Dinner is a main meal of the day, often eaten in the evening, though in some cultures it can be at midday. It is usually larger or more formal than other meals.
From Old French "disner" meaning "to dine" or "have the first meal of the day," originally from a verb meaning "to break a fast." Over time in English, "dinner" shifted from meaning the day’s main meal (at midday) to often meaning the evening meal.
Dinner hasn’t always meant an evening meal—farmers once ate their main "dinner" at midday to fuel the rest of their work. Arguments about "supper vs. dinner" are really echoes of old lifestyle patterns and class differences.
'Dinner' and meal preparation have historically been associated with women's unpaid domestic labor, while formal dinners and restaurant work have often been male-dominated at the top (e.g., head chefs).
Avoid assuming women are responsible for cooking or serving dinner; describe meal roles without tying them to gender.
["evening meal","supper"]
Women have shaped culinary traditions and professional kitchens worldwide, though their leadership roles have often been under-credited compared to male celebrity chefs.
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