Catchup

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A thick seasoning made from tomatoes and spices ; the process of reaching the same level or status as someone else after falling behind
2. A tangy sauce prepared from tomatoes ; getting back on par with someone or something after a period of delay
3. A condiment of tomato paste and seasonings ; working to reach the same point or information as another person after falling behind

Etymology: "Catchup" is a variant spelling of "ketchup," the condiment, which is where its story really begins. Its earliest ancestors were fermented fish sauces in Southeast Asia, and the word passed through several languages and spellings before English adopted it. The sauce later became a tomato-based condiment in the United States, and "catchup" is one of the spellings that appeared along the way. The spelling "catchup" is not a fresh coinage from the English verb "catch up," even though it looks like one. The word is a deverbal formation, meaning it was derived from the verb "catch up." Its usage as a noun for the condiment is a separate line of development from the ordinary sense of "catch up," which means to overtake or to bring oneself level with someone.

Synonyms: ketchup, catsup