Lazy Susans - also popularly called turntables - have been in popular use since at least the 1700s. Thomas Jefferson is often credited with the invention of the Lazy Susan. In colonial times, wooden lazy susans would be used for food and condiments, and for writing utensils and inkwells. In those times Lazy Susans were called "dumbwaiters." Today in America, a dumbwaiter has come to mean a freight elevator for transporting food and dishes between levels. Even today in England, however, people still refer to Lazy Susans as dumbwaiters.
The term "Lazy Susan" came into popular usage no earlier than 1917. The origin of the term is sometimes thought to have originated from a notoriously lazy house servant; however this theory is unlikely, as its emergence was well past the time when house servants were common. It is more likely that the term "Lazy Susan" was hit upon simply because of its rhythmic appeal. It has also been speculated that the lazy house servant story was concocted by the same marketers.
Lazy Susans can be put to a surprising variety of uses. Of course, many people use Lazy Susans for condiments. Some other ideas are using Lazy Susans for fondue, and using Lazy Susans for gameboards. A smaller Lazy Susan is also a perfect way to show off your floral arrangements.
Lazy Susans have been rendered in a variety of materials, including ivory, marble, glass, and ceramic. Wooden lazy susans, though, are probably by far the most popular.
from WoodOhio.com
2 comments:
Wow. I have a different mental definition for a Lazy Susan. For me, a Lazy Susan is a cupboard that isn't really a cupboard in the usual sense - it's got spinny platforms inside. What you've described as a Lazy Susan is just a turntable for me.
You know, the explanation from this Web site doesn't address the question of shape, either. I mean, I generally think of a Lazy Susan as being circular or oval, but I once had a rectangular spinny platform. Is that still a Lazy Susan?
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