Definition

A type of bread made from cornmeal, often shaped into a flat cake and cooked on a griddle.

Example

For breakfast, we enjoyed warm johnnycakes topped with butter and syrup.

Conversation

Have you ever tried a johnnycake before?

No, I haven't! What is it exactly?

It's a delicious cornmeal bread, often fried or baked.

That sounds great! I would love to give a johnnycake a try.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Johnnycake originates from the word 'journey' (from Old French *jornée*, meaning a day's work or travel) and 'cake' (from Old Norse *kaka*, meaning a baked flour confection). The term originally referred to a type of cornmeal flatbread that was often made for travelers or those on a journey.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'journey' where you might need a simple 'cake' to sustain you — that's how 'johnnycake' connects to a traveler's food.

Visually Confused Words