What is the origin of the word french fries?

Answer 1

It comes from the "steak-frites" (beef steak and fried) lunch meal, which is, or rather was, one of the most frequent in restaurants for a quick lunch.

Fries were thus deemed to be a staple French food for Americans, hence the expression "French fries" instead of the British "chips".

It should probably have been "Belgian Fries", since fries were even more widespread in Belgium than in France, with the "moules-frites" dish (mussels and fries), but American tourists are less familiar with Belgium.

Answer 2

'Frenching' is actually the technique of cutting something into long strips rather than a description of where Fries originate. So the are "french" fries, referring to the style they are cut