Sean Carabini
Definition: Offal for an animal (used for eating).
Pronunciation: Has-lit
Origin: Middle English hastelet, meaning ‘Edible offal of swine’. Originally from diminutive of Old French haste, meaning ‘roast meat/spit’. Possible Latin origin – hasta, meaning ‘Spear’ (possibly meat that can be cooked on a spear).
Why This Word: In many parts of the world, the economic downturn has led to people buying cheaper cuts of meat. I have, for example, noticed this in Ireland, where meats such as liver are appearing on menus for the frst time since the last Irish recession in the 1980’s. ‘Offal’ is such an ugly word, however – and sounds too close to ‘awful’ for my liking…
Why not, then, revive the word haslet? It sounds much prettier – like something that comes from a beautiful French hamlet – unlike the word ‘offal’, which sounds like something you need to approach wearing willies and raincoat
Interestingly, this word has survived in use in parts of the American South. It might well be time for it to come back into general circulation.
How to use the word haslet in a sentence?
In order for this word to be revived, it needs a champion. I call upon the food writers of this world to tie up your ‘offal’ and discard your ‘innards’: it’s time to declare this a haslet town.
