Coal cracker is from 1853 of persons, 1857 of machinery that breaks up mined coal. How did the slang term cracker come about to mean white people. Back in the 1700s, cracker was a derogatory term used by american whites to describe poor southerners of their own race. How did the slang term cracker come about to mean white. One theory is that it refers to the cracked corn that was a major part of the diet of poor southern whites.
Code switch where does the slur cracker come from, anyway. I asked him what that meant, he said it was the n word for white people. Given the highprofile nature of the derogatory term, you. Another version of the origin of cracker comes from the spanish term cuaquero, which means quaker. Cracker conveys history of bigotry that still resonates cnn. Depending on what region of the united states you hail from, the term redneck is either an insult or a badge of honor. The term is, indeed, a somewhat derogatory term for white people.
Cracker dictionary definition cracker defined yourdictionary. The true origin of the word spic, the racist insult. The origin of hacker april 1, 2008 posted by imran ghory in computer security, etymology. The true origin of the word spic, the racist insult aimed. In some englishspeaking countries, nimrod is used to denote a hunter or warrior, because the biblical nimrod is described as a mighty hunter. Information and translations of derogatory in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. The term, however, has been used since the early 1800s.
Wikipedia also offers a proposed etymology of the term coming from the sound of the whips used by southern whites on their livestock. Dubious sources, such as wikipedia, tell us it is a usually derogatory term for white people. Lets examine miz crackers drag name and whether its a. The opposite is true, it is an often used term of ethnic selfdescription and is a source of pride. What is the origin of the slang word cracker answers. Everytime the media carries a sensationalist story about hackers committing cybercrimes theres always an uproar among geeks about the misappropriation of the word hacker.
Yours is the second letter ive gotten recently on the subject of racial insults. Today the term has since evolved into a derogatory meaning white person. Folk etymology claims the term originated either from their cracking, or pounding, of corn rather than taking it to mill, or from their use of whips to drive cattle. Apr 01, 2008 the origin of hacker april 1, 2008 posted by imran ghory in computer security, etymology. What does the racial term cracker mean and how did the term. All the way back to the age of shakespeare, at least. In american english, however, the term has acquired a derogatory meaning of idiot. The term cracker can certainly be a racist insult since racism is literally defined as prejudice against people of other races or believing a particular race is superior to another. Mississippi governor haley barbour once proudly declared himself classroom. I dont know how it started but i think it started in georgia during the civil war probably had something to do with hard tack, a cracker eaten by civil war white soldiers. Cracker state definition, georgia used as a nickname. Various theories exists regarding this terms application to poor white southerners. Thus, if a black person says calls a white person cracker, it assumes the black speaker has superiority over an inferior white person. The cracker term was soon associated with the descendants of these early settlers, especially the cowboys and farmers of georgia and florida.
Oct 27, 2014 so, the likely etymology of cracker is from the ulster and scots gaelic word creachadoir. Sense of computer cracker, crack, cracking, were promoted in the 1980s as an alternative to hacker, by programmers concerned about negative public associations of hack, hacking creative computer coding. Here in the midwest i know the term as derogatory to white people from african americans. Cracker barrel 1861 barrel full of sodacrackers for sale was such a common feature of old country stores that the phrase came to be used by 1905 as an adjective, emblematic of downhome ways and. For the record, cracker is not considered derogatory among the crackers living in the south today. The meaning of the word has changed a lot over the last four.
Derogatory definition of derogatory by merriamwebster. What does honkey mean in urban dictionary term for caucasian. Where does the term cracker come from, and how disparaging is it. Cracker, sometimes white cracker, is a racial slur used against white people, used especially against poor rural whites in the southern united states. There are several hypotheses as to the origin of the term cracker, and all predate the existence of computers. Georgia used as a nickname meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples. The definition of a redneck is slang and a derogatory term for a poor white person, often who lives in the rural southern united states and who often has conservative or bigoted attitudes. There are several hypotheses as to the origin of the term cracker, and. If you would like to suggest a term or an update to an existing one. Apr 08, 2020 sense of computer cracker, crack, cracking, were promoted in the 1980s as an alternative to hacker, by programmers concerned about negative public associations of hack, hacking creative computer coding.
