3 July, 2008

Random queries no. 147

One of a series of genuine search engine enquiries which successfully brought visitors to the Ministry.  Can I help?

correct term for fish eggs

Roe. Processed edible varieties are generally called caviar in English.

I've never been able to bring myself to try it, but my mother used to like cod's roe. Visiting my father in Norway in the Eighties, I'd travel out with 4-5 kg of coffee whitener, a luxury apparently unavailable there, in my suitcase (in the days when one could freely travel with such quantities of white powder) and back with a suitcase of prawns and fish eggs. I, and probably the entire aviation industry, are eternally glad my luggage never went missing.

Incidentally, the product known as 'soft roe' in the UK is not fish eggs. You really don't want to know what it is; I rather wish I didn't.