What have I gotten myself into?...
In South America and Britain the term refers to beef that has been cured, boiled, heavily pressed and put into cans. The name, however, comes from an Irish American joint that is known in Australia as corned beef - brisket or silverside cured in brine. The early Irish settlers preserved joints of beef by coating them with grains (or corns) or salt, a process known as corning.
from the Internet!
Jim