fatback

American  

[fat-bak] / ˈfætˌbæk /

noun

1. Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. the fat and fat meat from the upper part of a side of pork, usually cured by salt.

2. a menhaden.

3. the bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix.

4. a mullet.

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fatback British  

/ ˈfætˌbæk /

noun

1. the fat, usually salted, from the upper part of a side of pork

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Etymology

Origin of fatback

An Americanism dating back to 1700–10; fat + back ¹

Example Sentences

Next up are lonjas, fatback that will be fried into chicharrones.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 11, 2019

Collard greens — similar to the greens that grow year-round in Africa — and a spicy stew of pattypan squash flavored with onions, fatback and hot African peppers rounded out the meal.

From Washington Post • Feb. 12, 2016

This is anecdotal, but my grandparents ate bacon, eggs, grits, fried okra, biscuits with sausage gravy, and every fatback thing you can imagine.

From Time • Jul. 20, 2013

Mr. Morquecha, a professional butcher, then carved apart the freshly decapitated carcass, separating it into parts like coppa, the muscle at the top of the shoulder; fatback, between the skin and the meat; and cheek.

From New York Times • Jan. 3, 2013

After a breakfast of fatback and grits with lots of butter—Cook foisting a second helping onto Ophie despite her protests—Ophie was sent to take Mrs. Caruthers her morning tray.

From "Ophie's Ghosts" by Justina Ireland