chitterlings

American  

[chit-linz, -lingz] / ˈtʃɪt lɪnz, -lɪŋz /

Also chitlins or chitlings

noun

(used with a singular or plural verb)

1. the small intestine of swine, especially when prepared as food.

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chitterlings British  

/ ˈtʃɪtlɪŋz, ˈtʃɪtəlɪŋz, ˈtʃɪtlɪnz /

plural noun

1. (sometimes singular) the intestines of a pig or other animal prepared as a dish

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Etymology

Origin of chitterlings

1250–1300; Middle English cheterling; akin to German Kutteln in same sense

Explanation

Chitterlings are a type of food with an unappetizing origin: they’re the small intestines of a pig. Chitterlings are served boiled or fried. Many parts of a pig are used as food, but you’d think we’d draw the line with something as gross as its guts. However, you’d think wrong, because this is exactly what chitterlings are: a pig’s small intestines. Chitterlings are then boiled or fried, and they’re often filled with mincemeat. Chitterlings can come from other animals too, but they’re usually from a pig. If you eat these on a regular basis, you may know them as chitlins.

Example Sentences

Sampling, however, is also born of the Black vernacular tradition that gave us chitterlings, jazz and, yes, hip-hop.

From New York Times • Mar. 4, 2021

Five Guts: Fast-food chitterlings, tripe, andouillette, haggis and hog maw.

From Washington Post • Dec. 14, 2017

Later he takes viewers to a place known as the Trap Kitchen to eat chitterlings, which leads into a faux video of his “trap” version of the National Anthem.

From Salon • Jun. 27, 2017

Through collard greens, cornbread, okra, ham-hocks, chitterlings and pigs’ feet, neither can stop upping the ante.

From Economist • May 5, 2016

Simply by walking up and shaking a set of chitterlings or a well-boiled hog maw at them during the clear light of day!

From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison