Meaning of the slang term cracker

The term cracker was in use during elizabethan times to describe braggarts. Two of the most popular theories are that the term cracker comes from as far back as the early 1800s and carried to the united states by scottish settlers in the south and appalachia. Racial slurs against being white just dont seem to phase anyone. Cassidy says that it comes from similar irish or scottish gaelic words meaning boaster or jester.

Cracker conveys history of bigotry that still resonates. Cracker meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. The definition, example, and related terms listed above have been written and compiled by the slangit team. Is cracker the common slang word for the irish answers. But when the nickname is used by outsiders, it is usually with disparaging intent and perceived as insulting by georgians and floridians. This idiom has its origins in slavery white people were called crackers because of the sound of a slaveowners whip. 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. Describing a person as a cracker means you think they are fantastic. The epithet cracker has been applied in a derogatory way, like redneck, to rural, nonelite white southerners, more specifically to those of south. May 25, 2019 the amount of misinformation contained in some of these answers is amazing. 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. The process of cracking corn was essential to the process of distilling scottish whiskey and later, whiskey in the appalachians. This term and the gaelic spelling craic are still in use in ireland and scotland.

One theory holds that it originated with disadvantaged corn and wheat farmers. Joe cole scored a cracker of a goal, but norwich were certainly not outclassed, except up front. It is sometimes used in a neutral context in reference to a native of florida or georgia. A list of slang words and phrases, idioms, jargon, acronyms, and abbreviations. Another theory is that the term refers to whips that crackers used to drive slaves or cattle. Another version of the origin of cracker comes from the spanish term cuaquero, which means quaker.

The original root of this is the middle english word crack meaning entertaining conversation one may be said to crack a joke. Cracker definition in the cambridge english dictionary. Do white people actually find the term cracker offensive. The slang word phrase acronym bitch eating crackers means. Definition of bitch eating crackers the online slang dictionary. Jul 01, 20 but it turns out crackers roots go back even further than the 17th century. I know it goes back to before 1600 which would put its or. The term cracker is used as a neutral nickname by inhabitants of georgia and florida.

The final was a real cracker with some marvellous pitching from both sides. In other words, the fourth possibility is by far the most likely that this word originates from english or scots cracker derived from crack meaning loud noise, conversation and then was borrowed into irish and scottish gaelic in the 18 th century. Cracker dictionary definition cracker defined yourdictionary. A cracker is not a slave owner or overseer cracking a whip. He also scored a cracker of a goal in the firsthalf. The amount of misinformation contained in some of these answers is amazing. Cracker, sometimes white cracker, is a racial epithet used for white people, used especially against poor rural whites in the southern united states.

Cracker comes from the gaelic word craic which means a good conversation and is still in use in ireland today. This page explains what the slang term cracker means. A cracker is a xmas festive thing resembling a toilet roll covered with tissue and decorations the cracker has a small explosive which goes off when you pull it the cracker usually holds a paper hat,a token and a joke the joke is usually terrible hence the term a cracker of a joke. How did the slang term cracker come about to mean white. Cracker slang definition of cracker slang by medical. Cracker definition of cracker by medical dictionary. Where does the term cracker come from, and how disparaging is it. A thin crisp wafer or biscuit, usually made of unsweetened dough. Today were diving deep with some of the most lit terms from 2017.

He also explained that although the term is derogatory in much of the country, in florida, its a source of pride. Cracker, sometimes white cracker, is a contemptuous term used for white people, used especially against poor rural whites in the southern united states. This page may contain content that is offensive or inappropriate for some readers. Crackerjack definition is a person or thing of marked excellence.

It might also have originated from the word coillte, meaning woods, to signify that. In mtvs explainer web series decoded above, franchesca ramsey explains that cracker is a classist insult invented by a richer white upper class to describe lower class white people. It is sometimes used in a neutral context in reference to a native of florida or georgia see florida cracker and georgia cracker. The meaning of the word has changed a lot over the last four.

