Pig Skins
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "pig skins" means pork rinds - fried pieces of pig skin that puff up into a crunchy snack. They’re a favorite at gas stations, ballgames, and country stores.
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Hillbilly Dude Says...
We always called 'em 'pig skins' growin' up, but it's mainly just heard from old timers nowadays. Hillbilly Dude Says...
We always called 'em 'pig skins' growin' up, but it's mainly just heard from old timers nowadays. Pronunciation
[PIG skinz]
Meaning & Usage
- Pork rinds as a snack (noun, plural)
Mae:
Want chips or candy?
Want chips or candy?
Earl:
Nah, get me a bag of pig skins.
Nah, get me a bag of pig skins.- Fried pig skin in general (noun)
Mae:
What are those?
What are those?
Earl:
Just fried pig skins - crunchy as can be.
Just fried pig skins - crunchy as can be.variations: pork rinds, fried pig skin, skins, bag of pig skins from the store, eatin’ pig skins at the ballgame, hot sauce on pig skins
★ Don’t mix up pig skins with cracklins. Pig skins are puffed and airy, usually from store-bought bags. Cracklins are denser and meatier, often made fresh after hog-killin’ or lard rendering. ★
Origin and Etymology
From the simple country name for what they are - fried pig skin. While "pork rinds" is the common packaging term, Southern and Appalachian folks often call them "pig skins."
Usage Notes
Still very common in Southern and Appalachian speech. You’ll see "pork rinds" on the bag, but locals often ask for "pig skins" instead.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "pig skins." Often shortened in casual talk: "pigskinz."