Origin of "Lazy Susan" ...

[peritrochoid]

I’m an architect, and I happened to be thumbing through a book on cabinet details the other day. I’ve always heard of Lazy Susans and I know what they are, but a questioned popped into mind that wouldn’t go away. What is the origin of the term “Lazy Susan”? Did the “inventor” have a wife/girlfriend/sister/mother named Susan who wouldn’t lift a finger to reach deep into cabinets? Everyone at work just looked at me weird when I asked them. Obviously they didn’t know. Can anyone help me out?

[Desmostylus]

Editors of Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, Tenth Edition

"Lazy Susan’’ made its first written appearance in a Vanity Fair advertisement for a "Revolving Server or Lazy Susan’’ in 1917. The device itself predates the name "lazy Susan,’’ as many antique shoppers can tell you: These revolving serving trays have been around since the 1700s, where they were often tiered and called "dumbwaiters.’’

<snip>

It is more than likely that "lazy Susan’’ was styled on previous combinations in English that use "Susan’’ ("black-eyed Susan’’ being the most common). There are many such words in English that use names in a generic way: "peeping Tom,’’ "jim-dandy,’’ and "Jolly Roger’’ are just a few. It is also possible that the combination of the "z’’ sound in "lazy’’ and the initial "s’’ sound of "Susan’’ appealed to the manufacturer of the lazy Susan, and in a brilliant marketing move, "lazy Susan’’ was born.

[quiltguy154]

Charles Funk in “Horse Feathers” explains that it probably is a derivative from the common phrase dumbwaiter[not the elevator-like device, but a free-standing, circular cabinet which stored condiments, drinks and such] A device that allowed those dining to serve themselves, rather than be waited upon. I believe the name was inserted as a close alliteration of lazy. Maybe the now non-waited-upon felt that servants would become indolent with fewer tasks to perform.

[peritrochoid]

Thanks!