hush puppy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Informal / Culinary
Quick answer
What does “hush puppy” mean?
A small, deep-fried ball of seasoned cornmeal batter, especially popular in the Southern United States.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small, deep-fried ball of seasoned cornmeal batter, especially popular in the Southern United States.
Informally, a term for a quiet or placating word, or, more rarely, a brand name for shoes (Hush Puppies).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is essentially non-existent in British culinary lexicon. It is a specifically American, particularly Southern US, cultural item.
Connotations
In American English, it connotes Southern comfort food, informality, and rustic cooking. It has no established connotations in British English.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in British English; moderate frequency in American English, especially in culinary and regional contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “hush puppy” in a Sentence
eat/have [number] hush puppiesserve hush puppies with [dish]order a side of hush puppiesVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hush puppy” in a Sentence
adjective
American English
- We went to a hush puppy festival in Alabama.
- The restaurant is famous for its hush puppy recipe.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
May appear in cultural, anthropological, or culinary studies discussing American Southern foodways.
Everyday
Used when discussing food, ordering at a Southern-style restaurant, or describing a meal.
Technical
Used in culinary arts contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hush puppy”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hush puppy”
- Using it as a non-count noun (e.g., 'some hush puppy'). It is a count noun.
- Capitalizing it unless referring to the specific brand of shoes.
- Assuming it is understood in non-American contexts without explanation.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are primarily savoury, seasoned with onions, spices, and sometimes buttermilk, though they can have a subtle sweetness from the cornmeal.
No, cornmeal is the defining ingredient. Using wheat flour would make a different kind of fritter.
No, it is also a well-known global brand of casual shoes, originating in the US.
The most common folk etymology suggests the name comes from the practice of throwing these fried bits to dogs to 'hush the puppies'. Historical evidence for this is anecdotal.
A small, deep-fried ball of seasoned cornmeal batter, especially popular in the Southern United States.
Hush puppy is usually informal / culinary in register.
Hush puppy: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhʌʃ ˈpʌp.i/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhəʃ ˈpəp.i/ || /ˌhʌʃ ˈpʌp.i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a puppy that is noisy, and you say 'Hush, puppy!' to quiet it. Now imagine a delicious, quiet (hush) ball of fried dough you eat (puppy).
Conceptual Metaphor
FOOD IS A PACIFIER (from folk etymology that the food was thrown to quiet barking dogs).
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'hush puppy' primarily?