spatchcock

Etymology

spatchcock chicken.]] 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 (the past participle of spothaim (“to cut; to split”)) or spoctha (the past participle of spochaim, a variant of spothaim) + coc (“male of the common domesic 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. The verb is derived from the noun.

noun

1. (cooking, also attributively) Poultry which has been cut along the spine and spread out for more even cooking.

verb

1. (cooking) To cut (poultry) along the spine and spread the halves apart for more even cooking.
   For the party, he spatchcocked and grilled some chickens.
   Katniss [Everdeen] emerges alone, smeared in blood and muck and gnawing on the charred remains of a spatchcocked squirrel. An adjective use, transferred to a different animal. 11 November 2014, Robbie Collin, “The Hunger Games: Review”, in The Daily Telegraph, London: Telegraph Media Group, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2022-05-26
2. (figurative) Often followed by in or into: to interpolate or insert (something into another thing); 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. 11 October 1901, Redvers Buller, quotee, “Sir R. Buller and his critics”, in The Times, number 36,583, London: George Edward Wright, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 10, column 2
   We would have had to spatchcock together whatever coalition we could, but it was profoundly difficult, […] 18 August 2010, Alexandra Topping, quoting Jack Straw, “Lib Dems should be able to veto coalition policies, says Simon Hughes”, in Alan Rusbridger, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2020-09-21