A large farm, especially in North America, where horses, beef cattle, or sheep are raised. It can also refer to a style of single-story house or a type of creamy salad dressing.
From Mexican Spanish 'rancho,' meaning 'small farm' or 'group of persons eating together,' derived from 'rancharse' meaning 'to take up quarters.' The word entered American English in the 19th century during westward expansion and Mexican territorial acquisition.
Ranch dressing, now America's most popular salad dressing, was invented in 1954 by a plumber-turned-cowboy named Steve Henson at his dude ranch in California. He never could have imagined that his homemade dressing would become more famous than the ranch itself!
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