cracknel

American  

[krak-nl] / ˈkræk nl /

noun

1. a hard, brittle cake or biscuit.

2. cracknels, small bits of fat pork fried crisp.

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cracknel British  

/ ˈkræknəl /

noun

1. a type of hard plain biscuit

2. (often plural) crisply fried bits of fat pork

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Etymology

Origin of cracknel

1350–1400; Middle English crak ( e ) nele < Middle French *craquenelle, metathetic alteration of craquelin < Middle Dutch crākelinc, equivalent to crāke ( n ) to crack + -linc -ling ¹

Example Sentences

In the second act Louis, one of the princely lackeys, brings a large cracknel and huge paper-cornet of sweets for Cornelia, whom he courts and whose favor he hopes in this way to win.

From The Standard Operaglass Detailed Plots of One Hundred and Fifty-one Celebrated Operas by Annesley, Charles, pseud.

“Good, plenty ’ticky,” cried the savage, gumming his face gloriously and grinding up the biscuit as easily as if it were a cracknel.

From King o' the Beach A Tropic Tale by Greene, J. B.

This is done to rid it of any bits of cracknel, etc., that may remain in the lard.

From Home Pork Making by Fulton, A. W.

"Yes, it's 'licious," agreed Joan, with her mouth full of cracknel biscuit.

From Two Little Travellers A Story for Girls by Arthur, Frances Browne

It elsewhere appears to be a sort of cake, or cracknel.

From The Lay of Havelok the Dane by Unknown