Dip Dog
In parts of Appalachia - especially southwest Virginia and northeast Tennessee - a dip dog (or dipdog) is a battered, deep-fried hot dog on a stick, much like a corn dog but with its own local name and tradition.
synonyms: corn dog, battered hot dog, fair dog
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I thought everybody called a corn dog a 'dip dog,' but apparently it's just use hillbillies. Pronunciation
[DIP-dawg] /ˈdɪp dɔːɡ/
Meaning & Usage
- Battered hot dog on a stick (noun)
Billy:
Pull over, I see the Dip Dog Stand up ahead!
Pull over, I see the Dip Dog Stand up ahead!
Mama:
Get me two dip dogs with extra mustard.
Get me two dip dogs with extra mustard.variations: dip dog, dip-dog, dipdog, batter-dipped hot dog, Appalachian corn dog
★ Dip dogs aren’t just food - they’re a roadside tradition. If you grew up in southwest Virginia or northeast Tennessee, you probably have a Dip Dog Stand memory. ★
Origin
The term "dip dog" rose to prominence with the Dip Dog Stand in Marion, Virginia (opened in the 1950s). From there it spread through neighboring Appalachian towns, especially in northeast Tennessee. Outside this region, people almost always say "corn dog."
Notes
- Dip dog - local Appalachian name for a battered hot dog on a stick ("Let’s get a dip dog on the way home.")
- Dip-dog / dipdog - variant spellings; all refer to the same food.
- Uniquely regional - most outsiders will only know "corn dog."
- Tied to nostalgia and roadside culture in southwest Virginia and northeast Tennessee.
- Still used today in local restaurants, county fairs, and especially at the Dip Dog Stand in Marion, VA.