Cowtongue

/ˈkaʊtʌŋ/ noun

Definition

The tongue of a cow as food, or a plant with tongue-shaped leaves traditionally associated with cattle or pastures.

Etymology

Compound of 'cow' and 'tongue' (Old English 'tunge'). Both the culinary meaning (cow's tongue as meat) and the botanical meaning (plants with similar leaf shapes) have historical use.

Kelly Says

Beef tongue was historically a prized food in working-class diets because butchers would otherwise discard it, making it an affordable source of organ meat—nothing on the animal was wasted in pre-industrial kitchens.

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