Changes

==Origin==

==Origin==

Swedish ''smörgåsbord'', from ''smörgås'' open sandwich + ''bord'' table

Swedish ''smörgåsbord'', from ''smörgås'' open sandwich + ''bord'' table

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_century 1879]

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_century 1879]

The Swedish word ''smörgåsbord'' consists of the words ''smörgås'' ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_faced_sandwich open-faced sandwich]) and ''bord'' (table). Smörgås in turn consists of the words [[smör]] (butter, cognate with English smear) and ''gås'' (goose). ''Gås'' [[literally]] means goose, but later referred to the small pieces of butter that formed and floated to the surface of cream while it was churned. These pieces reminded the old Swedish [[peasants]] of fat geese swimming to the surface. The small butter pieces were just the right size to be placed and flattened out on bread, so ''smörgås'' came to mean buttered bread. In Sweden, the term ''breda'' ''smörgåsar'' (to butter open-faced sandwiches) has been used since at least the 16th century.

The Swedish word ''smörgåsbord'' consists of the words ''smörgås'' ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_faced_sandwich open-faced sandwich]) and ''bord'' (table). Smörgås in turn consists of the words [[smör]] (butter, cognate with English smear) and ''gås'' (goose). ''Gås'' [[literally]] means goose, but later referred to the small pieces of butter that formed and floated to the surface of cream while it was churned. These pieces reminded the old Swedish [[peasants]] of fat geese swimming to the surface. The small butter pieces were just the right size to be placed and flattened out on bread, so ''smörgås'' came to mean buttered bread. In Sweden, the term ''breda'' ''smörgåsar'' (to butter open-faced sandwiches) has been used since at least the 16th century.

In [[English]] and also in Scandinavian languages, the word ''smörgåsbord'' (or in English, more usually without diacritics as ''smorgasbord'') refers loosely to any buffet with a variety of dishes. In an extended sense, the word is used to refer to any situation which invites patrons to select whatever they wish among lots of [[pleasant]] things, such as the smorgasbord of [[university]] courses, [[books]] in a bookstore, etc.

In [[English]] and also in Scandinavian languages, the word ''smörgåsbord'' (or in English, more usually without diacritics as ''smorgasbord'') refers loosely to any buffet with a variety of dishes. In an extended sense, the word is used to refer to any situation which invites patrons to select whatever they wish among lots of [[pleasant]] things, such as the smorgasbord of [[university]] courses, [[books]] in a bookstore, etc.

The term ''smörgåsbord'' should not be confused with the somewhat similarly-named Danish [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sm%C3%B8rrebr%C3%B8d ''smørrebrød''].

The term ''smörgåsbord'' should not be confused with the somewhat similarly-named Danish [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sm%C3%B8rrebr%C3%B8d ''smørrebrød''].

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*1: a luncheon or supper buffet offering a variety of [[foods]] and dishes (as hors d'oeuvres, hot and cold meats, smoked and pickled fish, cheeses, salads, and relishes)

*1: a luncheon or supper buffet offering a variety of [[foods]] and dishes (as hors d'oeuvres, hot and cold meats, smoked and pickled fish, cheeses, salads, and relishes)

*2: an often large heterogeneous mixture : mélange  

*2: an often large heterogeneous mixture : mélange  

==Description==

==Description==

'''Smörgåsbord''' is a type of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scandinavia Scandinavian] meal served [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffet buffet]-style with multiple dishes of various foods on a table, originating in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweden Sweden]. In Norway it is called ''koldtbord'', in Denmark it is called ''det kolde bord'', in Finland ''seisova pöytä'', in Iceland it is called ''hlaðborð'', in Latvia "''Aukstais galds''" and in Estonia ''rootsi laud'' (meaning Swedish table). ''Smörgåsbord'' became internationally known as Smorgasbord at the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1939_New_York_World%27s_Fair 1939 New York World's Fair] when it was offered at the Swedish Pavilion's "Three Crowns Restaurant." It is typically a [[celebratory]] meal and guests can help themselves from a range of dishes laid out for their [[choice]]. In a restaurant, the term refers to a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffet buffet-style table] laid out with many small dishes from which, for a fixed amount of [[money]], one is allowed to choose as many as one wishes.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smorgasbord]

'''Smörgåsbord''' is a type of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scandinavia Scandinavian] meal served [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffet buffet]-style with multiple dishes of various foods on a table, originating in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweden Sweden]. In Norway it is called ''koldtbord'', in Denmark it is called ''det kolde bord'', in Finland ''seisova pöytä'', in Iceland it is called ''hlaðborð'', in Latvia "''Aukstais galds''" and in Estonia ''rootsi laud'' (meaning Swedish table). ''Smörgåsbord'' became internationally known as Smorgasbord at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1939_New_York_World%27s_Fair 1939 New York World's Fair] when it was offered at the Swedish Pavilion's "Three Crowns Restaurant." It is typically a [[celebratory]] meal and guests can help themselves from a range of dishes laid out for their [[choice]]. In a restaurant, the term refers to a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffet buffet-style table] laid out with many small dishes from which, for a fixed amount of [[money]], one is allowed to choose as many as one wishes.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smorgasbord]

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: General Reference]]