baconn.
/ˈbeɪkən/ 1. The back and sides of the pig, ‘cured’ by salting, drying, etc. Formerly also the fresh flesh now called pork.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > animals for food > pork > [noun]
swine flesheOE
porkc1300
baconc1330
brawn1377
pig1381
pork flesh?a1425
boara1475
gricea1475
hog flesh1528
hog meat1573
grunting-peck1699
hog1744
pigmeat1754
the world > food and drink > food > animals for food > pork > [noun] > bacon
baconc1330
ruff-peck1567
sawney1819
Old Ned1833
c1330 Poem temp. Edw. II 388 in Pol. Songs 341 For beof ne for bakoun..Unnethe wolde eny do a char.
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. v. 194 As a bondman of his bacoun his berde was bidraueled.
c1386 G. Chaucer Wife of Bath's Prol. 217 The bacoun was nought fet for hem..That som men fecche in Essex at Donmowe.
c1460 J. Fortescue Governance of Eng. (1714) 73 In Fraunce, the People salten but litill meate, except their Bacon.
?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xxxvii Her [sc. a sow's] body..wolbe as gode baken as a hogge.
1620 T. Venner Via Recta iii. 53 Bacon is not good for them that haue weake stomacks.
1781 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall II. xxxi. 181 A regular allowance of bacon was distributed to the poorer citizens.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > animals for food > pork > [noun] > pig killed for food > carcass of pig
baconc1380
c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 2696 Wyþ grys, & gees, & capouns..Wiþ motoun, & bef & bakouns.
1549–52 in J. Strype Cranmer App. xlix. 137 Ye are like for to be taken, And quartered like a baken.
1602 T. Kyd Spanish Trag. iii. sig. G3v A young Bacon, Or a fine little smooth Horse-colt.
1766 T. Pennant Brit. Zool. i. 8 The carcases of..80 beeves, 600 bacons, and 600 muttons.
3. transferred. The blubber of a whale. ? Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > other animal raw materials > [noun] > whale-blubber
blubber1665
bacon1712
whale blubber1844
1712 Philos. Trans. 1710–12 (Royal Soc.) 27 446 The Fat of a Whale, which we call Bacon, and out of which we boil the Train-Oyl.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > farmer > [noun] > rustic or peasant > ignorant
chuffc1440
lob1533
lobcocka1556
hick1565
bumpkin1570
swad1572
hob-clunch1578
hoblob1582
clubhutchen1584
gran1591
bacon1598
boor1598
hobbinol1600
homespun1600
lob-coat1604
loblolly1604
hobnail1645
bacon-slicer1653
jobson1660
hob-thrush1682
country put1688
put1688
clodhopper1699
bumpkinet1714
joskin1811
yokel1819
whopstraw1821
chaw-bacon1822
lobeline1844
farmer1864
sheepshagger1958
society > society and the community > social class > the common people > specific classes of common people > peasant or rustic > [noun] > rude or ignorant
chuffc1440
mobarda1450
lob1533
lobcocka1556
clown1565
hick1565
bumpkin1570
swad1572
peasant1576
hob-clunch1578
hoblob1582
clubhutchen1584
bacon1598
boor1598
hobbinol1600
homespun1600
loblolly lamb1600
lob-coat1604
loblolly1604
hobnail1645
champkina1652
bacon-slicer1653
jobson1660
hob-thrush1682
country put1688
put1688
country cousin1692
clodhopper1699
hawbuck1787
Johnny Raw1803
joskin1811
yokel1819
whopstraw1821
chaw-bacon1822
lobeline1844
country jake1845
Hoosier1846
hayseed1851
Reuben1855
scissorbill1876
agricole1882
country jay1888
rube1891
jasper1896
farmer1903
stump jumper1936
woop woop1936
potato head1948
no-neck1961
1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 ii. ii. 87 On bacons on, what yee knaues yong men must liue. View more context for this quotation
5. Phrases:
a. to save one's bacon: to escape injury to one's body, to keep oneself from harm. to bring home the bacon: see bring v. 1d.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > preservation from injury or destruction > preserve from injury or destruction [verb (intransitive)] > preserve oneself from injury or harm
to save one's (own) skin1642
to save one's bacon1654
to save one's soul1688
1654 T. Ireland Momus Elencticus 5 Some fellowes there were..To save their bacon penn'd many a smooth song.
1677 W. Hughes Man of Sin ii. iv. 75 Farewel Transubstantiation else! but 'tis a silly shift to save their Bacon.
1691 Weesils i. 5 No, they'l conclude I do't to save my Bacon.
1693 in Catal. (fictitious) Bks. in Harl. Misc. (1745) V. 269/2 In dubiis tutior pars: Or, the broad Way to save a Man's Bacon, and damn his Soul.
