What does frankfort mean?
A frankfort is a seasoned, usually smoked sausage made from beef, pork, or a blend of the two, most familiarly served warm in a sliced soft bun and topped with condiments such as mustard, ketchup, relish, or sauerkraut. In practice it refers to the same food most people call a frankfurter, wiener, or hot dog, though 'frankfort' survives mainly as a regional American word rather than a national one. Its name points back to Frankfurt, Germany, the city long associated with this style of sausage, which German immigrants brought to the United States in the nineteenth century. There it evolved into one of the country's most iconic street foods, sold at ballparks, fairs, and sidewalk carts. When using the term, take care not to confuse the food with the several towns named Frankfort — including the capital of Kentucky — which share the spelling but nothing else.
nounA seasoned, smoked beef or pork sausage, typically served hot in a long soft roll; a frankfurter or hot dog. The term is used chiefly in parts of the United States.
- A smoked sausage of beef or pork, eaten in a roll with condiments (a hot dog or frankfurter), especially as sold by street vendors or in regional American usage.
"At the county fair, he bought a frankfort smothered in mustard and sauerkraut."
"She grilled frankforts for the neighborhood cookout."
"The deli's snap-cased frankfort was the best I've had outside Chicago."
Pluralizes regularly; packages commonly list counts of the sausages.
"We boiled a dozen frankforts for the picnic."
The humble frankfort takes its name from Frankfurt, Germany — the city where this style of sausage became famous before crossing the Atlantic to become America's beloved hot dog.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of frankfort
The word derives from Frankfurt am Main, Germany, whose residents were associated with a slender, spiced sausage that came to be called a 'frankfurter'. German immigrants carried both the sausage and its name to America during the nineteenth century, where shortened forms like 'frankfort' and 'frank' entered everyday speech. Cognates include the German 'Frankfurter Würstchen' and the adjective form 'frankfurter'.
How frankfort is actually used
'Frankfort' is chiefly a regional American term; most English speakers today say 'frankfurter', 'wiener', or simply 'hot dog'. It should not be confused with place names such as Frankfort, Kentucky.
Easily confused with frankfort
Frankfurt (with a 'u') is the major German city (or Frankfort, Kentucky's capital as a place name), while 'frankfort' as a common noun refers to the sausage itself.