What is "spatchcock"

Spatchcock \Spatch"cock`\, n. See Spitchcock.

n. 1 Chicken meat when prepared by spatchcocking. (See below.) 2 A rushed effort. vb. 1 To cut poultry along the spine and spread the halves apart, for more even cooking when grilled. 2 To interpolate, insert or sandwich (in or into) 3 To prepare in haste.

1. n. flesh of a chicken (or game bird) split down the back and grilled (usually immediately after being killed)

2. v. prepare for eating if or as if a spatchcock; "spatchcock a guine hen"

3. interpolate or insert (words) into a sentence or story

A spatchcock is a historical term for a culled immature male chicken, but increasingly denotes a preparation technique. The spatchcock, also known as "spattlecock", is poultry or game that has been prepared for roasting or grilling by removing the backbone, and sometimes the sternum of the bird and flattening it out before cooking. The preparation of a bird in such a manner for cooking may also be known as butterflying the bird. The term "spatchcock" is used when the backbone is removed, whether or not the sternum is removed. Removing the sternum allows the bird to be flattened more fully.