1809 W. Combe Schoolmaster's Tour in Poet. Mag. Oct. 280 But as he ran to save his bacon, By hat and wig he was forsaken.
1931 H. Belloc Cranmer viii. 149 Cranmer had just saved his bacon. It had been a very close thing.
b. to sell one's bacon, i.e. one's flesh or body.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > prostitution > [verb (intransitive)] > solicit
to hawk one's muttona1529
to sell one's bacon1825
importune1871
hook1959
1825 T. Carlyle Life Schiller (1845) iii. 163 To the Kaiser, therefore, I sold my bacon, And by him good charge of the whole is taken.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
bacon-curer n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > preserving or pickling > [noun] > curing > bacon-curer
bacon-man1707
bacon-curer1870
1870 Trans. Illinois State Agric. Soc. 1867–8 7 432 Hogs for bacon-curers and city consumption.
bacon-factor n.
bacon-flitch n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > animals for food > pork > [noun] > bacon > cuts or parts
bandc1394
bacon-flitch1462
flickle1546
rasher1584
gammon1633
flitchen1658
hock1706
middle1859
shoulder-piece1888
corner1891
lachsschinken1901
eye1904
pea meal1933
1462 in J. Raine Testamenta Eboracensia (1855) II. 261 Bakon-fliks, beffe-flicks.
bacon-ham n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > animals for food > pork > [noun] > ham
gammon?1521
skink1630
ham1650
schinkel1654
jambon1655
bacon-ham1796
schinken1848
Yorkshire ham1849
prosciutto crudo1855
picnic ham1890
prosciutto1891
York ham1897
Bradenham1906
short-cut1906
Prague ham1909
picnic1910
Parma ham1937
Black Forest1961
1796 J. G. Stedman Narr. Exped. Surinam II. xviii. 57 Provided with a bacon ham, hung-beef, fowls, etc.
bacon-merchant n.
bacon-pot n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > container for food > [noun] > bacon pot
bacon-pot1775
1775 G. White Let. 1 Nov. in Nat. Hist. Selborne (1789) 198 She saves the scummings of her bacon-pot [to make rush-lights].
bacon-rack n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > place for storing food > [noun] > frame or rack > for specific food
meat hanger1626
bacon-rack1826
meat rack1827
1826 M. R. Mitford Our Village (1863) II. 446 The fully stored bacon-rack.
bacon-rind n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > animals for food > pork > [noun] > bacon > rind
swarthc725
bacon skin1580
bacon-rind1606
rind1607
swath1873
1606 Wily Beguilde 17 Whose eyes do shine like bacon rine.
1867 F. Francis Bk. Angling i. 28 The use of the gentle, or bacon rind.
1948 E. Pound Pisan Cantos lxxix. 64 The bacond-rind banner alias the Washington arms floats over against Ugolino.
bacon skin n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > animals for food > pork > [noun] > bacon > rind
swarthc725
bacon skin1580
bacon-rind1606
rind1607
swath1873
1580 C. Hollyband Treasurie French Tong Coënne de lard, a Bacon skin.
C2. † bacon-man n. Obsolete a curer of, or dealer in, bacon.† bacon-picker n. Obsolete opprobrious name for a glutton.† bacon-slicer n. Obsolete a rustic.
bacon beetle n. the larder-beetle (see larder beetle n. at larder n.1 Compounds).
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > order Coleoptera or beetles and weevils > [noun] > Polyphaga (omnivorous) > superfamily Diversicornia > family Dermestidae > dermestes lardarius (larder beetle)
bacon beetle1832
skin beetle1842
larder beetle1895
1832 W. D. Williamson Hist. Maine I. 171 Dermestes Lardarius, Bacon Beetle.
1855 Poultry Chron. 3 404/2 The bacon beetle..is a common insect in houses in April, May, and June.
1959 E. F. Linssen Beetles Brit. Isles i. 267 The infamous Bacon Beetle..occurring in England and Ireland. Besides its association with bacon, it also occurs in hides and dead animal matter.
bacon-brains n. a clownish blockhead.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > stupid, foolish, or inadequate person > stupid person, dolt, blockhead > lout, oaf, booby > [noun]
lubber1362
looby1377
howfing?a1513
slouch?1518
bowberta1522
knuckylbonyarda1529
lob1533
lout1548
patch1549
hoballa1556
lilburnea1556
lobcocka1556
chub1558
hick1565
lourd1579
peasant1581
clown1583
lubbard1586
lumberer1593
lump1597
blooterc1600
boobyc1600
lob-coat1604
hoy1607
bacon-brainsa1635
alcatote1638
oaf1638
kelf1665
brute1670
dowf1722
gawky1724
chuckle1731
chuckle-head1731
John Trott1753
stega1823
lummoxa1825
gawk1837
country jakea1854
guffin1862
galoot1866
stot1877
lobster1896
mutt1900
palooka1920
schlub1950
a1635 T. Randolph Poems (1638) 71 Their Bacon-braines have such a tast As more delight in mast.
bacon-face n.
