Today, the Lazy Susan is a global citizen. In China, it’s essential for banquets. In Japan, it’s a chabitsu . In England, some still call it a dumbwaiter (confusingly, since that’s also a food lift). Let’s give Susan her due. The Lazy Susan is not lazy; it is efficient . It promotes sharing. It prevents the "sauce graveyard" at the far end of the table.
But have you ever stopped to wonder: Why “Lazy”? And why “Susan”? lazy susan etymology
So next time you give that platter of dumplings a spin, raise a glass to Susan. She’s not lazy. She’s the hardest working spinner at the table. She just doesn’t like to pass the potatoes. Today, the Lazy Susan is a global citizen
In 1917, a inventor named George H. O’Leary filed a patent for a “Self-Waiting Table.” The patent drawing shows a revolving circular tray with a central handle. While the patent number exists, historians have never found a primary source that explicitly names the device a “Lazy Susan” in O’Leary’s original documentation. The prevailing theory is that manufacturers simply needed a catchy, feminine name to sell the product to housewives. “Susan” was a common, friendly, all-American name—like “Aunt Jemima” or “Betty Crocker.” It was branding. In England, some still call it a dumbwaiter