# What does 'euchred' mean? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 21, 2022, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-euchred-mean/959887 "2022-02-21T17:53:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2022, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-euchred-mean/959887/1 "2022-02-21T17:53:09Z")
In the early-1900s, Heinz sold ‘[Euchred Figs](https://historicpittsburgh.org/islandora/object/pitt:20170417-hpichswp-0010)’. What does that mean? They played cards with them and then put them in a bottle? ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2022, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-euchred-mean/959887/2 "2022-02-21T17:55:23Z")
Previous thread on the topic: [Euchred pickles and figs?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euchred-pickles-and-figs/177108) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2022, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-euchred-mean/959887/3 "2022-02-21T18:02:29Z")
So sweet pickled figs. Any idea why they call it ‘euchring’? ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-euchred-mean/959887/4 "2022-02-22T01:10:43Z")
[Some smart hip people tried to figure that out over fifteen years ago.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-suppose-euchred-eggs-are/369186) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-euchred-mean/959887/5 "2022-02-22T01:44:49Z")
Ha. I had thought the question sounded really familiar, but I didn’t see myself in the first link so thought I may have dreamt it. 🙂 I still haven’t been able to figure out why “euchred.” Really odd that it seems to be difficult to track down this usage of the word. Google Books has been somewhat helpful with more references and pics of adverts, but nothing on the etymological front I’ve found so far. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-euchred-mean/959887/6 "2022-02-22T01:50:34Z")
As noted in the linked threads, “euchred” seems to have been often used for “exhausted”, “worn out”, or “drunk”. Probably the saggy smushy appearance of soft fruit immersed in boiling sweet brine suggested that connection? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-euchred-mean/959887/7 "2022-02-22T01:59:42Z")
Yeah, I guess that would make sense. I found a definition of “euchred” in slang meaning “totally destroyed” going back to the mid-1800s. It also means “to cheat; to swindle.” Australian sense seems to be similar to British “knackered” in meaning “exhausted/worn out.” I haven’t found any suggestion it means “drunk,” but that was going to be my first guess, as it just sounds like slang for “drunk,” e.g." Man, did you see Bob last night. He got totally _euchred_ at the party!" I did find some recipes for euchred cherries, and euchred plums, but the term seems to be quite rare in the printed word, even though it was adopted by Heinz for a spell. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-euchred-mean/959887/8 "2022-02-22T02:17:23Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > “Man, did you see Bob last night. He got totally _euchred_ at the party!” That phrase would probably be reserved for ‘funnyman’ [Bob Uecker](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Uecker). ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-euchred-mean/959887/9 "2022-02-22T02:26:07Z")
Hah. That wasn’t even intentional on my part – just my brain doing subconscious punnery. Happens to me all the time. I wish I were consciously that clever. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-euchred-mean/959887/10 "2022-02-22T02:38:56Z")
I’ve run across a couple online references to figs preserved in brandy or wine being referred to as “euchred”. Not sure how the euchred figs on this Fifth Avenue Hotel menu from 1901 were made. The most intriguing menu item is the scrambled brains with eggs, yum! They’re so hard to find at Denny’s nowadays. [http://menus.nypl.org/menu\_pages/22623/explore](http://menus.nypl.org/menu_pages/22623/explore) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-euchred-mean/959887/11 "2022-02-22T02:53:28Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > The most intriguing menu item is the scrambled brains with eggs, yum! That’s not that weird to me. I mean, you don’t see it around much these days, but I even remember in the 80s it still being around certain diners around here in Chicago. Might even be able to find it around now, I wouldn’t be surprised. Though, right now, I can find brain tacos much more easily. ETA: Looking online, can’t find any in the Chicago area for brain & eggs (but I can find you those tacos). It seems like it’s a Southern thing, and it still seems to be around. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-euchred-mean/959887/12 "2022-02-22T03:02:25Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > > [@Jackmannii](#): > > > > The most intriguing menu item is the scrambled brains with eggs, yum! > > ETA: Looking online, can’t find any in the Chicago area for brain & eggs (but I can find you those tacos). It seems like it’s a Southern thing, and it still seems to be around. Really? Must not be cow brains, then, due to the association with vCJD (mad cow disease) and federal crackdown on such meat entering the food supply. [All About BSE (Mad Cow Disease) | FDA](https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/all-about-bse-mad-cow-disease) Not that I’d be confident eating the brains of pigs, deer or other mammals. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-euchred-mean/959887/13 "2022-02-22T03:05:13Z")
The Mexican taco ones are usually pork, I believe But I’m fairly certain I’ve seen calf or beef brains at the supermarket. As long as they’re younger than 30 months, you can sell cow brains. (ETA: looking online, it looks like pork is slightly more popular, but beef brains are also available here in Chicago for tacos.) ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-euchred-mean/959887/14 "2022-02-22T10:25:24Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > As noted in the linked threads, “euchred” seems to have been often used for “exhausted”, “worn out”, or “drunk”. Probably the saggy smushy appearance of soft fruit immersed in boiling sweet brine suggested that connection? If that’s the case, maybe it’s a corruption of the British term knackered? mmm ---
**Author:** ![EnolaStraight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@EnolaStraight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EnolaStraight)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-euchred-mean/959887/15 "2022-02-22T14:28:16Z")
If “pickled” means marinaded in a vinegar and/or salt brine, perhaps Euchred means marinaded in some alcohol solution…it would fit in with the “drunk” appelation. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-euchred-mean/959887/16 "2022-02-22T14:41:48Z")
The historical recipes I’ve seen don’t necessarily include alcohol in the solution for a euchred item.