The strange world of brunch has expanded over the years. Each generation has added a new life form of this pre-noon event.

Brunch or bruncheon is a combination of breakfast and lunch, and is eaten between normal hours for breakfast and lunch. It’s considered a substitute for both of these meals. It is often served after a morning occasion or prior to an afternoon one, such as a wedding or sporting event. A common misconception is that after midday, the meal is a luncheon. However, this is not true so long as a breakfast has not been eaten.

The origin of the name has always been controversial. According to Punch magazine, the term was introduced in Britain around 1895 when Hunter’s Weekly described it as a Sunday meal for "Saturday night carousers"; then it became the slang of students. Other sources claim the term was invented by a reporter of the New York Sun, Frank Ward O’Malley. This theory is based on the typical mid-day eating habits of a newspaper reporter...