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Hi Bob,
Maybe you can help with a question. I was watching the movie, "The Culpepper Cattle Company" and they used the term, "a dollar a day and found" (or fond). I figured found or fond was something to do with rations or food but wasn't sure. I looked all over the web but came up with nothing so thought I'd write you directly. Do you know what found or fond is exactly? Must have something to do with food because fond is the little darkened bits of food left in a skillet after frying meat or veggies. It is usually dissolved with water or some other liquid to add flavor to the sauce or gravy.
You have any ideas? Enjoyed your site!
ANSWER:
The old terms such as "a dollar a day and found" or "twenty five dollars a month and found" indicated that the hired hand would also be provided with room and board (his housing and meals). [See Q&A 163 - How much was a cowboy paid?]
The word "found" is related to the word "foundation" and is derived from a Latin word meaning "support." (A structural foundation, for example, supports a building, and a charitable foundation supports some helpful activity.)
In other words, the cowhand would receive some cash in addition to his basic support -- or foundation -- to stay alive. In short, it meant he'd have a place to sleep and his essential food in addition to his pay.
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