johnnycake

American

[jon-ee-keyk] / ˈdʒɒn iˌkeɪk /

Or johnny cake

noun

Northern U.S.

an unleavened cake or bread made of cornmeal and water or milk, usually cooked on a griddle.

Regionalisms

See pancake.

Etymology

Origin of johnnycake

An Americanism dating back to 1730–40; of uncertain origin; possibly by folk etymology from earlier jonakin

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.

Corny as johnnycake, folksy as a country fiddler, persuasive as a television pitchman, he is also both efficient and effective, and he can already count several considerable achievements in his brief Administration.

From Time Magazine Archive

It took a moment for Jonathan to realize that he was being offered some more johnnycake.

From "The Fighting Ground" by Avi

But someone would usually slip a piece of hard bread, cheese, jerked beef, or salt fish and johnnycake in the pocket of his jacket as it hung on its hook.

From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes

“Here you go,” said one of them, reaching out a hand and offering him johnnycake.

From "The Fighting Ground" by Avi

Mother Bear passed him the johnnycake, and gave him a big dish of blackberries and a brown mug full of milk.

From Little Bear at Work and at Play by Fox, Frances Margaret

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023