The spelling of the phrase "doth lunch" may seem archaic and unfamiliar to modern English speakers, but it follows the rules of Early Modern English pronunciation. "Doth" is pronounced as /dʌθ/, which means "does," while "lunch" is pronounced the same as in contemporary English, /lʌntʃ/. The combination of these two words represents a cultural shift in mealtimes during the Renaissance, where the midday meal became more substantial and established as a formal event compared to earlier periods.
The phrase "doth lunch" does not have a specific etymology of its own. However, it can be broken down into two parts:
1. "Doth": This is an archaic form of the verb "do", used in the third person singular present tense. It was commonly used in Early Modern English, which spanned from the late 15th century to the late 17th century. The term "doth" indicates an action being performed by someone or something.
2. "Lunch": This word originated from the noun "luncheon", which was used to describe a light meal eaten at midday. It was first recorded in the early 19th century and has its roots in the Middle English word "lunchen", meaning "to take a break for food".
When combined, "doth lunch" essentially means "does eat lunch" or "has lunch".