Christmas crackers can range in price from pennies to pounds. 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. Cracker barrel definition, of or suggesting the simple rustic informality and directness thought to be characteristic of life in and around a country store. Separate sections for terms for sex acts and for gym terms. And of course, slang can quickly become really uncool. Crackers definition of crackers by the free dictionary. The amount of misinformation contained in some of these answers is amazing. What does the racial term cracker mean and how did the. Today, cracker is often used as a derogatory term for a white person for obvious reasons. Code switch where does the slur cracker come from, anyway. Does it target all whites or just a subsection of whites. 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.
Anna is a communication expert and a life enthusiast. Great for parents, teachers, law enforcement, and teenagers. Cracker conveys history of bigotry that still resonates cnn. Crackerjack definition of crackerjack by merriamwebster. These are some of the most common and not so common southern slang terms heard in arkansas and throughout the south. What does the racial term cracker mean and how did the term come to be. 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. Definition of cracker jack the online slang dictionary. If you know of another definition of cracker that should be included here, please let us know. What are some slang terms used in the outsiders answers. A cracker is a thin, crisp biscuit which is often eaten with cheese.
The definition, example, and related terms listed above have been written and compiled by the slangit team. 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 views. Dec 08, 2017 20 slang terms from the 1960s no one uses anymore. The early scotsirish settlers were mostly presbyterian, baptist and methodist. Cracker article about cracker by the free dictionary.
They would put a short length of twisted twine or string attached to the end of a whip to produce a cracking sound. Where does the pejorative meaning of shower come from. Heres our list of our top 100 favorite british slang words and phrases. Cracker can also be used as an offensive term for a white person, particularly one who.
Cracker means something entirely different in florida. Another version of the origin of cracker comes from the spanish term cuaquero, which means quaker. I recently bestowed my december twit of the month award on michael krasny for an appalling radio interview with the late daniel cassidy. The southern slang dictionary will help you avoid confusion if you are planning to visit the south. The bbs culture has, as its seamy underside, a stratum of pirate boards inhabited by crackers, phone phreaks, and warez d00dz. Dubious sources, such as wikipedia, tell us it is a usually derogatory term for white people. How did it come to be or where did it orginate from. While the word cracker is still rarely used to mean scotchirish, it now usually means a native of florida or georgia.
One theory is that it refers to the cracked corn that was a major part of the diet of poor southern whites. Mar 30, 2007 clarence major, in his dictionary of afroamerican slang, lists two rather interesting ideas about the origin of the term. Mar 26, 2018 its a racial slur nowadays because word meanings and usages change and evolve over time. The term is derived from the famous saltine brand of crackers, which are square shaped. Fortnight a british slang term more commonly used by virtually everyone in the uk to mean a group of two weeks. We are constantly updating our database with new slang terms, acronyms, and abbreviations. This page explains what the slang term cracker means. A stereotypical term used for white people, as their described as being caucasian people omg, look at that guy at starbucks s, hes such a white cracker by oof man march 10, 2018. By continuing to use this site you consent to the use of cookies on your device as described in our cookie policy unless you have disabled them. Crack slang synonyms, crack slang pronunciation, crack slang translation, english dictionary definition of crack slang.
The online etymology dictionary traces the slur cracker poor, white trash either to crack to boast or to corncracker poor white farmer. The term cracker was also given to the farm hands that would work on the plantations as slave drivers. 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. But when the nickname is used by outsiders, it is usually with disparaging intent and perceived as insulting by georgians and floridians. The term its a cracker came about during the 70s from a tv program called the. The letterkenny and letterkenny problems dialogue makes extensive use of slang, including many words and phrases from ice hockey or general canadian or rural usage. The cracker term was soon associated with the descendants of these early settlers, especially the cowboys and farmers of georgia and florida. He is a real cracker jack when it comes to getting people to bid. Crackerjack definition of crackerjack by the free dictionary. 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. The process of cracking corn was essential to the process of distilling scottish whiskey and later, whiskey in the appalachians. However, in florida, the word cracker is anything but.
This list focuses on terms used by multiple characters or on multiple occasions. People often use the word cracker as a derogatory word. Trucker slang and cb radio lingo dictionary talk like a. 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. Where does the term cracker come from, and how disparaging is it. American slang c common commonly used american slang expressions starting with c. 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. An indianism is an english word or phrase used in india that is not common in other englishspeaking countries. Another theory is that the term refers to whips that crackers used to drive slaves or cattle. Synonyms for cracker at with free online thesaurus, antonyms, and definitions. Where did the word cracker for white people come from answers. From the early 1980s onward, a flourishing culture of local, msdosbased bulletin boards developed separately from internet hackerdom. Its a racial slur nowadays because word meanings and usages change and evolve over time.
