Hen Apple
In Appalachian and Southern speech, a "hen apple" is a humorous nickname for a chicken egg. It reflects the region’s playful tradition of renaming everyday things.
#SouthernWords #Appalachia #Animals #OldTimers #Southern #FarmTalk
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I think 'hen apples' is a good one, but it's mostly old timers these days. Hillbilly Dude Says...
I think 'hen apples' is a good one, but it's mostly old timers these days. Pronunciation
[HIN-app-ul] /hɪn ˈæpəl/
Meaning & Usage
- A chicken egg (noun)
Mae:
How many eggs we got?
How many eggs we got?
Earl:
Half a dozen hen apples this mornin’.
Half a dozen hen apples this mornin’.variations: egg, chicken egg, farm egg, bird apple (rare)
★ "Hens lay eggs like apple trees bear fruit"-hence the folksy nickname "hen apples." Appalachian and Southern speech abounds with playful animal+food nicknames like this. ★
Origin and Etymology
Found in Appalachian dialect dictionaries as a regional name for a chicken egg. It reflects the area’s tradition of humorous renamings in everyday farm life.
Usage Notes
Still heard today among older speakers and in nostalgic writing about farm life. Outside the region it’s rarely recognized but easily understood from context.
Say It Like a Southerner
Say it natural: often "hin-appul" or "hin-apple" in Appalachian speech-lighter on the "e," a touch of nasalization.