Dry Land Fish
In Appalachian speech, "dry land fish" means morel mushrooms. The nickname comes from how they look like little fish fillets when sliced and fried. It’s a word tied to mountain foraging and springtime suppers.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
Now we never called morels 'dry land fish' - but my Momma would always talk about how much they tasted like seafood when she fixed a mess of them. I've hunted for them every year for more than a decade, but I've never found a single one. My brother could always find 'em. Hillbilly Dude Says...
Now we never called morels 'dry land fish' - but my Momma would always talk about how much they tasted like seafood when she fixed a mess of them. I've hunted for them every year for more than a decade, but I've never found a single one. My brother could always find 'em. Pronunciation
[DRAH land FISH]
Meaning & Usage
- Morel mushrooms (noun)
Mae:
What’s in the skillet?
What’s in the skillet?
Earl:
Dry land fish - just picked ’em this mornin’.
Dry land fish - just picked ’em this mornin’.- A foraged springtime food (noun, figurative)
Mae:
Why call ’em that?
Why call ’em that?
Earl:
Cut and fried, they look just like fish - but they grow on land.
Cut and fried, they look just like fish - but they grow on land.variations: morel mushroom
★ "Dry land fish" is one of those mountain terms outsiders don’t know. Call ’em that in East Tennessee or West Virginia and folks will smile, knowing exactly what you mean. ★
Origin and Etymology
The name comes from Appalachian cooks who thought fried morels looked like fish fillets. The phrase stuck and became a local nickname passed down in mountain families.
Usage Notes
Widely used in Appalachia, but almost unknown outside the region. Most people elsewhere only know the term "morel mushrooms." "Dry land fish" remains part of mountain talk and tradition.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "draah land fish." The "dry" often softens in mountain talk.
Kin Topics
Related Pages
How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 7). Dry Land Fish. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/dry-land-fish
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Dry Land Fish." HillbillySlang.com, 7 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/dry-land-fish.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Dry Land Fish." HillbillySlang.com. September 7, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/dry-land-fish.
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