porridge

American  

[pawr-ij, por-] / ˈpɔr ɪdʒ, ˈpɒr- /

noun

1. a food made of oatmeal, or some other meal or cereal, boiled to a thick consistency in water or milk.

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porridge British  

/ ˈpɒrɪdʒ /

noun

1. a dish made from oatmeal or another cereal, cooked in water or milk to a thick consistency

2. slang a term in prison (esp in the phrase do porridge )

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Other Word Forms

• porridgelike adjective

Etymology

Origin of porridge

1525–35; variant of earlier poddidge, akin to pottage

Compare meaning

How does porridge compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• gruel vs. porridge

Example Sentences

As well as more obviously unhealthy foods, the ban will also cover some breakfast cereals and porridges, sweetened bread products, and main meals and sandwiches.

From BBC

In the Starkadders’ home, breakfast means congealed porridge, and cows are called Feckless, Aimless, Graceless and Pointless.

From The Wall Street Journal

“In that case, have a hearty breakfast brought to my room. A bowl of hot porridge would hit the spot, with a spoonful of jam—why, what is that in your hand?”

From Literature

Even at Swanburne, a birthday girl might sometimes get a spoonful of jam in her porridge.

From Literature

Books and pencils and porridge oats get dearer by the day, and the girls go through embroidery floss at an alarming rate.

From Literature

Related Words

• gruel
• oatmeal
• polenta