spatchcock

[prettygoodword]

spatchcock (SPACH-kok) - n., a fowl split open at the spine and prepared for grilling or roasting. v., to prepare a fowl in such a way; to insert or interpolate something in a forced or awkward manner; to prepare in haste.


The cooking method is the original sense, with the others metaphoric extensions. First appeared in English around 1780, and is possibly related to spitchcock, a similar way of cooking an eel, which had been around since the 1590s, but the origin of that term is even more obscure.

---L.

Comments

[spacedlaw.livejournal.com]

That's the usual way to prepare chicken for roasting here (in Rome). I always end up fighting with my butchers for them to leave the poor beast alone.

[larryhammer]

That also seems to be the standard at the local carnicerías.

---L.