[tlhIngan Hol] Klingon Word of the Day: vut

[Steven Boozer]

> Klingon Word of the Day for Thursday, September 08, 2016
> 
> Klingon word: vut
> Part of speech: verb
> Definition: cook, prepare food or beverage

wam chaH. ghIq Soj luvut. 
They hunt. Then (after that) they prepare food. (HQ 8.3)

wam chaH 'ej ghIq Soj luvut. 
They hunt and then they prepare food. (HQ 8.3) 


KGT 83:  Actually, "cook" is a convenient but misleading term. The Klingon verb {vut}, customarily rendered as "cook" in Federation Standard and used in reference to food only, might better be translated simply as prepare, make, fix, and assemble in order to avoid association of the word with heat. This is not to say that heat never plays a role in Klingon food preparation, but rather that it is not a defining feature of the process. There are specific words for specific activities involved with food preparation, but {vut} is a general term for all of them. In fact, {vut} can also be used in reference to making a beverage, whether simply mixing ingredients together (such a putting cream in coffee) or starting from scratch (such as brewing ale).

KGT 205:  the Klingon verb {vut} is conventionally translated "cook", but heat is seldom involved in the activity.

KGT 93:  "If heat is used as part of food preparation, the cook is most likely to mIQ (deep-fry) the food.

KGT 191:  While tendon or ligament ({to'waQ}) that has been deep-fried is one of the few hot dishes enjoyed by most Klingons, burnt tendon is definitely a culinary gaffe.

KGT 93:  Some dishes are prepared by heating meat in a liquid consisting of the animal's blood along with some choice condiments. To prepare food in this way is to {Qev} it. Livers of bokrats are typically prepared in this manner. 

KGT 94:  Certain dishes are typically prepared in certain ways, so it is not necessary to describe the preparation technique when naming it; the name of the plant, animal, or animal part is enough. Thus, {pIpyuS pach} (pipius claw) is always prepared the same way; it would be peculiar to hear {pIpyuS pach HaHlu'pu'bogh} ("pipius claw that has been marinated; marinated pipius claw"), since such phrasing would be redundant. By contrast, the claw of the ka'raj is prepared in a variety of ways, so saying that dinner will consist of {qa'raj pach} ("ka'raj claw") is not giving enough information. If a dish with a standard preparation technique (a {nay' motlh}, "usual dish") is being offered, asking how it is to be prepared is a demonstration of cultural ignorance. 

KGT 88:  More sophisticated Klingon food preparation involves keeping anatomically identifiable parts separate.

KGT 84:  A larger animal may be sliced into pieces or a section of a plant may be broken off. This food is often described as {Soj tlhol} ("raw, unprocessed food"), as opposed to {Soj vutlu'pu'bogh} ("food that somebody has prepared").

KGT 99:  Eating is done with hands only. There is no Klingon fork or spoon. If the cook has prepared the food properly, there should be no need to use a knife either, though, from time to time, one is quite useful.

KGT 83:  to make Klingon food properly actually involves a great deal of study, practice, and just the right touch. There are, of course, practitioners of greater and lesser skill, but one must never be careless when preparing food. A well-fed warrior is prepared to battle any enemy and claim glory for the Empire; a warrior displeased with his meal looks to the cook for retribution... A Klingon food and/or beverage preparer is a {vutwI'} ... A bartender, on the other hand, is a {chom}.

KGT 100f.:  Any visitor to a Klingon city, or even outpost, will undoubtedly want to spend some time sampling Klingon food in a restaurant ({Qe'}) ... The person who takes the order and brings the food is the {jabwI'} ("server") and the chef is the {vutwI'} ("cook"; in a large restaurant, the head chef is referred to as the {vutwI' quv}, the "honored cook"). In small establishments, the {jabwI'} and {vutwI'} are likely to be the same individual. If there is a separate bar ({tach}), the bartender ({chom}) will mix drinks; otherwise, these chores fall to the {vutwI'}. 

SEE ALSO:
vutpa'  		galley (n)
vutwI'  		cook,  chef (n)
vutwI' quv  	head chef (n)
vut'un  		flat-bottomed pot for food preparation (regional (n)

Qev 			stew (v)
mIQ 			deep-fry (v)
pub  			boil (v)
'Im  			render, boil fat (v)


--
Voragh
tlhIngan ghantoH pIn'a'
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons