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Definition of hushpuppy

hushpuppy

/ˈhʌʃˌpʌp.i/
hush · pup · py
Plural:hushpuppies
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hushpuppy Lexical Profile

hushpuppy Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

American A small, savory ball of cornmeal batter, often seasoned with onions and spices, that is deep-fried until golden brown and traditionally served alongside seafood or barbecue in the southern United States.

Example

"The platter of fried catfish came with coleslaw and a basket of warm hushpuppies."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for hushpuppy

• Nearby Words

hush
hushabye
hushed
hushpuppy
husk
husker
huskily

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the American South in the early 20th century, traditionally explained as arising from cooks or hunters tossing scraps of fried cornmeal dough to barking dogs with the command 'hush, puppy.'

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Hushpuppy. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/hushpuppy
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