Cornpone

Q: Where does the word “pone” come from?

It comes from an Algonquian word apan, meaning “something baked.”

In Southern and Appalachian speech, "cornpone" is a simple style of cornbread - plain cakes of cornmeal, water or buttermilk, and a little salt or fat, baked or fried in a skillet.

#SouthernWords #Appalachia #FoodandDrink #Southern

synonyms: cornbread, skillet bread

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I'd say the cornbread we ate growin' up was really closer to 'cornpone' - not sweet at all, crumbly, not super moist. Sometimes my Momma would use a cast iron pan that had shapes like roastnears.

Pronunciation

[KORN-pohn] /ˈkɔrnˌpoʊn/

Meaning & Usage

- A simple style of cornbread (noun)

Etta:

Pass me another piece of that hot cornpone.

Ray:

Better sop it in your beans while it’s still warm.

variations: pone bread, pone, corn pone

★ Unlike sweet cornbread recipes you’ll find up North, traditional cornpone is plain and hearty - no sugar, no frills, just cornmeal and a skillet. ★

Origin

The word pone comes from the Algonquian word apan, meaning "something baked." Cornpone as a food was a staple of early frontier cooking, especially in the South and Appalachia where wheat flour was scarce.

Notes

Cornpone was daily bread for many Southern families well into the 20th century.
Often baked in a cast-iron skillet or shaped into small rounds.
Sometimes fried for a crisper edge.

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Common Questions

What’s the difference between cornpone and cornbread?

Cornpone is a plain, old-style cornbread - usually unsweetened and made with few ingredients. Cornbread today may include sugar, eggs, or flour.

Where does the word "pone" come from?

It comes from an Algonquian word apan, meaning "something baked."

Is cornpone still eaten today?

Yes, though it’s less common than sweetened cornbread. Some families still keep the tradition alive, especially in Appalachia and rural parts of the South.

Is "cornpone" ever used figuratively?

Sometimes, to mean rustic or unsophisticated. But in everyday Southern life, it mainly refers to the bread itself.