A full glossary of irish slang terms has just been released. Cracker, sometimes white cracker or cracka, is a racial epithet for white people, used especially for poor rural whites in the southern united states. Some other meanings of this slang term are for babe or. The term cracker is used as a neutral nickname by inhabitants of georgia and florida. Thats because a florida cracker is often self sufficient. 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. Oftentimes, its not so much the word itself thats awesome but the usage of it so. A florida cracker usually has a rural upbringing, either on a farm or in a small town with plenty of woods and water for hunting and fishing and land for planting. 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.
Shes the editor of lifehack and loves to write about love, life, and passion. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. 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. Sometimes a person who was born in the state of florida might say, with pride, they are a florida cracker and sometimes they might just say they are a cracker. Since the huge influx of new residents into georgia from the northern parts of the united states in the late 20th century, georgia cracker has become used informally by some white residents of georgia of scotirish and english stock, to indicate that their family has lived there for many generations.
Cracker definition and meaning collins english dictionary. I have been a writer all these past years and now need to know if there is a new way of describing a cb. Top 100 most beautiful british slang words and phrases. The drug slang translator contains a comprehensive list of drug slang words. Cracker is a slang term, originally referring to the poor whites of certain southern states, and now used as a disparaging term for. Where does the term cracker come from, and how disparaging. 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. When modern civilization collapses, the florida cracker will be hunting, fishing, trapping and growing his own food. Do white people actually find the term cracker offensive. Hot network questions argentina will cancell all flights until sept. Wikipedia also offers a proposed etymology of the term coming from the sound of the whips used by southern whites on their livestock. Safecracker, in slang crossword clue answer crossword.
Cracker comes from the gaelic word craic which means a good conversation and is still in use in ireland today. The definitive glossary of modern us military slang public radio. This video will explain why im proud to be a cracker. What effects would occur if the mongols had invaded subsaharan. Coal cracker is from 1853 of persons, 1857 of machinery that breaks up mined coal. Various theories exists regarding this terms application to poor white southerners. Weve put some to the test to ensure your festive dinner goes with a. The first is that a cracker was a slang term used by 19th century georgian slaves to refer to the slavemasters. These people mostly teenagers running ibmpc clones from their bedrooms have developed their own characteristic jargon, heavily influenced by skateboard lingo and undergroundrock slang. Cracker, sometimes white cracker, is a slur used against white people, used especially against poor rural whites in the southern united states.
The term actually comes from wwi slangand refers to soldiers who were so seriously injured you could fit them in a basket. 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. Among some georgians, the term is used as a proud or jocular selfdescription. The term actually comes from wwi slangand refers to soldiers who were so seriously injured. For a ten year period my cb slang was up to date but with the passage of time i realize it would now be considered 16th century english. At one point, krasny mentions the word cracker to cassidy. Im pretty sure cracker is an anti white racial slur right. It implies a person who lives in the utmost worst conditions and a person who no one really cares about. Harvey rowed back to arrange with the cook and disko, who owned the stores, and on his return the cocoatins and cracker bags were counted out by the frenchmans wheel. A slang term for the new breed of police officers who patrol on bicycles, particularly apt in the winter months, when they have to brave. Coalcracker is from 1853 of persons, 1857 of machinery that breaks up mined coal. American slang c common american slang expressions. Some are hilarious, some are rude and some are interesting.
The term is, indeed, a somewhat derogatory term for white people. I know it goes back to before 1600 which would put its or. Because a cracker uses lowlevel hacker skills to do the cracking, the terms cracker and hacker have become synonymous with the latter becoming the predominant term. Cracker definition in the cambridge english dictionary. British slang is a fountain of beautiful words that we dont normally use in america. The past 12 years at war in iraq and afghanistan have given rise to an expansive and amazing new military vocabulary. After youre done, brush up on some southern manners and learn how to pronounce these commonly mispronounced arkansas names. Dec, 2017 cracker is a slang term, originally referring to the poor whites of certain southern states, and now used as a disparaging term for cassidyslangscam a debunking of daniel cassidys theories about the influence of the irish language on english slang. Oct 20, 2011 the term cracker was also given to the farm hands that would work on the plantations as slave drivers.