You know those green spheroid vegetables you chase around your plate...they were originally called pease in English. You'd say pease if there were only one and pease if there were many. Some thought pease referred only to multiple peas on your plate or in a pod so English got a new word - pea. If you're interested in more ways English has changed, take a look at this page on the Linguistic Society of America website.
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Comments
So is the 'pease porridge in the pot nine days old' really made from peas? I'd always hoped it was something more delectable.
Posted by: Tara on Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Wikipedia has two relevant articles here and here. Pea pudding does not sound appetizing at all.
Posted by: CJ Costello on Thursday, July 21, 2005
Pea pudding does sound gross, but pea soup is a different story...
Posted by: Shannon on Saturday, July 23, 2005