Cracker means something entirely different in florida. If this were in fact, true, then the term would come directly from the cracking of the slavemasters whip. Cracker definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Cracker is a slang term, originally referring to the poor whites of certain southern states, and now used as a disparaging term for a white man.
It is ulster gaelic and scots gaelic creachadair word meaning, raider and freebooter, but also associated with the free range cattle drovers in ulster. The original root of this is the middle english word crack1 meaning entertaining conversation one may be said to crack a joke. The word cracker has a primary meaning, in addition to its slang meaning. Cracker comes from the gaelic word craic which means a good conversation and is still in use in ireland today. The cracker term was soon associated with the descendants of these early settlers, especially the cowboys and farmers of georgia and florida. Today, cracker is often used as a derogatory term for a white person for obvious reasons. Cracker barrel definition, of or suggesting the simple rustic informality and directness thought to be characteristic of life in and around a country store. The term cracker was in use during elizabethan times to describe braggarts. Coalcracker is from 1853 of persons, 1857 of machinery that breaks up mined coal.
This page explains what the slang term honky means. It is a slang term for the word money it is a slang term for the word money it is a slang term for. These stories are not about the nword and cracker the atlantic. What is the origin of the term cracker as it refers to. Where does the term cracker come from, and how disparaging is it. Trayvon martins friend said he described george zimmerman as a creepyass cracker. Its a racial slur nowadays because word meanings and usages change and evolve over time. And that this trickled down into american slang to be used by blacks against whites but it not in any way a reference to the race of the people its used against.
Another version of the origin of cracker comes from the spanish term cuaquero, which means quaker. Shakespeares king john 1595 includes the statement. This is the word i believe is the actual origin of cracker. Crackerjack definition of crackerjack by merriamwebster. By 1760 the english, both in colonial america and in great britain were using the word cracker to describe the scotirish settlers in the backcountry of the southern american colonies. It implies a person who lives in the utmost worst conditions and a person who no one really cares about. A whole mess of white people like to get worked up about the word cracker, some in the mistaken belief that this will somehow result in permission to. At one point, krasny mentions the word cracker to cassidy. A term that derives from slavery, when white slave owners would crack the whip on africans. Cracker term cracker, sometimes white cracker or cracka, is a term for white people, used especially for poor rural whites in the southern united states. Crackerbarrel definition, of or suggesting the simple rustic informality and directness thought to be characteristic of life in and around a country store. Ramsey claims that the word cracker originated from the british slang for cracked head, as in that bloke is crackers and was used to insult the poor and working class.
Cracker is an elongation of crack, an adjective meaning expert or superior that dates from the 18th century. This page explains what the slang term cracker means. A cracker is a thin, crisp biscuit which is often eaten with cheese. The us term crackerjack has had a complicated history. Coal cracker is from 1853 of persons, 1857 of machinery that breaks up mined coal. Adjectival meaning topnotch, superior, excellent, first rate as in a crack shot is slang from 1793, perhaps from earlier verbal sense of do any thing with quickness or smartness johnson, or from the verb in the sense of speak boastingly and suggesting having qualities to be proud of century dictionary. 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. Crack slang synonyms, crack slang pronunciation, crack slang translation, english dictionary definition of crack slang. In short, i think cracker is the anglicised form of creachadoir. The term cracker is used as a neutral nickname by inhabitants of georgia and florida. But when the nickname is used by outsiders, it is usually with disparaging intent and perceived as insulting by georgians and floridians. Post the definition of cracker to facebook share the definition of cracker on twitter. Another theory is that the term refers to whips that crackers used to drive slaves or cattle.
