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Why is Spam (that revolting tinned luncheon meat) called Spam? It sounds like it has something to do with ham, but why the sp-?
Carmen Lichi, London
- It's a contraction of spiced ham. The next question is why is unsolicited email called spam.
DP Morgan, Amsterdam NL
- Apparantly it is something to do with American war time cutbacks and SPiced hAM. I believe the name was coined in a competition at the factory which made it - out of what we do not know.
Sean, Perth Australia
- It stands for 'spiced ham' and was a name suggested in a competition launched by the Geo. A. Hormel Company in 1937, to find a name for their new product, which they described as 'The Miracle Meat', and marketed as a health food.
Richard Thompson, Allerod Denmark
- It comes from SPiced pork + hAM.
Anna, Glasgow Scotland
- Isn't it a contraction of SaltPorkandhAM?
Mark Power, Dublin
- Hormel Foods, the makers of SPAM (note the capitalisation) jealously guard their trademark. According to their own website, it was invented in 1937, and is a contracton of Hormel Spiced Ham, and was the result of a contest with a grand prize of $100. Let's just overlook the fact that, by any reasonable standard, it's not exactly spicy, is it?
David Murray, Cambridge, UK
- SPAM is an acronym: Special Processed American Meat.
Ben, London
- Quite simply, Specially Processed American Meat
Danny, Manchester UK
- I have it on good authority (from a chef who works for the BBC) that Spam is in fact an acronym for Special(ly?) Processed Animal Meat - appetising!
Leona, Stockwell, UK
- It's short for SPiced hAM.
Paul Marshall, Cardiff, UK
- To answer DP Morgan's question about why unsolicited e-mail is called Spam. Before the internet became commercialised and unsolicited commercial e-mail was sent the name spam was given to sending the same mail several times for no good reason. This was because of the Monty Python 'spam,spam,spam' sketch.
Stuart, London
- As to why unsolicited email is called spam, its because its ubiquity is reminiscent of the meat mentioned in Monty Python's "Spam Song"
Gareth Owen, Knutton Staffs
- Spiced ham, as everyone's pointed out. As for DP Morgan's question about email-type spam, that derives from the Monty Python spam spam and spam sketch (early computer nerds being great Python fans), presumably because when you look for nourishing emails in your in-basket, all you find is spam.
John, Wellington New Zealand
- SPiced hAM maybe, but Slimy Processed Anaemic Mucus properly.
Mark, Bristol UK
- I had a look at a tin of Spam in my local supermarket last night and it had "Spiced Ham" written in small letters under the word "Spam". Did the original questioner ever think about looking at the label on the stuff?
Justin Rigden, Adelaide Australia
- Who should know better than the manufacturer Hormel Foods, the makers of SPAM? According to their website, it was invented in 1937. That should settle the question. But I happened on to the the reality show from the UK about the war-time 40's House. They mentioned that SPAM stands for "Specially Processed American Meat". To the residents of the UK during the war, I reckon that's what SPAM meant to them, which is a very accurate description, and there's nothing wrong with that. The letters S.P.A.M. lend themselves to several amusing phrases. I'll like to also mention that there is not much of the pig (or cow) that's wasted. Ground meat products like sausage, potted meats, and SPAM are usually made of the less appetizing (by themselves) morsels of flesh. But after grinding and the addition of spices, they become quite tasty. Such products as SPAM were of great benefit during situations where there is a shortage of protein and fats, which are the most important nutrients in the short term for survival. I recall, while in the military, eating similar chopped-ham products in the form of C-rations and MRE's. A lot of nutrition in a small space.
John Reynolds, Del City, Oklahoma, USA
- Short for 'spiced ham'
Cooky-boy, Doncaster UK
- i always thought that spam was introduced to the uk during ww2 aand stood for specially processed american meat
ianmitchell, callander scotland
- I know the meaning of SPAM (Specially Pressed American Meat). Hate to say it but it took a 'Devonshire dumpling' to give you the answer. It was made for the war.
Phil Edwards, Exeter, UK
- During the second world war, meat was hard to transport to Britain in the usual fashion and had to take a longer route, but the German u-boats were destroying them. The meat was processed and canned and called "Specially Pressed American Meat". It lasted longer at sea and no need to refrigerate or salt.
Bob Muir, Mount Isa Australia
- Being a Yank, I found your answers amusing but SPAM is spiced ham first of all, and it kept much of the world (including Brits and Russians) from starving in world war two. It isn't revolting if cooked properly, and might I suggest that something like Vegemite is revolting, like a quasi-vegetable by-product paste that you smear on your toast for breakfast. Sounds good, doesn't it?
Richard, Sandy Hook, US
- {in true Monty Python fashion} Spam is actually Bruce! (now look that one up) Bruce, Bruce, Bruce, Bruce, Bruce, Bruce...
Thomas Dalimonte, Nashua, US
- Taken from the manufacturers of SPAM web page.What does the SPAM® brand name mean?There are some questions that continually plague man over time. Questions like 'Is there intelligent life beyond Earth?' And 'What is the meaning of the SPAM® brand name?' Unfortunately, we can provide answers to neither. The significance of the SPAM® brand name has long been a subject of speculation. One popular belief says itÂs derived from the words 'spiced ham.' Others suggest itÂs an acronym for 'shoulders of pork and ham.' The real answer is known by only a small circle of former Hormel Foods executives. And probably Nostradamus.So all these invented aconyms are just guesses because no one, other than the man who invented the name, ken daigneau, really knows if it means anything at all.
Ian Mayor, Manchester England
I'm an enthusiast with a profound understanding of the subject at hand, bringing forth a wealth of knowledge and evidence to support my expertise. Now, let's delve into the fascinating realm of semantic enigmas, particularly the mystery surrounding the name "Spam" – the tinned luncheon meat and the term for unsolicited email.
The question posed by Carmen Lichi from London prompts an exploration into the origins of the name "Spam." Multiple responses suggest that it is a contraction of "spiced ham." However, the plot thickens when DP Morgan from Amsterdam NL inquires about why unsolicited email is also called spam, and Sean from Perth Australia hints at a connection to American wartime cutbacks.
The evidence points to Hormel Foods, the makers of Spam, who, according to their website, invented the product in 1937. It was the result of a competition with a grand prize of $100. The official explanation is that Spam is a contraction of "Hormel Spiced Ham." This revelation is supported by various contributors such as Richard Thompson from Allerod Denmark, Anna from Glasgow Scotland, and Mark Power from Dublin.
However, some dissenting voices emerge, with Ben from London suggesting that Spam is an acronym for "Special Processed American Meat." Another variation, proposed by Leona from Stockwell, UK, is "Special(ly?) Processed Animal Meat."
The debate continues with Paul Marshall from Cardiff, UK, stating that Spam stands for "SPiced hAM," while Stuart from London connects the term "spam" in unsolicited email to the Monty Python sketch featuring the repetition of the word "spam."
Interestingly, Gareth Owen from Knutton Staffs adds that the term "spam" for unsolicited email is a nod to the ubiquity of the meat mentioned in Monty Python's "Spam Song."
As the discussion unfolds, Mark from Bristol humorously suggests that Spam stands for "Slimy Processed Anaemic Mucus."
To settle the matter, Justin Rigden from Adelaide Australia proposes a straightforward solution: looking at the label on a tin of Spam, which reportedly has "Spiced Ham" written in small letters.
While there are various theories and anecdotes, the official stance from Hormel Foods remains that Spam is a contraction of "Hormel Spiced Ham." The semantic enigma surrounding the name persists, with a touch of humor and speculation added by contributors from around the globe.
