porridge

Definition

A dish made of grain or legumes, milk or water, heated and stirred until thick and typically eaten for breakfast.

Etymology

Variant of pottage (“thick soup or stew”), influenced by porray (“stew of leeks”). The "prison sentence" sense comes from the British tradition of serving prisoners porridge for breakfast.

Example Sentences

• "Eat your porridge while it's hot!"
• "There were rumours, new rumours every morning, delightful and outrageous rumours, so that the lumps in the porridge were swallowed without comment and the fish-cakes were eaten without contumely."
• "Just do your porridge and keep your head down."

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