Definition

Noun: * Strips of dried beef: A type of snack food made from lean beef that has been trimmed of fat, cut into strips, and then dried (dehydrated) to prevent spoilage. The process, often involving salting and sometimes smoking or seasoning, creates a chewy, flavorful, and preserved meat product.

Usage

• As a mass (uncountable) noun: Typically refers to the food substance in general.
  • I packed some beef jerky for the hiking trip because it's lightweight and full of protein.
  • This store sells the best beef jerky in the state.
• As a countable noun (when referring to pieces or types): Can be used in plural form or with quantifiers.
  • He ate three beef jerkies from the bag.
  • They offer several different beef jerkies, including teriyaki and peppered flavors.

Advanced Usage

• "Jerky" as a standalone term: In many contexts, especially where the meat source is clear (e.g., in the United States), the word "jerky" alone is commonly understood to mean beef jerky, though it can technically be made from other meats.
  • I'm going to buy some jerky at the gas station.

Variants and Related Words

• Jerky (noun): The general category of dried, seasoned meat strips. Can be made from various meats (e.g., turkey jerky, salmon jerky, bison jerky).
• Jerky (adjective): Describing movement that is abrupt, shaky, or lacking smoothness (e.g., ). This is a homograph with a completely different meaning and etymology.
• Pemmican (noun): A concentrated mixture of dried meat and fat, historically used by Indigenous peoples of North America, which is a related concept of preserved meat but distinct in preparation and form from jerky.

Synonyms

• Dried beef
• Biltong (noun): A similar dried, cured meat originating from Southern Africa, typically differing in cut, seasoning, and drying process.

Related Phrases/Idioms

• To jerk (verb, in this context): The process of cutting meat into strips and drying it. This is the historical root of the term "jerky" (from the Quechua word , meaning "dried, salted meat").
  • The pioneers would jerk the meat to preserve it for the winter.

Noun

1. strips of dried beef