# Deviled foods

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deviled-foods/269397>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [October 15, 2004, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deviled-foods/269397 "2004-10-15T16:35:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deviled-foods/269397/1 "2004-10-15T16:35:45Z")

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From the [Deviled fods](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mdeviledeggs.html) article.

Cecil says that it comes from " 1786, when it was used to describe a (highly seasoned) fried or **boiled** dish"

Then the reference he quotes claims “A name for various highly-seasoned **broiled** or fried dishes.”

Which it it? Boiled or broiled?

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**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deviled-foods/269397/2 "2004-10-15T22:49:44Z")

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The Deviled Foods report is by the Straight Dope Science Advisory Board (SDSAB) and by **Una** , not by Cecil… and hence is being moved to the appropriate forum.

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**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\
**Post date:** [October 16, 2004, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deviled-foods/269397/3 "2004-10-16T03:50:59Z")

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I checked. The original reference for the noun form is “broiled” as quoted. My sentence above was mis-typed by me, and the spell checker didn’t mind it since “boiled” is a word.

From the OED 2nd Edition Online:

> [@](#):
>
> 1. a. A name for various highly-seasoned broiled or fried dishes; also for hot ingredients.

As a sidebar - the verb form, not quoted in the article (but mentioned as an aside) refers to “grill(ing) with hot condiments”.

> [@](#):
>
> verb:
> 
> 1. trans. To grill with hot condiments.
> 
> 1800 [see DEVILLED 2]. 1817 T. L. PEACOCK Melincourt xxiii, If the carp be not caught, let me be devilled like a biscuit after the second bottle. 1831 E. J. TRELAWNY Adv. Younger Son I. 291 Come Louis, devil us a biscuit. a1845 HOOD Tale of Temper vi, He…felt in his very gizzard he was devill’d! 1870 RAMSAY Remin. iv. (ed. 18) 83 One of the legs should be deviled.

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**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\
**Post date:** [October 16, 2004, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deviled-foods/269397/4 "2004-10-16T10:17:07Z")

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Although, come to think of it, deviled eggs _are_ boiled.

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**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\
**Post date:** [October 16, 2004, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deviled-foods/269397/5 "2004-10-16T12:06:50Z")

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**Una** , if you want a revision, let **TubaDiva** know… she’ll fix it for ya.