“Cottage fries” are potatoes that sliced and often wedged. The origin of the “cottage” name is not known, but the fries are also called “home fries” and “house fries.”
 
The term “cottage fried potatoes” has been cited in print since at least 1901.
   
 
Wiktionary: cottage fries
Noun
cottage fries pl.
1.a type of basic potato dish made by pan or skillet frying diced, chunked, wedged or sliced potatoes
Synonyms
home fries
 
Wikipedia: Home fries
Home fries, house fries, or cottage fries are a type of basic potato dish made by pan or skillet frying diced, chunked, wedged or sliced potatoes (sometimes unpeeled) that have been par-cooked by boiling, baking, steaming, or microwaving.
 
Google Books
15 September 1901, The Typographical Journal, pg. 91, col. 2:
Main Building—Supper: Hamburger steak; cottage fried potatoes; pickled beets; rhubarb sauce; hot rolls.
 
2 April 1904, Ogden (UT) Standard, “Easter Menu,” pg. 5, col. 3:
Cottage Fried Potatoes.
 
24 June 1908, Kalamazoo (MI) Gazette, “Potato Prices Way Up Out of Sight,” pg. 7:
Those who like the hash brown, the German or French fires, or the cottage fries is up against long odds.
   
Chronicling America
4 September 1909, Los Angeles (CA) Herald, pt. 2, pg. 3, col. 1:
Breakfast—Sliced peaches, omelette bonne femme, cottage fried potatoes, hot biscuits with honey, coffee.
 
Google Books
Manual for Army Cooks, 1910
By United States. War Dept
Washington, DC: GOvernment Printing Office
1910
Pg. 46:
Cottage fried potatoes.
 
Google Books
May 1918, The Baltimore and Ohio Employes Magazine, pg. 28, col. 1:
Cottage Fried Potatoes — Cold boiled potatoes cut in slices, saute in butter, 15 cents.
   
Google News Archive
14 September 1929, Milwaukee (WI) Sentinel, “Quick Meal for Business Girl,” pg. 10, col. 5:
Broiled hamburger, cottage fried potates, lettuce salad with Russian dressing, toasted crackers, cheese and jelly, tea or coffee.
 
Google News Archive
28 October 1942, Spokane (WA) Spokesman-Review, “Newspaper Ads to Boost Spuds,” pg. 12, col. 6:
Featured is a big baked Iaho Russet and four other ways of preparing the popular tuber, including cottage fries, mashed Idahos, French fries and Idahos “on the half shell.”
 
Google News Archive
16 October 1944, Pittsburgh (PA) Press, pg. 6, col. 6 ad:
Cottage Fries—Cut boiled potatoes in 1/4-inch thick slices. Saute in hot fat until brown. Season with salt and pepper.
(Idaho Russet Potatoes—ed.)
   
Google News Archive
19 January 1945, Pittsburgh (PA) Post-Gazette, “THe Drama Desk” by Harold V. Cohen, pg. ?, col. 1:
For your eating pleasure:...and the fluffy hamburger sandwiches, with cottage fries, at the William Penn.
 
(Trademark)
Word Mark COTTAGE FRIES
Goods and Services (CANCELLED) IC 029. US 046. G & S: Potato Chips. FIRST USE: 19821201. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19821201
Mark Drawing Code (1) TYPED DRAWING
Serial Number 73451193
Filing Date November 4, 1983
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Published for Opposition November 27, 1984
Registration Number 1328765
Registration Date April 2, 1985
Owner (REGISTRANT) Borden, Inc. CORPORATION NEW JERSEY 180 E. Broad St. Columbus OHIO 43215
Assignment Recorded ASSIGNMENT RECORDED
Disclaimer No claim is made to the exclusive right to use “Fries”, apart from the mark as shown.
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Affidavit Text SECT 15. SECT 8 (6-YR).
Live/Dead Indicator DEAD
Cancellation Date January 7, 2006