I saw a reference today in an American book to the rump of a roast turkey as "the pope's nose". In England the usual phrase for this particular part of a bird's anatomy is "the parson's nose". Is the reference to the pope the usual American version, or are there others?
When I was a kid, "the Pope's nose" was the very end slice of a loaf of Italian bread although I was specifically instructed not to share this interesting little tidbit of information with the Yanetti family across the street.
My father, who grew up on a farm in southwest Ohio, explained to us that some people called that part of the turkey "the Pope's nose," and he and his cousin Emily, who had also lived on the farm, thought that it was funny; but we kids just thought it was plain weird. We were also told it was not something you would say in front of Other People. I'm sure the expression comes from some 19th century wag living in the Midwest. It actually sounds like something out of Twain or Tarkington. Now I'll have to go look, though I realize this conversation is now nearly four years old.
Wordmatic
Posts: 1390 | Location: Near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Google Answers suggests that it was first of all 'the pope's nose' during the anti-catholic reign of James II, around when it presumably crossed the Atlantic. Since the decline of anti-catholic sentiments in Britain it become a general anti-clergy statement as 'the parson's nose'. Here in Britain it is the standard term for that part of a bird, and doesn't carry any real sting these days.
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