Also (corruptly) beltong, bell-tongue. [S. African Dutch, f. bil buttock + tong tongue, ‘because it is mostly cut from the buttock, and in appearance somewhat resembles a smoked neat’s-tongue’ (Changuion).] Strips of lean meat (of antelope, buffalo, etc.) dried in the sun.
1815. A. Plumtre, Lichtenstein’s Trav., II. 77. He lived almost entirely upon dried mutton and biltong.
1863. W. C. Baldwin, Afr. Hunting, 111. I … converted the most of them into bell-tongue.
1879. Atcherley, Trip Boërland, 149. Cut up into strips, and hung to dry on the tree for biltong.
