Shepherds pie/cottage pie

Posted by Lotg on October 10, 2003

Why is a Shepherd's pie called a Shepherd's pie. And as far as I can tell, a Cottage pie is the same thing. So why the different names - it is a dialectic thing? Or am I wrong and these pies are actually different?

Yes I know this is a very deep, meaningful and heavy question for this time of the morning.