hush puppy

American  

noun

Chiefly Southern U.S.

1. a small, unsweetened cake or ball of cornmeal dough fried in deep fat.

---

Etymology

Origin of hush puppy

An Americanism dating back to 1915–20; allegedly so called because such cakes were fed to dogs to keep them from begging for scraps while other dishes were cooked

Example Sentences

But the true mark of a great hush puppy is its texture — a crisp exterior that yields to a soft, fluffy center — and this recipe produces exactly that.

From Washington Post • Jul. 6, 2022

Get the terrific pork, flavorful hash and crunchy hush puppy balls. 803-652-2919; no website.

From Washington Post • Aug. 1, 2016

The boys swiped one more hush puppy each and trotted back toward their houses.

From "Stella by Starlight" by Sharon M. Draper

“Never thought a granddaughter of mine wouldn’t know what a hush puppy is!”

From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn