All Greek to me

[shewhomust]

desperance has snuck the word 'leucippotomy' into his Work in Progress.

Which reminded me of last night's dinner-table conversation about fear of tomato sauce: since phobias all have Greek names, we wondered what its name might be. The internet suggests "saltomaphobia" (which isn't particularly pleasing). Had we not supped quite so well, we might not have stumbled quite so heavily on the absence of tomatoes from the classical Greek diet - they've certainly caught up since!

I know someone who suffers from fear of apples...

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

I can relate to a fear of tomato sauce.

[sovay]

The internet suggests "saltomaphobia" (which isn't particularly pleasing).

No, but I think "lycopersicophobia" is pretty good. "Fear of the wolf-peach."

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

I have a particular aversion to the combination of egg and tomoto / tomato sauce. There used to be a popular poster showing a breakfast plate with a fried egg, tomato ketchup and a cigarette stubbed out in the yolk, which makes me feel queasy just to think of it. But I wouldn't call that a phobia exactly.

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

Well, who wouldn't be afraid of a wolf peach? Is that an approved translation? If so, I shall keep it!

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

Not a phobia, but a perfectly proper reaction, I think. Yuck.

[sovay]

Is that an approved translation? If so, I shall keep it!

I don't know if it's the approved translation for the phobia, but it's the Linnaean name of the tomato: Solanum lycopersicon. It's a neo-Latin calque of the German Wolfpfirsch, because nightshades were believed to summon werewolves—a tastily fruiting nightshade was clearly a werewolf bonanza. It's an incredibly evocative word. cucumberseed used it as the inspiration for a poem.

[sovay]

a fried egg, tomato ketchup and a cigarette stubbed out in the yolk

Yes, well, that's just gross.

[weegoddess.livejournal.com]

Have I mentioned how I enjoy reading your posts?

Ok, have I mentioned it *lately*?

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

Aw, you embarrass me - but thanks, anyway!