Were the peppers already pickled on the plant somehow? Is there a type of pepper called pickled peppers? What is a peck anyway?

  • @krayj@sh.itjust.works
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    10 months ago

    Rewritten with synonyms that are more understandable:

    Peter Piper selected a 2-gallon quantity of pickled peppers.

    …probably at the market. The peppers were already harvested and pickled.

    • Uncle
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      810 months ago

      …probably at the market.

      Was there a little piggy there too?

  • Mom Nom Mom
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    2910 months ago

    A peck is (was) a unit of measure, oddly. Same with a bushel. I know because my Grandma used to say “a bushel and a peck, and a squeeze around the neck!” to me when I was young. I had to ask her too.

  • @frankPodmore@slrpnk.net
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    2110 months ago

    Also, why would anyone she sell seashells by the seashore, of all places? Terrible business model to sell seashells where your customers can easily find their own.

    • @Raxiel@lemmy.world
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      2510 months ago

      You’re paying for the curated selection. Been to the seashore lately? Most of that shits all chipped and broken.

    • @minesweepermilk@lemmy.world
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      1110 months ago

      From what what I remember, this saying is about Mary Anning and how she sold fossils by the beach in England where she lived. So most people probably didn’t know how to pick a rock with a fossil, or open it well enough to preserve said fossil

      • @frankPodmore@slrpnk.net
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        710 months ago

        So people say. I’m a bit sceptical about that origin story because fossils aren’t seashells and, as far as I remember, Mary Anning didn’t sell many of her fossils!

    • konalt
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      210 months ago

      The value of those shells will fall. Due to the laws of supply and demand, no one wants to buy shells cause there’s loads on the sand.

  • @neuracnu
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    10 months ago

    Next thing I know, you’re going to ask me how Moses could suppose his toes are roses. Cuz one might suppose that erroneously that anyone’s toes could be posies of roses as Moses supposes his toes to be.

  • Deconceptualist
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    910 months ago

    I think you’re on track. My best guess is that he was harvesting “pickling peppers” (i.e. peppers that would later be brined) and somehow the -ing ending turned into -ed. Probably for the sake of cadence in the tongue twister.

    There is no capsicum fruit that grows in an already pickled state. Hopefully that’s not a surprise to anyone. This video is a good overview of the varieties out there if you’re curious though: https://youtu.be/BtsiuA7ETd8?si=rAUNaoQmDQvmLN_5

  • @Markimus@lemmy.world
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    710 months ago

    They aren’t being picked from the plant, the peck of pickled peppers Peter picks are from an entrée of already pickled peppers.

  • Em Adespoton
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    310 months ago

    I always wondered why Peter Piper preferred picking a peck of pickled peppers to picking a pack of pastrami or a pallet of popcorn.

    You see, pick has multiple meanings; take your pick.