0330 bap

A few days ago, a friend and I were “conversing” in an instant message. The conversation wandered, but at one time my friend typed about a “bap of sunflower seeds”. I knew the reference was a “bag” and a correction came through a moment later. But that didn’t stop me from thinking about it. You see, a “bap” is a Scottish term for “bread roll”.

The last time I heard it was about six years ago, but the first time was several decades ago (okay, three decades). It was in college, and it was accidental. In fact, if I didn’t ask, I never would have thought about it.

I was in a cafeteria with a group of friends, when another group approached and asked if they could join us. We were seated at a large round table and there were enough chairs, so we said it was okay.

A few minutes later, one of the girls in the other group (I didn’t know her; she was a friend of a friend) asked me, “Are you going to eat that bap?” Bewildered, I asked for clarification. She pointed at an untouched dinner roll on my tray. I shrugged and told her to help herself. As she was eating it, I asked her why she called it a “bap”.

She said, “Sorry about that. My grandmother used to call it that and I guess I picked it up. She was Scottish.” And that’s how I came to know the word. Otherwise, I’d be totally oblivious.

Yeah, I know. Hard to believe that a dinner roll would be untouched on my tray.