viand

From Middle English vyaund, from Anglo-Norman and Old French viande, from Late Latin *vivanda, from Latin vīvenda, from the verb vīvō (“I live”). Compare victual.

The Philippines usage is an anglicization of Spanish vianda (which is ultimately from Latin via French), which is used to translate ulam in Tagalog. See also usage notes.

• IPA^(key): /ˈvaɪ.ənd/

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viand (plural viands)

1. An item of food.
   • 1613, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies, London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, act I, scene i, pages 1–2:

     There was a time, when all the bodies members / Rebell'd againſt the Belly; thus accus'd it: / That onely like a Gulfe it did remaine / I'th midd'ſt a th'body, idle and vnactiue, / Still cubbording the Viand, neuer bearing / Like labour with the reſt, where th'other Inſtruments / Did ſee, and heare, deuiſe, inſtruct, walke, feele, / And mutually participate, did miniſter / Vnto the appetite; […]

2. A choice dish.

   Synonym: delicacy

   • 1837, Thomas Carlyle, The French Revolution: A History […], volumes (please specify |volume=I to III), London: Chapman and Hall, →OCLC, (please specify the book or page number):

     The Motier and Lepelletier tables still groan with viands; roofs ringing with patriotic toasts.

   • 1852, Chambers' Edinburgh Journal, William and Robert Chambers:

     [H]is heart swelled within him, as he sat at the head of his own table, on the occasion of the house-warming, dispensing with no niggard hand the gratuitous viands and unlimited beer, which were at once to symbolise and inaugurate the hospitality of his mansion.

3. (Philippines) side dish; rice topping (item of food eaten with rice.)

• The Philippine sense is a misnomer, usually used to translate Tagalog ulam and equivalents in other Philippine languages into English.

• Davin, Navid, divan