I was called a cracker by an african american woman, while i was working with my african american friend. However, the term white cracker is not always used selfreferentially and remains a racist term to many in the region. Possibly produced by the wolof word xonk pronounced like honk, however with a guttural. Where does the term cracker come from, and how disparaging. Crackerbarrel 1861 barrel full of sodacrackers for sale was such a common feature of old country stores that the phrase came to be used by 1905 as an adjective, emblematic of downhome ways and views. Another theory is that the term refers to whips that crackers used to drive slaves or cattle. Although originally a classist term, meaning the same as poor white trash, it has evolved through usage to be a derogatory term for someone considered a w. Jul, 2010 crackers is a southern derogatory term for whites. The online etymology dictionary traces the slur cracker poor, white trash either to crack to boast or to corncracker poor white farmer. Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples log in dictionary. One theory holds that it originated with disadvantaged corn and wheat farmers. What does the racial term cracker mean and how did the.
They seem to think it is a derogatory term which undermines the. Meaning instrument for crushing or cracking is from 1630s. Redneck is a derogatory term chiefly but not exclusively applied to white americans perceived to be crass and unsophisticated, closely associated with rural whites of the southern united states. It was the english who had originally bestowed the word cracker as a derogatory term, so the name stuck to the celtic settlers in those earlier, english controlled colonial societies. Jul 01, 20 with a single phrase, rachel jeantel, that friend of trayvon martins, may have lit a fuse in the trial of his accused killer. The epithet cracker has been applied in a derogatory way, like redneck, to rural, nonelite white southerners, more specifically to those of south georgia and north florida.
The true origin of the word spic, the racist insult aimed at hispanics. Derogatory definition and meaning collins english dictionary. A term in southeastern united states english to describe poor white trash, derived from the scottish meaning of the verb to crack, which, in this sense denotes ostentation. Cracker barrel definition is suggestive of the friendly homespun character of a country store. Its usage is similar in meaning to cracker especially regarding texas, georgia, and florida, hillbilly especially regarding appalachia and the ozarks, and white trash but without the last terms. Derogatory definition in the cambridge english dictionary. Since then, its meaning has become more generalized and it is often used by blacks to describe whites. All of our slang term and phrase definitions are made possible by our wonderful visitors. Post the definition of cracker to facebook share the definition of cracker on twitter. Cracker state definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Dec 31, 2019 what does honkey mean in urban dictionary term for caucasian. The definition, example, and related terms listed above have been written and compiled by the slangit team.
Mar 18, 2020 the term, however, has been used since the early 1800s. Despite its popularity, the origin of the term hoosiers has always been the subject of debate, its etymology enriched by several wild and fascinating theories. With a single phrase, rachel jeantel, that friend of trayvon martins, may have lit a fuse in the trial of his accused killer. The early scotsirish settlers were mostly presbyterian, baptist and methodist. A picnic is a tranquil and relaxing event, an excursion or outing in which participants carry food with them and share a meal in the open air, says, which agrees with the other sources about the term s etymology and even shows a helpful map of the countries where the word originated. Cracker means something entirely different in florida. Derogatory comments take many forms, and have an impact on selfconcept and the wellbeing of the recipient. Derogatory definition is expressive of a low opinion. The latter explanation makes sense, because in piney. There are various theories concerning the origin of the term cracker. If you make a derogatory remark or comment about someone or something, you express your. All english words that begin with c related terms of cracker state.
The term cracker was in use during elizabethan times to describe braggarts. A cnn report referenced the regional nature of the term, noting both that some in florida use the term in a non derogatory, colloquial sense and that it is sometimes regarded as a sharp racial insult that resonates with white southerners even if white northerners dont get it. Cracker state definition and meaning collins english. Crackerbarrel definition of crackerbarrel by merriamwebster. A picnic is a tranquil and relaxing event, an excursion or outing in which participants carry food with them and share a meal in the open air, says, which agrees with the other sources about the terms etymology and even shows a helpful map of the countries where the word originated. A term that derives from slavery, when white slave owners would crack the whip on africans. The following is a list of ethnic slurs ethnophaulisms that are, or have been, used as insinuations or allegations about members of a given ethnicity, or to refer to them in a derogatory that is, critical or disrespectful, pejorative disapproving or contemptuous, or otherwise insulting manner. Jun 08, 2017 the true origin of the word spic, the racist insult aimed at hispanics. This page explains what the slang term cracker means. Mitiori sensu, in auditors persons who are authorized to conduct an audit, an examination of financial statements, records and liberty of speech the right given by the constitution and the laws to public support in speaking facts slander defamation that is oral or spoken. We are constantly updating our database with new slang terms, acronyms, and abbreviations.
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