Definition of the word stuffing

The term "stuffing" has a fascinating origin. It dates back to the 14th century, when cooks started filling cooking pots, called "stoups," with small animals, bones, and vegetables to create a flavorful broth. As they added more ingredients to the pot, the filling became known as "stuff" in Middle English. Over time, the term evolved to describe the mixture of food cooked inside a cavity, such as a turkey or vegetable. The first recorded use of the word "stuffing" in the sense we know it today was in the 1540s. By the 17th century, stuffing had become a popular side dish at special occasions like Thanksgiving. The idea of filling an animal's cavity with food was first documented in a 1335 cookery book called "The Forme of Cury," which was written by the master cooks of King Richard II of England.