People’s Republic of Austin (Austin nickname)
Austin is more liberal than the rest of Texas. Austin isn't Communist China, but it's nevertheless acquired the infrequent nickname of "The People's Republic of Austin."…
Perrymander or Perrymandering (Governor Rick Perry + gerrymander/gerrymandering)
The term "gerrymander" or "gerrymandering" (after Massachusetts governor Elbridge Gerry and the salamander) means to reshape the electoral district lines in such a way that it…
Pet Cat (underrated football player)
NFL football coach Bill Parcells was fond of cats. Parcells would pick out an under-appreciated football player and call him his "pet cat." Parcells was coach of the Dallas Cowboys from…
Petro Metro (Houston nickname)
The city of Houston has large business interests in the petrochemical industry. 'Petro Metro" (or "Petro-Metro") is an untrademarked and infrequently used Houston nickname.…
Petroplex (Midland/Odessa nickname)
"Petroplex" is an imitation of "Metroplex" (Dallas/Fort Worth, trademarked from January 1972). The west Texas cities of Midland and Odessa -- where petroleum is the most…
Pflugervillian (inhabitant of Pflugerville)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Pflugerville, TexasPflugerville ( /ˈfluːɡərvɪl/) is a city in Travis and Williamson counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 16,335 at the…
Picadillo
Picadillo usually (recipes vary widely) consists of meat with pimentos, olives, and raisins, served over rice. The Spanish recipe has found its way from Cuba and Mexico to the Southwestern U.S.…
Pico de gallo
"Pico de gallo" is a Mexican food, but probably more Cal-Mex than Tex-Mex. I pointed this dish out to the OED and supplied the 1962 citation below. Wikipedia: Pico de galloIn Mexican…
Piedras (Mexican pastry “rocks” or “stones”)
"Piedras" (meaning "rocks" or "stones") are served at Mi Tierra Restaurant & Bakery in San Antonio, described as "a raisin pecan cookie with sweet pink…
Pilgrim
"Pilgrim" was a term used from at least the 1860s to refer to a new person to the West -- a "greenhorn" or "tenderfoot." It's said that the "pilgrim"…
Piloncillo (Mexican Brown Sugar)
Piloncillo is unrefined brown sugar from Mexico that comes in a small conical shape. Piloncillo is served in drinks such as Cafe de Olla and champurrado., and the sugar can also be used in moles…
Pine Curtain
East Texas is home to the Piney Woods. For some people, the wooded area is the "pine curtain" -- another "-curtain" expression borrowed from Winston Churchill's famous…
Pinky Friedman (pink cocktail named after Kinky Friedman)
The "Pinky Friedman" cocktail was first created in 2005 and named after Texas author and then-gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman. The pink drink contains Paula's Texas Orange…
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…
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…
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"…
Pizzadilla (pizza + quesadilla)
A "pizzadilla" (pizza + quesadilla) usually has circular bread covered with toppings (like pizza), but also had a layer of bread on top. Recipes vary; one website says the cut pizzadilla…
Plano Princess
Plano is a suburb of Dallas, rated by Forbes one of the "Top Suburbs To Live Well." Many Plano husbands have high-paying tech jobs and the Plano housewives -- who are perhaps too spoiled…
Planoite (inhabitant of Plano)
"Planoite” is the name of an inhabitant of Plano, Texas. The name “Planoite” has been cited in print since at least 1895. Wikipedia: Plano, TexasPlano ( /ˈpleɪnoʊ/) is a city in the…
Playground of the Southwest (Galveston nickname)
Galveston has been called the "Playground of the Southwest" since at least 1911, A 1918 newspaper explained the nickname: "An excellent beach, fishing, hunting, motoring and boating…