# Has the word "Egg" been redefined when I wasn't looking? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [October 28, 2021, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-word-egg-been-redefined-when-i-wasnt-looking/953354 "2021-10-28T03:59:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2021, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-word-egg-been-redefined-when-i-wasnt-looking/953354/61 "2021-10-30T02:23:18Z")
I consulted a couple of people with vegetarian families (one Gujarati and one Telegu) about eggs and it seems very complicated. It can vary by caste (Brahmins are likely to be stricter than others), by the religious sect or guru that the family has historically followed, and other factors. Often some members of a family might have stricter ideas about “proper vegetarianism” than others. If at large gatherings there is a significant contingent of egg-shunners, they will be catered to, because the more “conservative” types will often refuse to attend an event where proper vegetarianism in their view is not being adhered to. And these negotiations will generally be over eggs, onions, and garlic. Fish and seafood are definitely considered to be meat and thus unacceptable. Dairy is definitely considered to be vegetarian and thus acceptable. At least in the experience of the people I spoke with. (otoh people on my (Bengali) community will often not show up if a vegetarian menu is expected, because, it’s not a celebration if there isn’t at least fish and goat on the menu) ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2021, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-word-egg-been-redefined-when-i-wasnt-looking/953354/62 "2021-10-30T02:36:41Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Just to note that my failure to capitalise “Muslim” above was inadvertent and not intentional I never capitalize christian, muslim, jewish, atheist, agnostic, whatever; I mean why? I just barely capitalize Massachusetts, and that’s a very real thing. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2021, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-word-egg-been-redefined-when-i-wasnt-looking/953354/63 "2021-10-30T02:38:33Z")
Well, I did capitalise “Hindu,” so I wanted it to be clear that I wasn’t doing that for a reason. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2021, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-word-egg-been-redefined-when-i-wasnt-looking/953354/64 "2021-10-30T02:40:50Z")
I capitalize Hindu as well. But none of the others. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2021, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-word-egg-been-redefined-when-i-wasnt-looking/953354/65 "2021-10-30T02:42:39Z")
You are supposed to capitalize proper nouns. I suppose “Muslim” is a borderline case, but in that case you may go along with the convention. You probably mean the named religious group, rather than a hypothetical “muslim”; cf in English you have shakers and Shakers. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2021, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-word-egg-been-redefined-when-i-wasnt-looking/953354/66 "2021-10-30T02:53:50Z")
You’re also supposed to capitalize adjectives associated with proper nouns. For example, “Greek history” and “Roman law.” (The proper nouns being “Greece” and “Rome.”) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2021, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-word-egg-been-redefined-when-i-wasnt-looking/953354/67 "2021-10-30T02:58:40Z")
This hijack concerning eggs and vegetarianism is totally…groovy. I think my query has been answered, and I am learning some interesting stuff here. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2021, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-word-egg-been-redefined-when-i-wasnt-looking/953354/68 "2021-10-30T13:30:44Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I never capitalize christian, muslim, jewish, atheist, agnostic, whatever; I mean why? So people won’t think you’re being deliberately insulting? [ETA: atheist and agnostic aren’t generally capitalized because they’re not belief systems; they’re a lack of belief systems, which is not the same thing.] > [@kayaker](#): > > I just barely capitalize Massachusetts, and that’s a very real thing. Religion is a very real thing. It may be based on things that aren’t real; but so is our entire monetary system, and much of the function of our governments. And for that matter Massachusetts; there are no actual lines on the ground separating it from any other state. > [@kayaker](#): > > I capitalize Hindu as well. But none of the others. Why only Hindu? if you don’t capitalize anything at all, well, fair enough; i went through a stage like that, and some people do entirely write without capitals. but to capitalize massachusetts but refuse to capitalize christian is weird and does indeed come off as if you’re being intentionally insulting. let alone to capitalize hindu but not muslim. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2021, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-word-egg-been-redefined-when-i-wasnt-looking/953354/69 "2021-10-30T13:38:16Z")
All I know is that [I Love Egg](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifgEjv27fe0). ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2021, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-word-egg-been-redefined-when-i-wasnt-looking/953354/70 "2021-10-30T13:53:17Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Why only Hindu? It’s just a guess on my part but Hindu can sometimes be used as a geographic descriptor in rare situations. If not that it’s probably some other pedantic dickishness. If it’s being used to describe the religion or belief system it should at least be capitalized consistently with the other belief systems. I’ve always been agnostic for the most part and understand the antipathy towards organized religion but I certainly respect most people’s religious beliefs. I got over doing shit like that to prove some sort of obscure point in my early 20s which was far too late. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2021, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-word-egg-been-redefined-when-i-wasnt-looking/953354/71 "2021-10-30T14:00:12Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I just barely capitalize Massachusetts, and that’s a very real thing. Political entities are essentially imaginary. We all just pretend to behave as if they exist. ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2021, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-word-egg-been-redefined-when-i-wasnt-looking/953354/72 "2021-10-30T14:02:31Z")
