spatchcock
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spatchcock
- /ˈspæt͡ʃkɒk/ UK
- /ˈspæt͡ʃˌkɑk/ US
Where it comes from
The noun is probably derived from one of the following:
* A variant of spitchcock (“eel split lengthwise and broiled”). from Middle English spiche-coke, The further etymology is uncertain; the following possibilities have been suggested:
** From Middle English *speche, *spiche (“to split”) + cock, coken (“to allow (something) to cook; to cook”).
** From spik (“animal fat, especially lard”), spik, spike (“large nail; pointed stud”), or spit, spite (“rod for cooking meat, spit; pointed object”); + cok (“male of the common domestic fowl, cock, rooster”).
* From Irish spot (“spot”) or spochta (the past participle of spoch (“to cut, clip”)) + coc (“male of the common domestic fowl, cock, rooster”).
A derivation from (di)spatch (“to dispose of speedily; to make a speedy end of”) + cock is now thought to be unlikely.
In a few texts from the 1400s–1700s the form smatchcock is found, possibly an error or an alteration under the influence of smatch (“a taste, a flavor”).
The verb is derived from the noun.
noun spatchcocks
- Poultry which has been cut along the spine and spread out for more even cooking. Spatch cock, abbreviation of a diſpatch cock, an Iriſh diſh upon any ſudden occaſion. It is a hen juſt killed from the rooſt, or yard, and immediately ſkinned, ſplit, and broiled.
verb spatchcocks · spatchcocking · spatchcocked
-
To cut (poultry) along the spine and spread the halves apart for more even cooking.
For the party, he spatchcocked and grilled some chickens.
Similar: frog
- Often followed by in or into: to interpolate or insert (something into another thing) awkwardly; to sandwich (something within another thing). I, therefore, spatchcocked into the middle of that telegram a sentence in which I suggested it would be necessary to surrender the garrison, what he should do when he surrendered, and how he should do it.
Translations
Every language
noun poultry cut along the spine and spread out
| Français | crapaudine |
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Talk about this word "spatchcock." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/spatchcock. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. spatchcock. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/spatchcock "spatchcock." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/spatchcock.Cite this
@misc{spatchcock_2026,
title = {spatchcock},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/spatchcock},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
