What is the correct spelling? Is it "donut" or "doughnut"? I had doughnut on my grocery list, and my daughter told me I spelled it wrong. She said it should be donut.
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12-19-02, 03:29 PM
Ewood27
The Merriam-Webster link at the top of the page confirms my opinion that 'doughnut' is the original spelling (from c. 1809), while 'donut' is one of those awful contractions that should have been strangled at birth.

See doughnut . My link to 'donut' didn't work, but M-W says it is a variant of 'doughnut'.

12-19-02, 04:45 PM
MkStfnz
Dunkin Donuts. So nice of them to make our language even more confusing.

12-19-02, 09:07 PM
honilov
After checking that link, it seem like either way is appropriate. I see krispy kreme's is spelled donut, also. I guess it's just a modern day word that's easier to spell and write.

12-20-02, 03:31 AM
Ewood27
Dunkin Donuts? Krispy Kreme? I rest my case.

12-20-02, 10:53 AM
Georgia85
I agree with Ewood....
Donut is a shortcut for Doughnut, just like we abbreviate barbeque...

Now what do you all think about Ketchup versus Catsup!

12-20-02, 11:02 AM
methos
Ketchup is the older form and as far as I can tell is the more commonly used form. It is also closer to the original Malay: kechap (fish sauce).

12-20-02, 11:54 AM
maiku
I agree entirely with Ewood about Dunkin Donuts and Krispy Kreme.

What methos reports about ketchup above is pretty much what Merriam-Webster says. But there is more to it than that, especially since the word no doubt comes from languages which didn't even use the Roman alphabet.Click here for a more thorough discussion. cool

12-20-02, 03:40 PM
juanruiz
Doughnut or donut? From what I've read here I find holes in both arguments.

12-20-02, 04:31 PM
maiku
That reply was wholly egregious, JR. Go soak your doughy head!

(Or have the clouds in your coffee distorted your vision of etymological truth beyond all repair?)

wink wink

12-20-02, 05:16 PM
maiku
Or as Bismarck said when his troops gobbled up Danish patsies in Schleswig, while quaffing whole steins of beer: donot please consider this any kind of German tort, eh? Klar? cool

12-20-02, 05:35 PM
juanruiz
It is my considered opinion that the do(ugh)nuts under discussion here likely belong in the Sanctum Sanctorum.

12-20-02, 05:46 PM
maiku
Holy cow, Jr! Trust you to drag WR into this.

But I have it on pretty good authority that the annular-shaped things in the holy of holies are bagels. (With lox, never with cheese).

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