Ketchup

[diane1]

why is ketchup so called

[tief]

It comes from the Malay word 'kechap' meaning 'to smack the lips.' The Malay word ultimately comes from Chinese dialect 'koechiap' or 'ke-tsiap' which is pickled-fish brine.

[crowdpleeser]

ok so who is right? Tartan or tief?

[stanbee]

Both are partially right according to online Webster's: [Probably Malay kicap, fish sauce, possibly from Chinese (Cantonese) k-chap, equivalent to Chinese (Mandarin) qi�, eggplant + Chinese (Mandarin) zh, sap, gravy.]