Pinstripers (Yankees, from their pinstripe uniforms)
The New York Yankees are sometimes called the "Pinstripers," from their pinstriped uniforms. The Yankees had pinstripes before they had Babe Ruth. It's an urban myth that they…
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus
Pinto Bean
The pinto bean (usually from New Mexico) is included in many Tex-Mex recipes. I found the first citation now used in the Oxford English Dictionary. About.com: Southern U.S. CuisineTexas-Style…
Pipa Tofu (Pei Pa Tofu)
A "pipa" is a Chinese musical instrument, similar to a lute. "Pipa tofu" (also "pi pa tofu," "peipa tofu" and "pei pa tofu") is tofu that is shaped…
Pipe Dream
A "pipe dream" is an unrealistic desire or a fantasy, originally brought on by using an opium pipe. "Opium-pipe dream" was printed in The Morning Post, (London, UK) on October…
Pipe Layer
"Pipe layer" was a term popularly used in the election of 1840 (and probably before) for an illegal voter. The term possibly came from New York City in the 1830s. "Pipe layer"…
Pipelineistan (pipeline + -istan)
Entry in progress -- B.P."Pipelineistan” (pipeline + -istan, such as Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) Pepe Escobar Wikipedia: -stanThe…
Piragua (Puerto Rican snow cone)
"Piraguas" are "snow cones" that are popular in Puerto Rican areas of New York City, such as East Harlem. Ices are flavored with coconut, lemon, strawberry, passion fruit,…
Pistol (Carnegie Deli); LEO (Stage Deli)
Carnegie Deli, 854 Seventh AvenueStage Deli - 834 Seventh Avenue These two famous New York delis each have their own traditions. "Pistol" is the term for "pastrami" at the…
Pistolette or Pistolet (French roll for Cajun sandwich)
A "pistolette" (the more frequent form, also spelled "pistolet") is a French roll, cited in English (in European contexts) since at least the 1850s. "Pistolettes" are…
Pitchforks and Torches (an angry mob or electorate)
Pitchforks and torches have long symbolized an angry mob. The pitchforks-and-torches mob was present in the film Frankenstein (1931) and Mel Brooks' film parody Young Frankenstein (1974).…
Pitmaster (Pit Master)
A "pitmaster" (or "pit master") is the chef of a barbecue pit. The term "barbecue pit master" has been cited in print since at least 1961, but "pitmaster"…
PITS (Philippines + Indonesia + Thailand + Singapore)
The acronym “PIT” (Philippines + Indonesia + Thailand) stands for the economies of these three ASEAN nations and has been cited in print since at least December 2001, when the term was used by…
Pittsburgh Rare
"Pittsburgh rare" (also called a "Pittsburgh steak" or cooked "Pittsburgh-style") is a steak that's charred on the outside, but raw on the inside. In October…
Pittsburgh Salad (with french fries)
"Pittsburgh salad" (also called "steak salad") is a specialty of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but has also been served in other places. The salad usually consists of chopped steak…
Pizza
New York claims "pizza" (from Naples, Italy) for the rest of this country and hemisphere. Here are some early citations. 18 February 1866, New York Times, pg. 6:Recollections of New-York…
Pizza Americana (pizza topped with hot dogs and french fries)
"Pizza Americano" (or "American Pizza") is pizza topped with hot dogs and french fries. The dish is popular in Italy, but it's not known who invented it. Americans do eat…
Pizza Bagel
The pizza meets the bagel. It had to happen here. August 1952, Chain Store Age, pg. 5:Pizza marries bagel--Klein cafeteria has a hit Cross-breeding has now entered the realm of food preparations.…
Pizza Bone
A "pizza bone" is the outer edge of the pizza crust -- usually without any cheese or tomato sauce. The name "pizza bone" has been cited in print since at least 1983. Wiktionary:…
Pizza Connection or Pizza Principle (price of the subway vs. price of a slice of pizza)
The "pizza connection" or "pizza principle" is the New York City rule that the price of a slice of pizza is almost exactly equal to the price of a subway ride. The New York (NY)…
Pizza Face (Pizzaface)
A "pizza face" (or "pizza-face," "pizzaface") is a person with face full of pimples. The allusion is to the cheese on the pizza, which bubbles up on the best pizzeria…