hominy

Where does the word "hominy" come from? It comes from Powhatan uskatahomen, and was adopted directly into English (1620s).

Hominy’s story begins in Powhatan: uskatahomen meant “prepared corn.” Dried corn kernels prepared by soaking and cooking. It reached English by 1620s as hominy. Shortened and settled as the English word for the treated corn dish. Today, hominy means dried corn kernels that have been treated with an alkali and cooked.

1. Stage 1 · Powhatan · 1600s uskatahomen "prepared corn", dried corn kernels prepared by soaking and cooking.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1620s hominy "dried corn kernels treated and cooked as food", shortened and settled as the English word for the treated corn dish.