's, the famous meat of Drunkards, and of them that desire to haue their drinke oblectate the pallate. 1657 S. Colvil Whigs Suppl. (1751) 16 Which to the pallat pleasing proves, Like Adriatic gulph anchoves. 1674 Flatman Belly God 100 To quicken appetite it will behoove ye To feed couragiously on good Anchovie. 1774 Goldsm. Retal. 14 Full certain I am, That Ridge is anchovy, and Reynolds is lamb. 1796 H. Glasse Cookery v. 53 Have ready an anchovy minced small. 1854 A. Soyer Cookery §411 Add two tablespoonsful of essence of anchovies. |
2. Comb. and
attrib., as
anchovy-barrel,
anchovy essence,
anchovy paste;
anchovy butter, a paste made of anchovies mixed with butter, used as a filling for sandwiches, savoury biscuits, etc.;
anchovy-cullice,
-sauce, savoury broth, and sauce, made with anchovies;
anchovy-toast, toast spread with anchovy, used as a whet to appetite for wine.
| 1741 Compl. Fam.-Piece i. iii. 210 Take an *Anchovy-barrel, or a deep glazed Pot. |
| 1845 E. Acton Mod. Cookery (ed. 2) iv. 127 *Anchovy Butter. (Excellent.) 1959 Listener 13 Aug. 263/1 Mashed liver sausage, or anchovy butter, or any other favourite paste. |
| 1725 Bradley Fam. Dict. s.v., *Anchovie-Cullices are frequently made and put into several Ragoos. |
| 1846 ‘A Lady’ Jewish Man. Cookery ii. 35 Pound it [sc. fish]..with a couple of anchovies, or a little *anchovy essence. |
| 1856 Dickens Out of Season in Househ. Words 28 June 555/2 *Anchovy Paste..and the whole stock of luxurious helps to appetite. |
| 1674 N. Fairfax Bulk & Selv. 180 Such a Hoghen moghen Leviathan that..the one of Mr. Hobbes would never be enough to make *Anchovy-sauce for it. |
| c 1771 S. Foote Maid of Bath i. 11 Get me an *anchovy toast. 1826 Disraeli Viv. Grey v. xiii. 238 An after-dinner anecdote..as piquant as an anchovy toast. |