I bought and used (once) Just Eggs. It was a disgusting product and I threw it away. ---
**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2021, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-word-egg-been-redefined-when-i-wasnt-looking/953354/73 "2021-10-30T21:07:37Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Oh, so another question: I do know the typical Indian vegetarianism to be lacto-vegetarian, but while in Mumbai I came across a reasonable number of egg dishes like egg bhurji, for example. And an Indian roommate in college would make egg curry with hard boiled eggs. Is this a regional/religious thing or are ovo-lacto vegetarian Indians somehow otherwise distinguished? And, yes, I know plenty of Indians are non-vegetarian, I’m just wondering where that paricular split of ovo-lacto vs just lacto comes from. India’s food cultures (in different states) go back a few centuries (or maybe even milleniums). Not with respect to eggs though. There was the Silver Revolution; a government funded and promoted program for poultry in India. This started in the 1970s but came to full fruition in the late 80s. [https://www.textbooq.in/silver-revolution-in-india.html](https://www.textbooq.in/silver-revolution-in-india.html) Eggs and chicken became quite inexpensive and widely available. And there was a well coordinated campaign by the government promoting eggs. It was also said that eggs were “vegetarian” kind of like “milk” since the eggs will not give rise to chickens. etc etc. Reluctantly at first, but nevertheless many vegetarians started having eggs in their meals, many forced by their kids. School textbooks covered the nutrition profile of eggs and the TV ads were convincing too. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2021, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-word-egg-been-redefined-when-i-wasnt-looking/953354/74 "2021-10-30T21:38:13Z")
> [@am77494](#): > > India’s food cultures (in different states) go back a few centuries (or maybe even milleniums). Not with respect to eggs though. Food cultures are never as old as people imagine or claim they are. Food traditions rarely last centuries, usually not more than a few generations. No way that of you go back millennia, people are eating anything remotely similar to present day. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2021, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-word-egg-been-redefined-when-i-wasnt-looking/953354/75 "2021-10-30T21:54:55Z")
Or as I’ve heard it put, your culture’s food traditions are what your grandmother used to make. ---
**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2021, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-word-egg-been-redefined-when-i-wasnt-looking/953354/76 "2021-10-30T21:59:38Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Food cultures are never as old as people imagine or claim they are. Food traditions rarely last centuries, usually not more than a few generations. No way that of you go back millennia, people are eating anything remotely similar to present day. > [@Chronos](#): > > Or as I’ve heard it put, your culture’s food traditions are what your grandmother used to make. Not really - there is definite effort in many parts of India to preserve the foods / cuisines of forefathers. It is not uncommon to have feasts cooked of pre- Columbian exchange vegetables and grains. Specifically during funeral feasts and many fasts, Indian dishes would be cooked of foods entirely before the columbian exchange. But you are also right that many modern day dishes exist and are enjoyed, but the past lives side by side too. > **[The surprising truth about Indian food](https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20190609-the-surprising-truth-about-indian-food)** > > Many of the most famous ingredients used to make typical 'Indian' cuisine aren’t actually native to India. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2021, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-word-egg-been-redefined-when-i-wasnt-looking/953354/77 "2021-10-30T22:06:48Z")
Y’all were just joking about the fake egg shells earlier in the thread, right? ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2021, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-word-egg-been-redefined-when-i-wasnt-looking/953354/78 "2021-10-31T01:20:42Z")
> [@am77494](#): > > It was also said that eggs were “vegetarian” kind of like “milk” since the eggs will not give rise to chickens. Well. I mentioned fertile eggs before. Supposedly, you can test them by holding the egg in front of a light, but I never tried it myself. But everyone knows that eggs and milk are, even if not alive, “animal products”, however that fits into the diet in question, which it course it may. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2021, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-word-egg-been-redefined-when-i-wasnt-looking/953354/79 "2021-10-31T02:27:12Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > But everyone knows that eggs and milk are, even if not alive, “animal products”, however that fits into the diet in question, which it course it may. That is relevant only if “animal product” is important to your definition. Indian vegetarians draw the line at “animal flesh,” not “animal product” (or perhaps something that requires an animal to be killed). Milk, honey, butter, and yogurt are definitely on the menu for Indian vegetarians. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2021, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-word-egg-been-redefined-when-i-wasnt-looking/953354/80 "2021-10-31T02:55:43Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Has the definition of “egg” actually changed This question is deep in “that’s not how language works” territory. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-word-egg-been-redefined-when-i-wasnt-looking/953354.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-word-egg-been-redefined-when-i-wasnt-looking/953354.md?page=5)