eatableadj.n.
/ˈiːtəb(ə)l/ A. adj.
That may be eaten, suitable for food; edible, esculent.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > qualities of food > [adjective] > edible
conceivablec1443
serviceablea1475
comestible1483
eatable1483
consumable1547
receptible1574
meatable1577
consumptible1579
devourable1603
food-fit1608
edible1611
manducable1614
esculent1626
cibarious1656
mandible1656
deglutible1661
eduliousa1682
edule1699
swallowable1818
christena1838
touchable1845
munchable1868
gorgeable1883
noshable1966
1483 Cath. Angl. 118 Eteabylle, comessibilis.
1551 W. Turner Herball (1568) i. M v b The eatable cucumbre pepon that is to saye rype, is of a fyne substance.
1579 W. Fulke Heskins Parl. Repealed in D. Heskins Ouerthrowne 306 The crosse maketh our Lordes fleshe layde vpon it eatable of men.
?1690 Consid. Raising Money 15 To lay a Home-Excise upon things eatable and drinkable.
1757 tr. J. G. Keyssler Trav. III. 256 Bread mixed with sea-water..in time becomes so bitter as not to be eatable.
1863 C. Lyell Geol. Evid. Antiq. Man 13 The common eatable oyster.
B. n.
That which may be eaten; an article of food. Chiefly in plural.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > [noun]
meateOE
eatOE
foodOE
fodderOE
dietc1230
gista1290
victual1303
victualsa1375
preya1382
feedinga1398
pasturea1398
viancea1400
viandsc1400
livingc1405
meatingc1425
vitalyc1440
vianda1450
cates1461
vivers1536
viandry1542
viander1543
gut-matter1549
peck1567
belly-cheer1579
appast1580
manchet1583
chat1584
belly-metal1590
repasture1598
cibaries1599
belly-timber1607
belly-cheat1608
peckage1610
victuallage1622
keeping1644
vivresa1650
crib1652
prog1655
grub1659
beef1661
fooding1663
teething1673
eatablea1687
sunket1686
yam1788
chow-chow1795
keep1801
feed1818
grubbing1819
patter1824
ninyam1826
nyam1828
grubbery1831
tack1834
kai1845
mungaree1846
scoff1846
foodstuff1847
chuck1850
muckamuck1852
tuck1857
tucker1858
hash1865
nosh1873
jock1879
cake flour1881
chow1886
nosebag1888
stodge1890
food aid1900
tackle1900
munga1907
scarf1932
grubber1959
a1687 W. Petty Polit. Anat. Ireland (1691) 92 More eatables were exported Anno 1664. than 1641.
1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 50 Bread or other Eatables.
1726 G. Berkeley in A. C. Fraser Life & Lett. G. Berkeley (1871) iv. 137 Whether a minor be not chargeable for eatables and wearables.
18.. W. S. Landor Wks. (1868) II. 82 We had brought no eatable with us but fruit and thin marzopane.
1879 J. Beerbohm Wanderings in Patagonia xvi. 242 Till..all the drinkables and eatables in Pedro's shop had disappeared.
Derivatives
ˈeatableness n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > qualities of food > [noun] > edibility
esculency1651
eatability1797
eatableness1813
edibility1849
1813 Ann. Reg. 1812 Chron. 518 Water-cresses, of the eatableness of which the Persians appeared totally ignorant.
eataˈbility n. Apparently an isolated use.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > qualities of food > [noun] > edibility
esculency1651
eatability1797
eatableness1813
edibility1849
1797 R. Southey Lett. from Spain viii. 100 P.'s theory of the eatability of cats.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1891; most recently modified version published online September 2019).
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adj.n.1483