fatback

[ fat-bak ]

noun

1. Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. the fat and fat meat from the upper part of a side of pork, usually cured by salt.
2. a menhaden.
3. the bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix.
4. a mullet.

fatback

/ ˈfætˌbæk /

noun

1. the fat, usually salted, from the upper part of a side of pork

Word History and Origins

Origin of fatback¹

An Americanism dating back to 1700–10; fat + back ¹

Example Sentences

They had seemed dull and forgettable then, but Ophie yearned for one more dinner of beans and fatback with corn bread, Daddy telling stories of the rail yard as they ate.

From Literature

Growing up in Charlotte, Hill says he and his brother would visit every Sunday and “rush into her house for rendered fatback,” a snack before their lunch together.

From Washington Post

It’s a crowd-pleaser fashioned from pork butt, fatback, chicken liver and warm spices.

From Washington Post

One day’s main meal might consist of cabbage and fatback.

From Literature

The dumplings are a Chinese-Korean hybrid, says Lee, steamed to preserve the delicate wrapper and stuffed with ground pork, buttered kimchi and emulsified fatback.

From Washington Post