# Wings - Flats and Pegs?? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 21, 2014, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wings-flats-and-pegs/693637 "2014-07-21T00:26:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wings-flats-and-pegs/693637/1 "2014-07-21T00:26:01Z")
So I was frequenting a local wing eatery (wingery?) a few days ago and I heard one of the waitstaff answering a question for someone at a nearby table. She used the phrase “flats and pegs” to describe to describe the number of wings included with an order. It makes a lot of sense that these are [pegs](http://westerncentralny.aaa.com/files/styles/center_image/public/ChickenWing490x205.jpg?itok=uw4qez3g) and these are [flats.](http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/images/20120113-buffalo-wings-new-19.jpg) Has anyone ever heard this description before? Now that I’ve heard it, it’s going to stick in my head and I’ll always think of them as flats and pegs. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wings-flats-and-pegs/693637/2 "2014-07-21T00:27:27Z")
I’ve only heard flats and drumettes. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wings-flats-and-pegs/693637/3 "2014-07-21T02:49:56Z")
Is this thread meant to be humerus? Drumette sounds like it came from the chicken marketing board. Peg, from Pirates of the Caribbean. There must be an industry term. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wings-flats-and-pegs/693637/4 "2014-07-21T02:52:53Z")
Flats and drums is what they’re called around here. ---
**Author:** ![feppytweed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/feppytweed/32/4280_2.png) [@feppytweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/feppytweed)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wings-flats-and-pegs/693637/5 "2014-07-21T02:56:21Z")
> [@Rachellelogram](#): > > Flats and drums is what they’re called around here. +1 ---
**Author:** ![Tabby\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tabby\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabby_Cat)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wings-flats-and-pegs/693637/6 "2014-07-21T03:53:21Z")
Mid-joint and drumlet. I’m not in the restaurant business, though… ---
**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:** [July 21, 2014, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wings-flats-and-pegs/693637/7 "2014-07-21T05:51:16Z")
We’ve always called them “drumettes” (because that’s the obvious and natural name for them, or at least some variation thereof, at least to us), and '“that other part,” but I’ve heard “flats,” too. Never heard “peg” or “drums.” Don’t think I’ve ever seen the parts specified on a menu or otherwise, though. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wings-flats-and-pegs/693637/8 "2014-07-21T07:11:50Z")
> [@Rachellelogram](#): > > Flats and drums is what they’re called around here. +2 ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wings-flats-and-pegs/693637/9 "2014-07-21T08:46:46Z")
> [@Rachellelogram](#): > > Flats and drums is what they’re called around here. This. I prefer flats, mrAru prefers drums so it works for us. [URL=“[http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/](http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/)”] ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wings-flats-and-pegs/693637/10 "2014-07-21T12:46:30Z")
Wings are supposed to be better than tabs. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wings-flats-and-pegs/693637/11 "2014-07-21T13:33:32Z")
I sometimes hear the middle joint referred to as the “flapper”, but it was at Wal Mart so who knows. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wings-flats-and-pegs/693637/12 "2014-07-21T13:54:39Z")
I’ve never heard them called anything but wings. Why is there even a need to differentiate? ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wings-flats-and-pegs/693637/13 "2014-07-21T14:17:31Z")
I never heard the term “flat” until this thread. I have heard “drums” and “wings” which can admittedly be confusing since the over all term is also wings. ---
**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:** [July 21, 2014, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wings-flats-and-pegs/693637/14 "2014-07-21T14:18:37Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I’ve never heard them called anything but wings. Why is there even a need to differentiate? People have preferences as to which part they prefer. I have a preference towards flats. My wife prefers the drum(mette)s. I vaguely even remember seeing a poll here as to preference. ETA: Ah, yes. [Here you go.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=582631) About 80% of respondents showed a preference. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wings-flats-and-pegs/693637/15 "2014-07-21T14:19:54Z")
Yeah but they both taste like chicken. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wings-flats-and-pegs/693637/16 "2014-07-21T15:14:08Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Yeah but they both taste like chicken. Nah, they mostly taste like whatever they’re slathered in. Anyone else prefer their wings on the dry and crispy side, instead of the restaurant standard of somewhere between plate-ready and a trifle undercooked, and so slathered with goo it makes BBQ look like a tidy eat? ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wings-flats-and-pegs/693637/17 "2014-07-21T15:32:48Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Nah, they mostly taste like whatever they’re slathered in. > > Anyone else prefer their wings on the dry and crispy side, instead of the restaurant standard of somewhere between plate-ready and a trifle undercooked, and so slathered with goo it makes BBQ look like a tidy eat? Yes. If the skin isn’t extremely crispy, then wings are just a wet, slimy mess. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wings-flats-and-pegs/693637/18 "2014-07-21T15:45:10Z")
The flats are better and they don’t have those hoses and tubes. ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wings-flats-and-pegs/693637/19 "2014-07-21T15:56:20Z")
Ah, so now we get into the almost tempestuous wet versus dry. That’s a whole 'nother conversation! For what it’s worth, I like wet flats. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wings-flats-and-pegs/693637/20 "2014-07-21T16:18:26Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Nah, they mostly taste like whatever they’re slathered in. > > Anyone else prefer their wings on the dry and crispy side, instead of the restaurant standard of somewhere between plate-ready and a trifle undercooked, and so slathered with goo it makes BBQ look like a tidy eat? Yes! Very much! I hate sauce on wings. Hot wings are fine but it should be because the crispy skin is spicy not because it is drowned in hot sauce. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wings-flats-and-pegs/693637.md?page=2)