Chophouses

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Establishments that specialize in serving meat dishes, typically steaks and chops
2. Restaurants where patrons can enjoy heavily meat-focused menus in a casual setting
3. Places renowned for their grilled meats, often accompanied by rich sides and beverages

Etymology: "Chophouses" is the plural of "chophouse," a compound of "chop" and "house." The first part refers to a cut of meat, a thick slice of mutton, pork, or beef, usually including a rib, taken from the loin or shoulder and cooked by grilling or frying. The second part is the ordinary English word for a building. Put together, the term names a place built around serving such cuts, an eating house where the chop was the main event. Here the surprise lies in the first element rather than the second. "Chop" as a noun for a meat cut is a separate word from the verb "to chop" meaning to cut into pieces, and its own origin is less certain than its compound's meaning. The compound itself is transparent and plainly descriptive, a technical formation of the kind English produces readily, rather than a word with a dramatic backstory.

Synonyms: steakhouses, grills