middlings
Definition
- Noun (plural):
- Goods of medium quality: "Middlings" refers to articles or commodities that are of average or intermediate quality, not the best or the worst. This usage is often found in commerce and trade.
- Coarsely ground grain: In milling, "middlings" are the coarse particles of grain (such as wheat) that are separated during the process of grinding, falling between flour and bran in size and quality.
- Salted pork cut: In American English, "middlings" can also refer to a cut of salted pork, specifically the side or belly meat.
Usage Examples
- (Goods of medium quality.)
- (Coarse grain particles.)
- (Salted pork cut.)
Advanced Usage
- "Middlings" in grading systems: In some industries, such as timber or textiles, "middlings" denotes products that fall into a middle grade, neither premium nor inferior.
- The lumberyard categorized the boards as firsts, seconds, and middlings. (Intermediate grade of wood.)
Variants and Related Words
- Middling (adj): of moderate or average quality, size, or degree.
- He was a middling student, neither brilliant nor failing. (Average in ability.)
- Middling (adv): moderately or fairly.
- She felt middling well after her illness. (Reasonably well.)
Synonyms
- Average: typical or ordinary in quality.
- Medium: intermediate in size, quality, or degree.
- Intermediate: lying between two extremes.
Related Idioms
- Fair to middling: an expression meaning moderately good; neither excellent nor poor.
- How are you feeling today? — Oh, fair to middling, I suppose. (Acceptable, not great.)
Note on Usage
The word "middlings" is primarily used as a plural noun and does not have a singular form. It is most commonly encountered in technical contexts like milling or commerce, though it may appear in older or regional English.