ΚΠ
1684 T. Otway Atheist i. 1 A broad, shining, pufft, Bacon-face, like a Cherubim.
bacon-face adj. (also bacon-faced) having a fat sleek face.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > face > types of face > [adjective]
flatc1400
hardc1400
low-cheeredc1400
large?a1425
ruscledc1440
well-visagedc1440
platter-faced1533
well-faced1534
full-faced1543
fair-faced1553
bright-faceda1560
crab-faced1563
crab-snouted1563
crab-tree-faced1563
long-visaged1584
owlya1586
wainscot-faced1588
flaberkin1592
rough-hewn1593
angel-faced1594
round-faced1594
crab-favoured1596
rugged1596
weasel-faced1596
rough-faced1598
half-faced1600
chitty1601
lenten-faced1604
broad-faced1607
dog-faced1607
weaselled-faced1607
wry-faced1607
maid-faced1610
warp-faced1611
ill-faceda1616
lean-faceda1616
old-faceda1616
moon-faced1619
monkey-faced1620
chitty-face1622
chitty-faceda1627
lean-chapt1629
antic-faced1635
bloat-faced1638
bacon-facea1640
blue-faced1640
hatchet-faced1648
grave1650
lean-jawed1679
smock-faced1684
lean-visaged1686
flaber1687
baby-faced1692
splatter-faced1707
chubby1722
puggy1722
block-faced1751
haggard-looking1756
long-faced1762
haggardly1763
fresh-faced1766
dough-faced1773
pudding-faced1777
baby-featured1780
fat-faced1782
haggard1787
weazen-face1794
keen1798
ferret-like1801
lean-cheeked1812
mulberry-faced1812
open-faced1813
open-countenanced1819
chiselled1821
hatchety1821
misfeatured1822
terse1824
weazen-faced1824
mahogany-faced1825
clock-faced1827
sharp1832
sensual1833
beef-faced1838
weaselly1838
ferret-faced1840
sensuous1843
rat-faced1844
recedent1849
neat-faced1850
cherubimical1854
pinch-faced1859
cherubic1860
frownya1861
receding1866
weak1882
misfeaturing1885
platopic1885
platyopic1885
pro-opic1885
wind-splitting1890
falcon-face1891
blunt-featured1916
bun-faced1927
fish-faced1963
a1640 J. Day & H. Chettle Blind-beggar (1659) sig. D3 I'de bang this Bacon'fac'd [printed Bacon-fan'd] slave orethwart his shanks.
1731 Polit. Ballads (1860) II. 223 He opulent grew, As bacon-face Jew.
bacon-farced adj. stuffed with bacon.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > preparation for table or cooking > stuffing > [adjective]
farcedc1430
forced1538
bacon-farceda1657
marinated1659
stuffed1729
filled1843
a1657 G. Daniel Poems (1878) I. 45 A Pheasant, bacon-farc'd.
bacon-fed adj. fed on bacon, rustic, clownish.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social class > the common people > specific classes of common people > peasant or rustic > [adjective] > rude or ignorant peasant
bacon-fed1598
hobnailed1599
pezantic1613
municipal1619
hobnail1624
swainish1642
bumpkinly1656
puttish1738
bumpkinish1778
hobbish1823
yokel1823
small-town1824
clodhopping1828
yokelish1886
hick1920
1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 ii. ii. 82 Bacon-fed knaues..downe with them. View more context for this quotation
bacon-hog n. a hog fattened for making bacon.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > order Artiodactyla (cloven-hoofed animals) > pig > [noun] > male > castrated or hog > fattened
pork hoga1470
bacon-hog?a1500
porker?a1568
porket1837
?a1500 in Dugdale's Monasticon Anglicanum (1817) I. 443 She must purvey iiij bacon hogis for the covent.
1573 G. Gascoigne Disc. Aduentures Master F. I. in Hundreth Sundrie Flowres 216 I will (by report of my very good friend F. I.) discribe him vnto you. Hee was in height, the proportion of twoo Pigmeys, in bredth the thicknesse of two bacon hogges, of presumption a Gyant, of power a Gnat.
