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Definition of chitterlings

chitterlings

/ˈtʃɪt.ɚ.lɪŋz/
chit · ter · lings
Plural:chitterlings
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chitterlings Lexical Profile

chitterlings Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

American The small intestines of a pig, thoroughly cleaned and prepared as food, traditionally boiled and sometimes battered and fried as a staple of soul food cuisine.

Example

"For the holiday family gathering, my grandmother spent hours carefully cleaning and simmering the chitterlings."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for chitterlings

Word Nuance & Usage

Often pronounced and informally spelled as 'chitlins', particularly in the context of Southern United States soul food.

• Nearby Words

chittagong
chittenango
chittenango falls
chitterlings
chive
chlidanthus
chlorophonia

Word Origin & Etymology

From Middle English 'chiterling', referring to the entrails of an animal. It may derive from the sputtering or 'chittering' sound the meat makes while boiling or frying, or relate to an old Germanic root for intestines.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Chitterlings. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 18, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/chitterlings
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