Is it true that potatoes are called 'canadas' in Belgium, and if so, why?

Flem-ish

Seems to be incorrect. In this advertisement by a Belgian department store some of the locally most popular varieties are named, but no "canadas".Could it be a mispronunciation of "cornes de gatte"? http://www.delhaize.be/food/season/potato/_nl/index.asp Delhaize: de aardappel There are of course other names too such as "bintjes", the type that's often preferred to make "Belgian fries". And there are varieties that now seem extinct such as Krueger potatoes probably after the South-African President. Canadas here is the name of a certain type of trees (poplars). But no spuds of that name as far as I know. Aug 04 08, 5:44 PM

zbeckabee

There are clear differences between East and West Walloon. For instance, the word potato is called "canada" in West Walloon while it's called "crompîre" is East Walloon. Don't know why. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Walloon_language http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walloon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walloon_language Aug 04 08, 7:03 PM

Flem-ish

This is a site that mentions the canadas. It does not say where in Wallonia this term is used. Anyway it's a little misleading to say that "in Belgium" potatoes are called canadas. The word occurs locally in some parts of Wallonia.And only when the local Walloon language is being used. And not in the West of Wallonia because there they speak Picard. But in the west of the area where Walloon is spoken, which is only a part of Wallonia. By the way: Walloon is not a dialect of French, but a language in its own right. Sounds very different than French as the following website illustrates. http://wa.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crompire Crompire - Wikipedia Aug 04 08, 8:20 PM