Culinary Query

This past Friday night I had a wonderful dish of tender, seductive Ham Hock with Black-Eyed Pea Succotash and Sauteed Spinach at Voyage in the West Village. And, as food inevitably does, it got me to thinking.

Does anybody ever eat a hock that isn't a ham hock?

I certainly haven't. Don't know anyone else who has either.

Why then can't we just call it a hock?

My Southern dining companions were stumped by the question. Our waiter, although knowledgeable on a series of victual and drink-related issues, was also at a loss.

In my quest for butchery answers, I searched under the term "hock" on MeatHenge, the online end-all and be-all of animal protein. Even on Meathenge, I couldn't find a "hock" without "ham" in front.

And, so I put it to you: Can you hock without the ham?

P.S. Yes, I do realize that this my third oink-themed posting in a row. Promise that this concludes my swine trifecta.