The public editor of the Chicago Tribune, Timothy McNulty, wrote a column talking about how they respond to mistakes they make. I was surprised about this comment:

"Not every perceived error, however, is actually wrong. I received many messages charging a headline 'Just deserts for revamped Soldier Field' was wrong, wrong, wrong and the word should be spelled 'desserts.'

Actually, the headline writer was correct. In the wonderful world of English usage, when used in the expression 'just deserts,' the word goes back to a Latin root word meaning to deserve punishment or a reward, not to the French root for the sweet delight at the end of a meal, 'dessert.'

I have to admit that I didn't know that. Isn't it pronunced like "desserts," though, and not "deserts?"

I thought it was.

See The Word Detective - the final paragraph of his article.

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Isn't it pronunced like "desserts," though, and not "deserts?"

I've always pronounced it like "desserts". I would have spelled it incorrectly, too, I guess!

What's interesting about that phrase is that the "dessert" origin would totally make sense. There'd not even be a reason to doubt it. I can see why the readers complained to the Tribune.

Wouldn't it be fun to have a whole meal where all you have is just dessert? MMmmmm. Sundays and cakes and pies and fruit and cheesecake and . . .

I think I better go get my cheerios.

Laverne makes excellent cheesecake, and in fact I married her just for her desserts

Ah, I see. Laverne is your just desserts.

I have to say, I make an awfully mean chocolate mousse. [Now I am wondering how "mean" came to be used like that. ]

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I make an awfully mean chocolate mousse.

(Visions of a little brown rodent scuttling about biting people's ankles.)