The humble chip sandwige

[Gandelf]

What I don't understand is why chips are called French Fries. History teaches us that potatoes originated from America. If that is so, then surely for the hundreds of years that potatoes must inevitably have been cultivated in America, at some point some native American must have fried them in oil, or most probably some sort of animal fat. If this is so, then how could France possibly be accredited with the invention of the Chip?

[Lieva]

Culinary origin of the term
The straightforward explanation of the term "French fried potatoes" is that it means "potatoes fried in the French manner": the verb fry can mean either sautéing or deep-fat frying, while French 'frire' unambiguously means deep frying. Thomas Jefferson, famous for serving French dishes, referred to fried potatoes in this way.[1]

It is sometimes suggested that the verb "to french" originally meant to julienne-cut.[2] But this term refers specifically to trimming the meat off the shanks of chops[3] and is not attested until after "French fried potatoes" had appeared.

In 1857, the newspaper "Courrier de Verviers" devotes an article to Fritz, a Belgian entrepreneur selling French fries at fairs, calling him "le roi des pommes de terre frites". In 1862 a fries shack (Frietkot, see below) called "Max en Fritz" was established near Het Steen in Antwerp.[6]

Another Belgian legend claims that the term "French" was introduced when English soldiers arrived in Belgium during World War I, and consequently tasted Belgian fries. The supposedly called them "French" because the official language of the Belgian army at that time was French.[7][8] This is of course impossible since the term "French fried potatoes" was in common use long before the War.

most french people believe the term came from belgium
also -

French fried potatoes, commonly known as French fries or fries (North America) or chips (United Kingdom and Commonwealth) are pieces of potato that have been chopped into batons and deep fried.

Where "chips" is the common term, "French fries" usually refers to the thin variant (U.S. "shoe string potatoes"). In North America "chips" usually means potato chips (called "crisps" in the UK), which are deep-fried thin slices of potato. In Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, "chips" can mean either potato chips or French fries]; 'slup' is Afrikaans for "soft").

and

it would appear the afformentioned 'sandwich' reason is correct.

[OohhoO]

well ...
different places have different names ...

French Fries = Pommes Frites (French for fried potatoes) here
Crisps = Chips
Chips don't exist

Thing is French Fries are not chips. They're way to thin & crispy & gimpy to be really compatible with malt vinegar. Real chips are thickish & kinda soggy so as to facilitate a superior absorbtion of said vinegar RAWR!!!

<feels hungry now>

[Lieva]

i dunno
if you ask for french fries at the american style diners you get chunky hard chips which could be technically classed as oven chips.

[OohhoO]

I thought French Fries came in EU legally-pre-defined sizes which would cost you an arm & both legs in fines & legal costs if you dared to make one a different size or shape or thickness & have the temerity to call it a French Fry?

[Lieva]

hehe
apparently its like the 'banana'

a person could have said something and its been totally blown out of proportion by the press

best to take news with a pinch of salt really