side meat

noun

, Chiefly Midland and Southern U.S.

1. salt pork and bacon taken from the sides of a hog.

side meat

noun

1. informal.
   salt pork or bacon

Word History and Origins

Origin of side meat¹

An Americanism dating back to 1870–75

Word History and Origins

Origin of side meat¹

C19: so called because it comes from the side of the pig

Example Sentences

“My grandmother … would point to a house and say, ‘Pat, when he was a little older than you, he’d be down there eating side meat.’

From Washington Post

On the main thoroughfare, no buildings were left unscathed: A derelict bath house had a hole blasted in its side; meat shops, pharmacies, a shoe shop and a beauty salon had been sprayed with shrapnel.

From Reuters

A depressing reminder that Americans are now so blinded by partisanship that we can’t even tolerate another person’s choice of side meat?

From Washington Post

There were hams and shoulders, side meat and spare-ribs and belly.

From Literature

‘I done brought a nice mess of collard greens and I thought maybe we have supper together. I done brought a piece of side meat, too. These here greens need to be seasoned with that. You don’t care if the collards is just cooked in meat, do you?’

From Literature