white meat

American  

noun

1. any meat that is light-colored before cooking, as veal or chicken (distinguished from red meat).

2. meat that is light-colored after cooking, as veal or breast of chicken or of turkey (distinguished from dark meat).

3. Slang: Vulgar. a white person considered as a sexual partner.

4. Southern U.S. salt pork, fatback, or other pork without any lean.

5. Archaic. food made from milk.

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white meat British  

noun

1. any meat that is light in colour, such as veal or the breast of turkey Compare red meat

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Etymology

Origin of white meat

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425

Example Sentences

White meat has a narrower margin of error than dark meat; overshooting by even a minute can dry it out.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 29, 2022

“That’s why it’s juicier. White meat can dry out.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 18, 2019

White meat, steamed vegetables and olive oil were elbowed aside to make room for chicken liver toasts, marrow bones and whipped lard.

From New York Times • Jul. 28, 2015

White meat is dry tasteless garbage and should be thrown in the garbage.

From The Guardian • May 24, 2015

White meat must be well cooked, but not dried.

From The Century Cook Book by Ronald, Mary