Cracker conveys history of bigotry that still resonates cnn. The primary meaning for cracker is a thincrisp wafer, whether circular or square. The definition, example, and related terms listed above have been written and compiled by the slangit team. Apr 01, 2008 the origin of hacker april 1, 2008 posted by imran ghory in computer security, etymology. One theory is that it refers to the cracked corn that was a major part of the diet of poor southern whites. Although there are several theories about its origin, the origin of. Apr 24, 2011 the word cracker has a primary meaning, in addition to its slang meaning. Everytime the media carries a sensationalist story about hackers committing cybercrimes theres always an uproar among geeks about the misappropriation of the word hacker. The meaning behind the word is still offensive in the united states.
The original root of this is the middle english word crack meaning entertaining. 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. In the interview, cassidy laughs smugly and says that he is certain that the word cracker is derived from irish. What is the origin of the slang word cracker answers. The other term you asked about is a derogatory term used to bullying a race, is inappropriate language.
With a single phrase, rachel jeantel, that friend of trayvon martins, may have lit a fuse in the trial of his accused killer. Meaning instrument for crushing or cracking is from 1630s. Cracker dictionary definition cracker defined yourdictionary. Word origin jack was originally used to describe a squaredaway us sailor, related to the early meaning of the term crack which you described in a recent article, and with jack tar for a sailor. Do white people actually find the term cracker offensive. There are various theories about the origin of the term cracker. Dec 31, 2006 however, the term white cracker is not always used selfreferentially and remains a racist term to many in the region. Cnn had a remarkable discussion panel this weekend, thanks to the presence of george zimmerman and paula deen in the news, in which. There are various theories concerning the origin of the term cracker. The early scotsirish settlers were mostly presbyterian, baptist and methodist. How did the slang term cracker come about to mean white people. It is a slang term for the word money it is a slang term for the word money it is a slang term for the word money is a slang term for the word. 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.
A whole mess of white people like to get worked up about the word cracker, some in the mistaken belief that this will somehow result in permission to use the nword. This term and the gaelic spelling craic are still in use in ireland and scotland. Jul 23, 2010 what is the origin of the slang word cracker. Patrons of such disreputable establishments were referred to as honkies, not intended as a racial slur but still a disparaging term. May 25, 2019 the amount of misinformation contained in some of these answers is amazing. The original root of this is the middle english word crack meaning entertaining conversation one may be said to crack a joke.
I know it goes back to before 1600 which would put its or. 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. Where does the term cracker come from, and how disparaging. The first is that a cracker was a slang term used by 19th century georgian slaves to refer to the slavemasters. The true origin of the word spic, the racist insult aimed at hispanics. In the upper midwest region of the united states, the term is used for several italianinspired food. Where did the term come from though, and is it actually as offensive as other racial s. The true origin of the word spic, the racist insult.
The amount of misinformation contained in some of these answers is amazing. Cracker, sometimes white cracker or cracka, is a racial slur used against white people, used especially against poor rural whites in the southern united states. If you know of another definition of cracker that should be included here, please let us know. It has been taken as an offensive and derogatory term to people of caucasian or european descent and is largely considered a slur in modern usage.
Clarence major, in his dictionary of afroamerican slang, lists two rather interesting ideas about the origin of the term. I recently bestowed my december twit of the month award on michael krasny for an appalling radio interview with the late daniel cassidy. Information and translations of cracker in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. Aug 15, 20 the word cracker is commonly understood as a racist slur for whites. Code switch where does the slur cracker come from, anyway. How did the slang term cracker come about to mean white. It has become less pejorative among certain groups reclaiming the term in recent years, with people of italian, spanish, or portuguese origin themselves adopting the term. Then it was appropriated for a brand of caramel corn. All of our slang term and phrase definitions are made possible by our wonderful visitors. I was of the impression that cracker jack was originally used to describe a squaredaway us sailor, related to the early meaning of the term crack which you described in a recent article, and with jack tar for a sailor. It is sometimes used in a neutral context in reference to a native of florida or georgia see florida cracker and georgia cracker. Crackerjack definition is a person or thing of marked excellence. We are constantly updating our database with new slang terms, acronyms, and abbreviations. Various theories exists regarding this terms application to poor white southerners.
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