Parson’s/Pope’s nose

It is hard to believe that during the 18th century this part of the chicken was considered one of the choicest and hence reserved for the parson should he visit. The expression originated during the 18th century with Protestants soon calling it the Pope’s nose while Catholics would call it the parson’s nose. This smacks of mockery, which is hard to understand if indeed it was regarded a one of the choicest parts of the bird. Perhaps by then it had come to be regarded for what it is, a very fatty and not particularly tasty part of the chicken that Catholics mockingly believed was just right for the parson, while Protestants in the same vein believed it was just right for the Pope.