So what do YOU call a long sandwich? I’m an amateur linguist and follower of American regionalisms and accents. A frequent topic in a group I belong to is the variety of names for a...

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

I’m an amateur linguist and follower of American regionalisms and accents. A frequent topic in a group I belong to is the variety of names for a long sandwich in different parts of the country. You know, the kind you can get at a chain like “Subway”?

Here are the regional names I know of. I’d love it if any of our worldwide membership can come up with any new ones...

Sub
Submarine
Torpedo
Hoagie
Grinder
Po’ Boy
Poor Boy
Spiedie
Spucky or Spuckie
Blimpie
Zeppelin
Bomber
Sarnie
Wedge
Hero
Italian (sometimes pronounced EYEtalian)

I think that’s sixteen in total. Lots of interesting origin stories there.

Can anyone make it 17? Or more?

What do YOU call a long sandwich? Either now or where you grew up.

Andy

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

Oh, I forgot one very local name - a Gondola! That literally plays in Peoria.

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

That's easy!! Sub in my part of the world. But I am familiar with most of the others. Jersey Mike's, a huge nationwide franchise/chain now, originated in Point Pleasant, NJ - about 7 miles from where I grew up. I make my own subs. I use crusty (not soft) Italian or French bread.
Thanks, Andy. I'm feeling hungry for one right now!!

Mark

AndyH wrote:

I’m an amateur linguist and follower of American r... (show quote)

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

markngolf wrote:

That's easy!! Sub in my part of the world. But I am familiar with most of the others. Jersey Mike's, a huge nationwide franchise/chain now, originated in Point Pleasant, NJ - about 7 miles from where I grew up. I make my own subs. I use crusty (not soft) Italian or French bread.
Thanks, Andy. I'm feeling hungry for one right now!!

Mark

We recently got a Jersey Mike franchise in our town. Good quality sub!

The Garden State is the origin point for several of the names above.

Andy

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

AndyH wrote:

We recently got a Jersey Mike franchise in our town. Good quality sub!

The Garden State is the origin point for several of the names above.

Andy

Sub - Jersey
Hoagie - Philly (Hog Island)
Zep - Italian shops in Philly area.

Can't explain the rest of the world.

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

Longshadow wrote:

Sub - Jersey
Hoagie - Philly (Hog Island)
Zep - Italian shops in Philly area.

Can't explain the rest of the world.

Cool!

Torpedo was also Jersey born. Blimpie as well.

Andy

pendennis

Grinder - The stories go, that ship workers in Rhode Island, especially those who cut off and smoothed rivet heads, were called "grinders". The "grinders" often ate a sandwich from the local deli; long roll, meat, cheese, mayo, etc. Grinder got attached to the sandwich name.

Whatever they're called, they are good eatin'!!

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

pendennis wrote:

Grinder - The stories go, that ship workers in Rhode Island, especially those who cut off and smoothed rivet heads, were called "grinders". The "grinders" often ate a sandwich from the local deli; long roll, meat, cheese, mayo, etc. Grinder got attached to the sandwich name.

Whatever they're called, they are good eatin'!!

I think a grinder here is a hoagie heated in an oven.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

AndyH wrote:

Cool!

Torpedo was also Jersey born. Blimpie as well.

Andy

Wasn't sure where torpedo originated.
Did not know about blimpie.

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

I’ve heard the “Grinder” story as originating in both New London and Newport. Neither has any period citations. It’s mostly an inland New England thing. Spuckies spread from a South Shore joint called Spucky’s, and Italian Sandwich starts on the North Shore and continues down the Maine Coast. Connecticut shore mostly follows NY names till New London.

I love this stuff!

Andy

MikeMck Loc: Southern Maryland on the Bay

From Brookline, MA, it’s a sub!!

Rich2236 Loc: E. Hampstead, New Hampshire

As a young man in New York City, we would call them a hero sandwich. I remember a small Italian grocery on the corner of 23rd st and 1st avenue that made the best hero's. Meat, (different kinds) cheese, oil, mustard, and sweet peppers...and we would walk to the east river and sit and watch the boats while eating. Oh, and drinking bottle of creme soda, root beer or even a bottle of Ballantine ale. (Drinking age in New York at that time was 18.)
Rich...

kschwegl Loc: Orangeburg, NY

Hero of course, New York here!

Bunko.T Loc: Western Australia.

AndyH wrote:

I’m an amateur linguist and follower of American r... (show quote)

Q; What's 30 feet long & smells like Urine??

A; Line dancing in a aged care home.

Burtzy Loc: Bronx N.Y. & Simi Valley, CA

My wife's Van Nuys, CA family used to refer to the Grinder as a "Gitty Grinder." I have no idea why. They usually got theirs from a stand called Matt & Tony's. Maybe that's where the name originated.