1612 J. Taylor Trav. in Wks. (1872) 35 For most of them are as full of humanity as a bacon-hog.
1677 Poor Robin's Visions iv. 48 A little before these, came a parcel of drowned Rats, but as fat as Bacon-hogs; they had been half rosted, and half boiled, by their rank scent.
1709 Bp. W. Kennett tr. Erasmus Encomium Moriæ 17 As lusty as so many bacon-hogs or sucking calves.
1743 W. Ellis Mod. Husbandman Dec. 74 Their Butchers make no Difficulty of killing Bacon-Hogs and Porkers throughout the whole Summer.
1837 T. Hood Agric. Distress 35 When swish! in bolts our bacon-hog Atwixt the legs o' Master Blogg.
1860 J. Donaldson Brit. Agric. 490 Two lots of bacon hogs may be fattened during the curing season from October to April.
1900 Oxf. Times 1 Dec. 2 Prizes..for bacon hogs and porkets.
1930 Times 22 Dec. 18/4 The prize for the two best heavy bacon hogs was won by Mr. A. Maskell.
1993 Record (Kitchener-Waterloo, Ont.) (Nexis) 30 Aug. b5 1,599 slaughter hogs moved from Ontario to the U.S. during July. Of that, 738 were sows, 477 boars and 384 bacon hogs.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > preserving or pickling > [noun] > curing > bacon-curer
bacon-man1707
bacon-curer1870
1707 London Gaz. No. 4349/4 Whitfeild Miller, late of Oxford, Bacon-man.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > malediction > oaths > [noun] > oaths other than religious or obscene
tega1529
porkling1541
goodyear1579
dogfish1589
rope1598
beefeater1610
mutton-monger1620
fish-facea1625
bacon-picker1653
thunder1709
thunderation1836
1653 T. Urquhart tr. F. Rabelais 1st Bk. Wks. Prol. 5 A certaine gulligut Fryer and true bacon-picker.
bacon-pig n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > order Artiodactyla (cloven-hoofed animals) > pig > [noun] > fattened or intended for slaughter
swine hog1381
pork hoga1470
porker?a1568
baconer1741
bacon-pig1834
porket1837
1834 F. Marryat Peter Simple II. viii. 117 His bacon pigs, his porkers, his breeding sows.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > farmer > [noun] > rustic or peasant > ignorant
chuffc1440
lob1533
lobcocka1556
hick1565
bumpkin1570
swad1572
hob-clunch1578
hoblob1582
clubhutchen1584
gran1591
bacon1598
boor1598
hobbinol1600
homespun1600
lob-coat1604
loblolly1604
hobnail1645
bacon-slicer1653
jobson1660
hob-thrush1682
country put1688
put1688
clodhopper1699
bumpkinet1714
joskin1811
yokel1819
whopstraw1821
chaw-bacon1822
lobeline1844
farmer1864
sheepshagger1958
society > society and the community > social class > the common people > specific classes of common people > peasant or rustic > [noun] > rude or ignorant
chuffc1440
mobarda1450
lob1533
lobcocka1556
clown1565
hick1565
bumpkin1570
swad1572
peasant1576
hob-clunch1578
hoblob1582
clubhutchen1584
bacon1598
boor1598
hobbinol1600
homespun1600
loblolly lamb1600
lob-coat1604
loblolly1604
hobnail1645
champkina1652
bacon-slicer1653
jobson1660
hob-thrush1682
country put1688
put1688
country cousin1692
clodhopper1699
hawbuck1787
Johnny Raw1803
joskin1811
yokel1819
whopstraw1821
chaw-bacon1822
lobeline1844
country jake1845
Hoosier1846
hayseed1851
Reuben1855
scissorbill1876
agricole1882
country jay1888
rube1891
jasper1896
farmer1903
stump jumper1936
woop woop1936
potato head1948
no-neck1961
1653 T. Urquhart tr. F. Rabelais 1st Bk. Wks. xv. 71 Account me..a very clounch, and bacon-slicer of Brene.
Draft additions 1993
bacon sandwich n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > bread > bread with spread or filling > [noun] > sandwich > other sandwiches
cheese sandwich1828
bacon sandwich1858
cucumber sandwich1896
club sandwich1903
western sandwich1908
Reuben sandwich1927
poor boy1931
po' boy1932
hero1938
hero sandwich1939
foot-long1941
steak sandwich1941
sub1948
sub sandwich1948
submarine1949
BLT1952
panini1955
tuna sandwich1957
hoagie1967
muffuletta1967
gyro1971
PBJ1971
stotty1971
Philadelphia cheesesteak1977
Philly cheesesteak1982
banh mi1985
1858 Tait’s Edinb. Mag. May 307/1 And our picnic..was such a picnic. We had beef sandwiches, bacon sandwiches, oyster sandwiches (wonderful to say, with neither too much nor too little mustard).
