Hominy

First recorded in 1629. From Powhatan ("Virginia Algonquian"). Probably from uskatahomen,

"hominy", the Oxford Dictionary of English edited by Angus Stevenson (Oxford University Press, 2010)
Oxford Reference Online, via the State Library of Tasmania, accessed 5 June 2012: http://www.oxfordreference.com.ezproxy.education.tas.gov.au/views/ENTRY.html?subview=Main&entry=t140.e0384210

or from appuminnÃ©onash ("parched corn").

"hominy", An A-Z of Food and Drink edited by John Ayto (Oxford university Press, 2002)
Oxford Reference Online, via the State Library of Tasmania, accessed 5 June 2012: http://www.oxfordreference.com.ezproxy.education.tas.gov.au/views/ENTRY.html?subview=Main&entry=t134.e615

Etymonline

Alternatively, perhaps a short form of rockahominy, from Powhatan rokohamin ("parched, ground corn").

listed in William Strachey's vocabulary of Powhatan

Full definition of hominy

(usually uncountable; plural hominies)

A food made from hulled corn (maize) kernels soaked in lye water, rinsed, then cooked and eaten; or, the rinsed kernels are dried and coarsely ground into hominy grits.