KenK wrote in rec.food.cooking:

> I noticed here that different people have different terms for the
> daily meals.
>
> Like some say lunch, others say dinner for the afternoon meal. I say
> either but usually dinner.
>
> Some say supper, some say dinner for the evening meal. I say either
> but usually supper.
>
> I'm from Chicago and picked up these terms in 1934 - 1950 or so when
> I was a kid there. Just my family?
>
> Comments? Maybe some have other terms?

It's based on area and country. If talking to USA folks and not sure
where they are, lunch is always understood and supper as well for the
eventing meal though supper may sound odd in some parts of the country.

The classic is breakfast, lunch and dinner. That your area uses
'dinner' for the noon meal is an abberation of your area. In classic
version, dinner=supper=evening meal.

There is one difference seen in the past mostly where supper was
delivered at almost english tea time (but was more substantial than a
tea) and the kids ate at about 6pm and later after they were in bed, a
dinner was served at roughly 8pm for the adults.

I think the english used to have a 'supper' and a dinner as well, both
in the evening for hard working farmers but not sure.

In areas that use both terms though, supper is always the earlier one.

Hows that for pedantic? Grin!
Carol
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