Definition of pone

The word "pone" regularly appears in African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and Old English, although its origins and meanings have evolved over time. In AAVE, the word "pone" refers to a type of baked cornmeal dish similar to cornbread. It is particularly common in parts of the Southern United States with a significant African American population. The exact origins of the term are unclear, but it may come from the African word "poni," used by slaves to describe a type of cornmeal mush. Some scholars also suggest that the term may be a contraction of "put in," as early versions of this dish were often baked directly in the ashes of a wood fire. In Old English, the word "pone" had an entirely different meaning. It was used as a term for baking or roasting, particularly in relation to meat. The Old English word "pann" (meaning "a shallow dish for cooking food") was later combined with "han" (meaning "bone") to form "pannehan" (meaning "roasting pan"). Eventually, "pannehan" evolved into the Modern English word "pan" (meaning "a shallow cooking vessel"). Over time, the meanings of "pone" have diverged greatly between AAVE and Old English. While Early Modern English writers like John Bettes still used "pone" to refer to roasting, the word is no longer commonly used in this context today, and has been largely supplanted by "bake" or "roast." The term "pone" in AAVE, meanwhile, continues to describe a specific type of dish with a fascinating history that reflects the cultural heritage of African Americans in the South.