Spatchcock is a new word to me, but it’s been around for a long time. Research indicates it originated in Ireland in the 18 th century and is a variation on the phrase “dispatching a cock.” The cock is a bird. In culinary terms, spatchcock simply means to split a bird open and lay it flat for cooking. It’s supposed to make it cook quick and even. Have you ever tried to split a turkey in half ? It ain’t easy. I watched my wife and a 350-pound man wrestle with a turkey until they finally succeeded in removing the ...