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dark meat

American  

noun

  1. meat that is dark in appearance after cooking, especially a leg or thigh of chicken or turkey (distinguished from white meat).

  2. Slang: Vulgar. a Black person, considered as a sexual partner.


Etymology

Origin of dark meat

An Americanism dating back to 1855–60

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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China is an important export market for U.S. beef and poultry, particularly for products such as chicken feet and dark meat that are less popular with U.S. consumers.

From Barron's May 12, 2026

Even ground chicken, which is primarily made of dark meat, has seen a sales surge, with Circana reporting a 23.1% yearly increase in November.

From The Wall Street Journal Mar. 19, 2026

They look like a cross between an otter and a gopher but they taste something like a rabbit or dark meat from turkey.

From Los Angeles Times Feb. 27, 2025

If dark meat is your preference, turkey thighs and drumsticks are an option.

From Salon Nov. 28, 2024

“It’s like you’re at KFC and you’re ordering some Original Recipe dark meat plus a taco for your sister, Louise. Or maybe you know the guy behind the counter and his name is Lou.”

From "Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics" by Chris Grabenstein

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