# What is the name for turkey tails? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [February 21, 2021, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-for-turkey-tails/933403 "2021-02-21T19:20:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2021, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-for-turkey-tails/933403/21 "2021-02-23T08:54:55Z")
_Parson’s nose_ for this South African, never heard _Pope’s nose_ until this thread. Although there’s no way that would be the first piece of the chicken/turkey I’d make for. Not when there are the oysters. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2021, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-for-turkey-tails/933403/22 "2021-02-23T13:08:00Z")
I know the terms “Pope’s nose” and “parson’s nose,” but I have no idea where I picked them up. I don’t recall anyone using a name for that particular part of poultry. I think we just called them “tails” or “butts.” I also don’t recall them being particularly sought after growing up. My mom or dad would just cut them off and save them for the stock pot. I myself am neither here nor there about them. Oysters, on the other hand (as mentioned above), those I save for myself after roasting a chicken. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2021, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-for-turkey-tails/933403/23 "2021-02-23T15:56:58Z")
If I remember correctly… isn’t this a rather exotic poster name/subject matter combination? j PS: what _are_ the oysters? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2021, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-for-turkey-tails/933403/24 "2021-02-23T16:24:09Z")
Ah, yes. “Turkey breast” is the translation of _pulykamell_. The oysters are on the bottom side of the bird (if roasting a whole chicken breast up), next to the backbone, near the thigh. There’s a little cavity with meat there on each side of the back. Kinda hard to describe – let me see if I can find a photo. [![](https://tastylicious.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Where-are-the-chicken-oysters.jpg) ](https://tastylicious.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Where-are-the-chicken-oysters.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2021, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-for-turkey-tails/933403/25 "2021-02-23T16:37:59Z")
Ah, got it - I did wonder if that was what it was. Thx. j ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2021, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-for-turkey-tails/933403/26 "2021-02-23T17:18:11Z")
I knew those were the only good pieces on the back but never knew they had a name. The ones on chicken are so small my mom didn’t bother frying the backs. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-for-turkey-tails/933403/27 "2021-02-25T12:41:24Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > what _are_ the oysters? Ever seen the movie _Amélie_? [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tUI48tmMEp4/hqdefault.jpg "Amelie : Dominique Bretodeau scene") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUI48tmMEp4) ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-for-turkey-tails/933403/28 "2021-02-25T15:28:58Z")
Now I want to know what the French word (that I couldn’t quite catch) for Oysters (that kind of oyster) is. Damn. j ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-for-turkey-tails/933403/29 "2021-02-25T15:42:18Z")
“Sot l’y laisse” > **[Oyster (fowl)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oyster_(fowl))** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > Oysters are two small, round pieces of dark meat on the back of poultry near the thigh, in the hollow on the dorsal side of the ilium bone. > In French, this part of the bird is called sot-l'y-laisse which translates, roughly, to "the fool leaves it there", as unskilled carvers sometimes accidentally leave it on the skeleton. In French, the term has been democratized by its musicality for its variations around s and l, French pronunciation: \[so.li.... ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-for-turkey-tails/933403/30 "2021-02-25T15:47:37Z")
_That’s_ why I love this place. Thanks. j ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-for-turkey-tails/933403/31 "2021-02-26T03:39:24Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > In French, the term has been democratized ??? What does that mean? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-for-turkey-tails/933403/32 "2021-02-26T03:41:19Z")
I haven’t the faintest clue. (Quote should be attributed to Wikipedia.) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-for-turkey-tails/933403/33 "2021-02-26T03:48:54Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > > [@pulykamell](#): > > > > In French, the term has been democratized > > ??? What does that mean? “Democratized” means “made accessible to everyone.” I don’t know why musicality would do that, though. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-for-turkey-tails/933403/34 "2021-02-26T03:50:09Z")
I heard a story about this on “All Things Considered” a while back. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-for-turkey-tails/933403.md?page=1)