hopping John [hop-in, -ing] WORD ORIGIN noun (sometimes lowercase) Southern U.S. a dish of black-eyed peas, rice, bacon or ham, and red pepper or other seasoning: traditionally served on New Year’s Day because of the superstition that black-eyed peas bring good luck for the New Year. Liberaldictionary.com
Origin of hopping John An Americanism dating back to 1830–40 Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019