flitch

American  

[flich] / flɪtʃ /

noun

1. the side of a hog (or, formerly, some other animal) salted and cured.

   a flitch of bacon.

2. a steak cut from a halibut.

3. Carpentry.

   1. a piece, as a board, forming part of a flitch beam.

   2. a thin piece of wood, as a veneer.

   3. a bundle of veneers, arranged as cut from the log.

   4. a log about to be cut into veneers.

   5. cant.

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verb (used with object)

1. to cut into flitches.

2. Carpentry. to assemble (boards or the like) into a laminated construction.

flitch British  

/ flɪtʃ /

noun

1. a side of pork salted and cured

2. a steak cut from the side of certain fishes, esp halibut

3. a piece of timber cut lengthways from a tree trunk, esp one that is larger than 4 by 12 inches

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verb

1. (tr) to cut (a tree trunk) into flitches

Other Word Forms

• unflitched adjective

Etymology

Origin of flitch

before 900; Middle English flicche, Old English flicca; cognate with Middle Low German vlicke, Old Norse flikki

Example Sentences

Fitzwalter revealed his true identity and gave his land to the priory on the condition a flitch should be awarded to any couple who could claim they were similarly devoted.

From BBC • Jul. 13, 2024

The prior, impressed by their devotion, gave them a flitch of bacon.

From BBC • Jul. 13, 2024

Laura Cohen, acted as bearer of the flitch, a role that only men have done previously.

From BBC • Jul. 13, 2024

Almost three months of the wizened pay of the three-day week had been uncomfortable enough, but the strike that followed had nearly emptied the flour sack and gobbled up the last flitch of bacon.

From Time Magazine Archive

"Offer the ducks like the Dunmow flitch of bacon to the most happily married couple in Florence."

From The Belovéd Vagabond by Locke, William John

Related Words

• carve
• divide
• rip
• slash
• slice