salt junk

American  

noun

Nautical Slang.

1. salted beef or pork.

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Etymology

Origin of salt junk

First recorded in 1785–95

Example Sentences

Henceforth a season of activity, seasoned with salt junk, is to be the order of the day.

From In Eastern Seas Or, the Commission of H.M.S. 'Iron Duke,' flag-ship in China, 1878-83 by Smith, J. J.

"We can't live on salt junk and hard bread without any water, sir."

From Down the Rhine Young America in Germany by Optic, Oliver

We had about a dozen sent on board, and in a week were surfeited with turtle soup, turtle-steaks, turtle-curry, and turtles’ eggs; a plain bit of salt junk was for a change quite a treat.

From Sporting Scenes amongst the Kaffirs of South Africa by Drayson, A. W. (Alfred Wilks)

I am as happy in anticipation of hard-tack and salt junk for to-morrow's dinner, as many that count on roast turkey and "fixings".

From An Artilleryman's Diary by Jones, Jenkins Lloyd

There was a certain amount of salt junk left aboard, but the chief diet was nothing but hard-tack, and that was mouldy.

From Beggars on Horseback by Jesse, F. Tennyson (Fryniwyd Tennyson)