Eating a "Cut Lunch"

A few weeks ago as reported we had a garden tour come to Struan Farm. Word was that they were bringing a "cut lunch" with them rather than stopping for coffee and a bite at our local cafe. This prompted me to think about what a "cut lunch" actually is, and where the phrase comes from. It's not one I would use coming from the U.S., but I thought perhaps like many things Kiwi it was adopted from England. 

Turns out this is an expression used in New Zealand and Australia for a sandwich! It tends to be used by older people, so may be somewhat (out)dated.

John and his brother remember taking cut lunches to school, carrying them in their leather school satchels. They were cut into quarters and wrapped up in waxed paper. The bread was always buttered, regardless of the filling. John's favourites were apricot jam, mutton with chutney, or marmite and lettuce. (Karen interjects a hearty "ugh" at that last one....)

Carrick's favourite was plum jam and cheese. He also remembers that his cut lunches were snatched for a time until Mum deployed a bit of spicy mustard to deter the thieves!