Tiffinbox

Inspiring Photographers

In the Box

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On a whim, I went looking for the word TIFFIN in Alexa.

Michael Quinion has this to say:

Tiffin is a word that perhaps more than any other evokes British India. It entered the language at the very beginning of the nineteenth century, perhaps because the fashion for eating dinner mid-afternoon was giving way to a main meal taken later in the day, requiring a lighter midday meal and a name for it.

We are just taking the first bend into the new year and it's perhaps a little early to engage in navel gazing. But in the past four months or so that this blog has been in existence, I have had the pleasure of getting to know several of you. Thanks to Kaushik Banerjee, some of my posts now also appear in a wonderful community called Living In India. Do check out the other writers who contribute to that site. You will be impressed.

Tiffinbox is light fare for those interested in South Asian photography, writing, design and art. If you have links, ideas, suggestions or know people and events please let me know. Send me a note at: tiffinbox {at} pipalproductions {dot} com.

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Seshu | Editor & Publisher

Seshu | Editor & Publisher

Seshu is an Avon, Connecticut based headshot photographer and family portrait photographer. He edits and publishes Tiffinbox and produces Tiffincast for photographers like you!

Comments

  1. Satya says

    I’ve heard it said that tiffin (pronounced tiffun in India) is a corruption of “Tea Bun” – possibly a latter day etymological invention

    The Merriam Websters Dictionary (www.m-w.com) online says
    Etymology: probably alteration of tiffing, gerund of obsolete English tiff to eat between meals
    Date: 1800
    chiefly British : a light midday meal : LUNCHEON

    and The Concise Oxford Dictionary says,

    (in India) a light midday meal
    19th century origin: apparently from dialect tiffing “sipping of”

  2. Satya says

    I’ve heard it said that tiffin (pronounced tiffun in India) is a corruption of “Tea Bun” – possibly a latter day etymological invention

    The Merriam Websters Dictionary (www.m-w.com) online says
    Etymology: probably alteration of tiffing, gerund of obsolete English tiff to eat between meals
    Date: 1800
    chiefly British : a light midday meal : LUNCHEON

    and The Concise Oxford Dictionary says,

    (in India) a light midday meal
    19th century origin: apparently from dialect tiffing “sipping of”

  3. Seshu says

    Satya

    Thanks for that interesting comment. “Tea-Bun” certainly makes sense. Say it fast enough and repeatedly and it sure sounds like TIFFIN!

    And, it’s not all that improbable that the origin of “tiffin” comes from “tea-bun” given that even today, in at least India, sweet chai and a bun (that deliciously sweet, fist-sized bread, just so slightly glazed and topped up with a dry cherry) is tiffin for millions of people.

  4. Seshu says

    Satya

    Thanks for that interesting comment. “Tea-Bun” certainly makes sense. Say it fast enough and repeatedly and it sure sounds like TIFFIN!

    And, it’s not all that improbable that the origin of “tiffin” comes from “tea-bun” given that even today, in at least India, sweet chai and a bun (that deliciously sweet, fist-sized bread, just so slightly glazed and topped up with a dry cherry) is tiffin for millions of people.

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