• BiggestPiggest@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    Why would anyone call it the check? I presume it’s a corruption of cheque but isn’t that sending money?

    In Australia we ask for the bill. And don’t tip

    • MisterFrog@aussie.zone
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      4 months ago

      Indeed we say “the bill”, this is of course a joke, a play on words.

      Entomology of using “cheque” (American spelling “check”) is a bit murky from my very surface level searching: https://www.etymonline.com/word/cheque

      Seems logical is gained it’s meaning from 1812: “a counter-register as a token of ownership used to check against, and prevent, loss or theft” from “coat check”. Doesn’t seem like that much of a stretch for the meaning to then mean a token of how much you owe for the food.

      ‘The meaning “restaurant bill” is from 1869.’ according to this website.