<P> A sandwich is a food typically consisting of vegetables, sliced cheese or meat, placed on or between slices of bread, or more generally any dish wherein two or more pieces of bread serve as a container or wrapper for another food type . The sandwich began as a portable finger food in the Western world, though over time it has become prevalent worldwide . </P> <P> Sandwiches are a popular type of lunch food, taken to work, school, or picnics to be eaten as part of a packed lunch . The bread can be either plain, or coated with condiments such as mayonnaise or mustard, to enhance its flavour and texture . As well as being homemade, sandwiches are also widely sold in restaurants and can be served hot or cold . There are both savoury sandwiches, such as deli meat sandwiches, and sweet sandwiches, such as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich . </P> <P> The sandwich is named after its supposed inventor, John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich . The Wall Street Journal has described it as Britain's "biggest contribution to gastronomy". </P> <P> The modern concept of a sandwich using slices of bread as found within the West can arguably be traced to 18th century Europe . However, the use of some kind of bread or bread - like substance to lie under (or under and over) some other food, or used to scoop up and enclose or wrap some other type of food, long predates the eighteenth century, and is found in numerous much older cultures worldwide . </P>

Where did the word sandwich get its name