The term that comes before "puppies" for a deep-fried snack food is "hush." "Hush Puppies" is a traditional Southern American food that consists of deep-fried balls of cornmeal-based batter mixed with other ingredients such as onion, garlic, and spices. The origin of the name is not certain, but one theory suggests that it comes from the practice of throwing the fried balls to barking dogs in order to silence them ("hush" them). Today, hush puppies are a popular side dish or snack food, often served with seafood or barbecue.