Why is this part of a chickens anatomy called the Parsons Nose

Hello kemlo-ga,

Believe it or not, this is the second "parson's nose" question on
Google Answers.  The first question actually concerned "pope's nose",
but also mentioned the equivalent "parson's nose", and stated that "It
seems to have originated as a derogatory term meant to demean
Catholics in England during the late 17th century."

"pope's nose", answered by clouseau-ga (14 Sep 2002)
Google Answers
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=65056

The Encarta dicitonary confirms this origin:

"Variant of Pope's nose, an insulting term that originated during a
period of anti-Catholicism during the reign of James II (1685–1688)"

"parson's nose"
MSN Learning
http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/DictionaryResults.aspx?refid=1861723935

I presume that "parson" was substituted for "Pope" once
anti-Catholicism died down and the Anglican Church took greater hold;
people then could make fun of their parsons!

- justaskscott-ga


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"parson's nose"

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"parson's nose" slang

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Request for Answer Clarification by kemlo-ga on 30 Oct 2003 15:43 PST

I already knew what it was but it doesn't really explain why just a
chicken and not any other animal or bird?

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Clarification of Answer by justaskscott-ga on 30 Oct 2003 17:01 PST

Nothing I have seen, even in the Oxford English Dictionary, indicates
the reason for this.  I suspect that it's one of those phrases that
originated not in written literature, but among average people joking
with each other.  Many people don't leave records -- even more true
hundreds of years agao -- so we may never know exactly why it refers
to the rump of a fowl, rather than, say, the rump of a dog.  My guess
is that it has to do with the preening nature of fowl, and their
proud-looking tail feathers.