Jan 24, 2011 when oglethorpe founded the colony of georgia, alcohol was prohibited. Cracker definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Cracker means something entirely different in florida. Cracker is an elongation of crack, an adjective meaning expert or superior that dates from the 18th century. Jul, 2010 cracker, sometimes white cracker, is a usually disparaging term for poor whites, mainly used in the southern united states, but in recent decades in usage throughout north america. Crackers meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. The meaning of the word has changed a lot over the last four. Definition of the slang term cracka with an example. 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.
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. A cracker is a thin, crisp biscuit which is often eaten with cheese. Jul 01, 20 but it turns out crackers roots go back even further than the 17th century. Crackerjack definition of crackerjack by merriamwebster. If you would like to suggest a term or an update to an existing one. Another version of the origin of cracker comes from the spanish term cuaquero, which means quaker. Crackerbarrel 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. The original root of this is the middle english word crack1 meaning entertaining conversation one may be said to crack a joke. Information and translations of cracker in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. 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. Definition of bitch eating crackers the online slang dictionary. This slang page is designed to explain what the meaning of bitch eating crackers is. The term is generally considered archaic by some and inadvertently derogatory, especially in the africanamerican community. Theres a guy on our corner who shouts about the end of the world.
All the way back to the age of shakespeare, at least. From 1880 to 2018 less than 5 people per year have been born with the first name cracker. I know it goes back to before 1600 which would put its or. Coalcracker is from 1853 of persons, 1857 of machinery that breaks up mined coal. The term is widely used in latin america and caribbean usually without suggesting any insult. Cracker, sometimes white cracker or cracka, is a racial epithet for white people, used especially for poor rural whites in the southern united states. The online etymology dictionary traces the slur cracker poor, white trash either to crack to boast or to corncracker poor white farmer. Crackerjack definition is a person or thing of marked excellence. Cracker definition in the cambridge english dictionary. One theory holds that the term comes from the common diet of poor whites. Cassidy says that it comes from similar irish or scottish gaelic words meaning boaster or jester.
Yankee and yank first applied by the dutch colonists of new amsterdam to connecticuters and other residents of new england, possibly from dutch janke johnny or from jan kees john cheese. How did the slang term cracker come about to mean white. When oglethorpe founded the colony of georgia, alcohol was prohibited. Where does the term cracker come from, and how disparaging is it. What is the meaning of the slang term ballin answers. But it turns out cracker s roots go back even further than the 17th century. Cracker barrel definition, of or suggesting the simple rustic informality and directness thought to be characteristic of life in and around a country store. In fact, the wikipedia entry for cracker pejorative even notes the. Individual nationalities andor ethnicities americans merkin internet slang for inhabitant of the united states of america. Cracker definition of cracker by medical dictionary. What does the racial term cracker mean and how did the term. 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. 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.
When was the first name cracker first recorded in the united states. A list of slang words and phrases, idioms, jargon, acronyms, and abbreviations. But it turns out crackers roots go back even further than the 17th century. Describing a person as a cracker means you think they are fantastic. Meaning instrument for crushing or cracking is from 1630s. He also explained that although the term is derogatory in much of the country, in florida, its a source of pride. Its also anything that cracks, like a firecracker or a computer code cracker, or of course, that thin. This term and the gaelic spelling craic are still in use in ireland and scotland. How did the slang term cracker come about to mean white people. The term its a cracker came about during the 70s from a tv program called the comedians one them whos. Today were diving deep with some of the most lit terms from 2017. 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. One theory is that it refers to the cracked corn that was a major part of the diet of poor southern whites.
The cracker term was soon associated with the descendants of these early settlers, especially the cowboys and farmers of georgia and florida. The latter derivation is essentially the same as your grandmothers, except that the staple food of poor farmers was cracked corn, not crackers. Apr 30, 2019 this slang page is designed to explain what the meaning of bitch eating crackers is. Sep 06, 2019 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. Origin americas mulatto is a term used to refer to a person who is born from one white parent. Another theory is that the term refers to whips that crackers used to drive slaves or cattle. 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. Cracker comes from the gaelic word craic which means a good conversation and is still in use in ireland today. What does the racial term cracker mean and how did the. Cracker slang definition of cracker slang by medical. Do white people actually find the term cracker offensive. 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. All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only.
Moonshining, the illegal distilling of corn liquor, became rampant. Cracker conveys history of bigotry that still resonates. We are constantly updating our database with new slang terms, acronyms, and abbreviations. I should explain to your lordship what is meant by crackers. The amount of misinformation contained in some of these answers is amazing. It is sometimes used in a neutral context in reference to a native of florida, georgia or texas see florida cracker, georgia cracker or texas cracker. 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. The oldest recorded birth by the social security administration for the name cracker is monday, march 26th, 1906. Cracker conveys history of bigotry that still resonates cnn. The word seems to be derived from the middle english cnac, or crak, which originally meant. What is the origin of the slang word cracker answers. Subscribe to our free daily email and get a new idiom video every day. Prior to that, crack was a noun meaning something superior and a verb meaning to boast.
This page explains what the slang term cracker means. This page may contain content that is offensive or inappropriate for some readers. The slang word phrase acronym bitch eating crackers means. Uncontracted, yankee remains in use in the american south in reference to. 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. With a single phrase, rachel jeantel, that friend of trayvon martins, may have lit a fuse in the trial of his accused killer. The definition, example, and related terms listed above have been written and compiled by the slangit team. Cracker slang definition of cracker slang by medical dictionary. Crackers definition of crackers by the free dictionary. Definition of bitch eating crackers the online slang. Synonyms for cracker at with free online thesaurus, antonyms, and definitions. The process of cracking corn was essential to the process of distilling scottish whiskey and later, whiskey in the appalachians.
The original root of this is the middle english word crack meaning entertaining conversation one may be said to crack a joke. There are various theories concerning the origin of the term cracker. The early scotsirish settlers were mostly presbyterian, baptist and methodist. Cracker, sometimes white cracker, is a usually disparaging term for poor whites, mainly used in the southern united states, but in recent decades in usage throughout north america. Where does the term cracker come from, and how disparaging.
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