1931 ‘G. Orwell’ Hop-picking in Coll. Ess. (1968) I. 66 We started off for work, with bacon sandwiches and a drum of cold tea.
2015 J. S. Watts Witchlight xi. 83 I was eating a bacon sandwich, and Barny here was helping me eat a few scrappy bits of bacon that had come loose from the bread.
bacon sarnie n. British
ΚΠ
1969 D. Nobbs Piece of Sky is Missing xxii. 166 Kentish Town Miniatures... At the workmen's café. ‘Bacon sarnie, please.’ ‘Rose. One bacon sandwich.’
1986 Daily Express 21 Aug. 25 You don't have to survive on bacon sarnies and beans.
2013 V. Gregg & M. Stroud King's Cross Kid x. 49 Come Saturday morning, bright and early, having gulped down the bacon sarnies, we were out of the house.
Draft additions September 2013
bacon and eggs n. (also bacon and egg) chiefly British bacon and eggs cooked (now typically fried) and served together; a dish consisting of these, often eaten at breakfast.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > meat dishes > [noun] > ham or bacon dishes > bacon and eggs
collop1362
collops and eggs1542
bacon and eggs1709
ham and eggs1837
1709 W. Byrd Secret Diary 12 Mar. (1941) 3 We ate bacon and eggs which the people gave us very heartily.
1830 R. Dolby Cook's Dict. 35/2 Bacon and Eggs.—Cut a quarter of a pound of streaked bacon into thin slices, and put them into a stew-pan [etc.].
1949 S. Gibbons Matchmaker i. 11 On Tuesday we have bacon and egg pie.
1981 S. McAughtry Belfast Stories i. 50 We'll get outside of a feed of bacon and egg and black pudding.
2011 Independent 31 Mar. (Viewspaper section) 15/2 A good ‘classic’ tomato, perfect for that weekend brunch with bacon and eggs.
Draft additions September 2013
bacon curing n.
ΚΠ
1814 Jackson's Oxf. Jrnl. 9 July Wanted immediately, as an Apprentice, or to be articled for three years, in the Grocery, Bacon Curing, and general business.
1893 L. M. Douglas Man. Pork Trade vii. 82 Nearly every county has its own method of bacon-curing.
1994 Meat Trade Jrnl. 5 May 9/6 Ham and bacon curing is a major part of production and the company produces a variety of products.
2005 K. Farrer To feed Nation iv. 45 By the 1870s a significant ham and bacon curing industry had emerged.
Draft additions September 2013
bacon fat n.
ΚΠ
1578 T. Blenerhasset 2nd Pt. Mirrour for Magistrates f. 39 But let me nowe returne vnto my Romishe route, Who fed like Bacon fat, did nought but play and pray.
1727 R. Bradley Country Housewife 181 Take a fleshy piece of Beef, without Fat; and beat it well with a Rolling pin, then lard it with pretty large pieces of Bacon-Fat.
1858 ‘G. Eliot’ Mr. Gilfil's Love-story i, in Scenes Clerical Life I. 159 If I niver knowed the taste o' bacon-fat again.
1929 Van Wert (Ohio) Daily Bull. 11 July 2/2 Spread bread with butter and place a thin slice of cheese between two slices. Either toast or saute in a little bacon fat over the fire in a frying pan.
2008 BBC Good Food Sept. 85/1 Laver is a type of black seaweed... To make it into laverbread, a favourite Welsh breakfast dish, it is mixed with oats and fried in bacon fat.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1885; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
baconv.1
( Cath. Angl.), ? for baton, batten n.1
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1885; most recently modified version published online December 2019).
baconv.2
Chiefly U.S.
transitive. To convert into bacon.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > preparation for table or cooking > preparation of meat > dress animals for food [verb (transitive)] > insert fat bacon > convert to bacon
bacon1821
1821 I. Thomas Diary (1909) II. 76 Sent Legs of Pork to be baconed.
1890 Congress. Rec. Aug. 8887/1 We consumed or sold our own pork, and we baconed it ourselves.
1960 Farmer & Stockbreeder 23 Feb. 101/1 Baconing the progeny of 40–50 Large White sows.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1933; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
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