Cracker conveys history of bigotry that still resonates cnn. Slang is very informal usage in vocabulary and idiom that is characteristically more metaphorical, playful, elliptical, vivid and ephemeral than ordinary language random house unabridged dictionary learn 600 slang expressions. With a single phrase, rachel jeantel, that friend of trayvon martins, may have lit a fuse in the trial of his accused killer. Its also anything that cracks, like a firecracker or a computer code cracker, or of course, that thin. Cracker definition and meaning collins english dictionary. The term followed them when they immigrated into america and were characterized as generally unruly and illmannered. This page explains what the slang term cracka means. The term appeared in a play referring to scotsirish people.

But it turns out crackers roots go back even further than the 17th century. Coalcracker is from 1853 of persons, 1857 of machinery that breaks up mined coal. The term its a cracker came about during the 70s from a tv program called the comedians one them whos. The online etymology dictionary traces the slur cracker poor, white trash either to crack to boast or to corncracker poor white farmer. Cracker is an elongation of crack, an adjective meaning expert or superior that dates from the 18th century. All the way back to the age of shakespeare, at least. A cool list of common irish slang terms and their meanings. A cracker is a thin, crisp biscuit which is often eaten with cheese. Crack slang synonyms, crack slang pronunciation, crack slang translation, english dictionary definition of crack slang. It is a farmers who raised only cracked products, such as wheat and corn.

The term cracker cracka is used as an ethnic or racial slur for americans of european descent, but more specifically for americans of northwestern european descent, according to the. 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. Slang is very informal usage in vocabulary and idiom that is characteristically more metaphorical, playful, elliptical, vivid and ephemeral than ordinary language random house unabridged dictionary learn 600 slang expressions an idiom is. Cracker means something entirely different in florida. When oglethorpe founded the colony of georgia, alcohol was prohibited. Cracker slang definition of cracker slang by medical dictionary. All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. How did the slang term cracker come about to mean white people. The cracker term was soon associated with the descendants of these early settlers, especially the cowboys and farmers of georgia and florida. Cracker definition of cracker by the free dictionary. Moonshining, the illegal distilling of corn liquor, became rampant. Clair says white american northerners began using cracker as a term for poorer white southerners during the late 1800s. One theory is that it refers to the cracked corn that was a major part of the diet of poor southern whites. Though it has since turned into a racial insult, ramsey says that upper class whites in the 1600s and 1700s used cracker to refer to dumb, lazy lower.

What is the origin of the slang word cracker answers. Its a racial slur nowadays because word meanings and usages change and evolve over time. In olden times, the country people used to enter houses through front doors only for formal meets, and would otherwise enter through the back door. Code switch where does the slur cracker come from, anyway. Computer cracker slang definition of computer cracker slang. There are various theories concerning the origin of the term cracker. The early scotsirish settlers were mostly presbyterian, baptist and methodist. Subscribe to our free daily email and get a new idiom video every day. Theres a guy on our corner who shouts about the end of the world. Crackerjack definition, a person or thing that shows marked ability or excellence.

Crackerjack definition of crackerjack by merriamwebster. The latter derivation is essentially the same as your grandmothers, except that the staple food of poor farmers was cracked corn, not crackers. 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. 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.

Where does the term cracker come from, and how disparaging. Definition of bitch eating crackers the online slang. This slang page is designed to explain what the meaning of bitch eating crackers is. The original root of this is the middle english word crack1 meaning entertaining conversation one may be said to crack a joke. In fact, the wikipedia entry for cracker pejorative even notes the. Titled celtic christmas, this second solo album from tommy is a real cracker. I should explain to your lordship what is meant by crackers. Since the corn kernel had to be cracked in order for fermentation to occur, the term cracker was used to describe those who made corn liquor in georgia. 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. Synonyms for cracker at with free online thesaurus, antonyms, and definitions. The most popular meaning of the slang term cracker is poor or mean whites as in people, even though the term is said to have orginated from the white foremen who in slave days, cracked the whips on the backs of slaves. Apr 30, 2019 this slang page is designed to explain what the meaning of bitch eating crackers is.