hippophagy 的词源

“吃马肉的行为或习惯”，这个词最早出现在1823年，由 hippo-（意为“马”）和 -phagy（意为“吃”）组合而成（参见 -phagous）。古希腊天文学家托勒密提到过某些中亚游牧部落被称为 hippophagi。相关词汇还有 Hippophagous（1828年）。

Europeans have generally regarded horse-flesh as unfit for food; but hippophagy or horse-eating has always existed among some rude races, and has been advocated by many gastronomers in Europe. In Paris horse-flesh has long been surreptitiously dealt in as a cheap article of diet, and its sale, under strict official supervision, was authorized in 1866. The necessary use of it there during the siege of 1870-1 brought it into more general favor, which has been maintained. It is also eaten to some extent in other countries. [Century Dictionary, 1903]

欧洲人普遍认为马肉不适合食用，但在一些粗犷的民族中，吃马肉的习惯一直存在，并且在欧洲也受到许多美食家的推崇。在巴黎，马肉早已作为一种廉价食品被秘密交易，并且在1866年经过严格的官方监管后开始合法销售。在1870-1871年的围城期间，马肉的必要性使其逐渐被大众接受，这种趋势一直持续至今。在其他国家，马肉也在一定程度上被食用。[《世纪词典》，1903年]