It suddenly occurred to me the other day that ‘smallgoods’ is a very odd term.
Why do we call processed meat products ‘smallgoods.’
And are there any such things as ‘large-goods’?
It turns out that this is our expression—an Australian coinage.
‘Small goods’ (as two words) was originally coined back in 1716 to mean, well, small goods—small items of merchandise.
So far, so good-all perfectly logical.
And the British still use the term in that way.
For example, in 2012 the London Daily Telegraph wrote about: ‘a selection of bags, wallets, ties, small goods and laptop and phone accessories.’
That’s the old meaning— ‘smallgoods’ just meaning a bunch of small things.
But in Australia (and only in Australia, and, I think, in New Zealand) in 1874 the expression ‘smallgoods’ turns up with the meaning of processed meat.
In that year the word was applied to the products of pork butchers.
In New Zealand there are references to offal (livers, kidneys, hearts, and sweetbreads) as being ‘smallgoods’—which is not exactly how we use the word here in Australia.
When we say ‘smallgoods’ we mean stuff like salami—processed, cooked meat.
In Australia ‘smallgoods’ are defined as being cooked, dried, cured and otherwise processed meat products, such as salami; manufactured meats.
(And here it has become one word, without a break or hyphen in the middle).
There is a French term that (more or less) covers the same territory—charcuterie.
I take it that the old English term was adopted (and adapted) in Australia because sliced ham, salami and so on really were ‘smallgoods’ (small items).
And one fixed meaning for a word can squeeze out all the other possibilities.
(That’s just how language works.)
And, no, there never was any such expression as ‘large goods.’
For Perth readers, today I will be talking words and language with Tod Johnston on 'The Long Lunch -- at around 12:20 pm.
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BY THE WAY...
If you'd like to see my A-Z list of Aussie slang, you'll find it here in the Australian Geographic website -- A-Z list of Aussie slang. Here’s the link: The A-Z of Aussie slang - Australian Geographic
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