- This term is a generic use of the Archer Farms’ trademark Monster Mix brand trail mix snacks. It may refer to any type of trail-mix like mixtures of the above ingredients in any ratio. Specifically, it is traditionally meant to be used in cases where the Monster mix is homemade by mixing together the separately purchased ingredients, which were bought in bulk to save money. This word was not coined, but rather generalized from a trademark brand.
Monster mix
noun; other word formation type Genericized Trademark
A generic term for a snack mixture consisting of salted peanuts, raisins, M&M’s, mini white chocolate kisses, and pretzels.
Etymology : Comes from generic use of the brand name Monster Mix snack foods made by Archer Farms. ‘Monster’ comes from O.Fr. ‘monstre’ and L. ‘monstrum’ meaning ‘monster, monstrosity, omen’ and comes from the root ‘monere’ meaning ‘warn.’ In the context of this term, ‘monster’ is meant to mean large. The sense of this definition first arose in 1530, meaning ‘animal of vast size.’ ‘Mix’ comes from Anglo-Fr. ‘mixte’ and L. ‘mixtus’ which means ‘to mix.’
Source : Conversation with a friend “We bought like 5 lb. bags of each of the ingredients and made our own Monster mix!” (10/15/2008)
Last modified: 3 December 2008