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Definition of johnnycake

johnnycake

/ˈdʒɑːniˌkeɪk/
john · ny · cake
Plural:johnnycakes
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johnnycake Lexical Profile

johnnycake Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

North American A type of flatbread or pancake made primarily from cornmeal, hot water or milk, and salt, traditionally cooked on a griddle or open fire.

Example

"For breakfast, the colonial reenactors served thick slices of johnnycake drizzled with maple syrup."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for johnnycake

• Nearby Words

john dory
johnny
johnny jump up
johnnycake
johnson
johnsongrass
join

Word Origin & Etymology

Origin uncertain; widely believed to be a phonetic alteration of 'journey cake' (owing to its durability for travelers) or a corruption of 'Shawnee cake', referencing the Native American tribe that shared the recipe with colonists.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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