The original root of this is the middle english word crack1 meaning entertaining conversation one may be said to crack a joke. Cracker is a derogatory and racist word used to refer to white people. The original root of this is the middle english word crack meaning entertaining conversation one may be said to crack a joke. I chose it because i really wanted to include the word bounty in it. Cracker conveys history of bigotry that still resonates cnn. Its a cracker of a book and you should read it if you havent already. Back in the 1700s, cracker was a derogatory term used by american whites to describe poor southerners of their own race. Standard cocaine comes in the form of a white powder, though its color and texture can be altered by certain additives.
Where does the term cracker come from, and how disparaging. This sense of the word crack is found in irish english, scottish english, and geordie as well as mackem in north east england. Today the term has since evolved into a derogatory meaning white person. 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. Weve arranged the synonyms in length order so that they are easier to find. What does the racial term cracker mean and how did the. Lately, over the past fifty years or so, native floridians and georgians have used it in a jocular and defensive way to admit to an i.
Derogatory definition is expressive of a low opinion. It is a derogatory term used to refer to white people, sort of like the white version of the n word. In reference to a native of florida or georgia, however, it is sometimes used in a neutral or positive context. A lot of this kind of confusion and misinformation abounds, leading white and nonblack people to use some of the more offensive terms in the black lexicon. I believe it is derived from plantation owners who cracked the whip to keep slaves in line. This page explains what the slang term cracker means. Since then, its meaning has become more generalized and it is often used by blacks to describe whites, especially racist whites. The slang word phrase acronym crack the case means. Derogatory definition of derogatory by the free dictionary. We are constantly updating our database with new slang terms, acronyms, and abbreviations. These nicknames are often based on the appearance of the drug. 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.
For the past few years ive been using bounty cracker as my username. How did the slang term cracker come about to mean white. Derogatory crossword answers, clues, definition, synonyms. Its a racial slur nowadays because word meanings and usages change and evolve over time. Crack is a slang word that refers to crack cocaine a drug that is derived from cocaine and is illegal, has a high potential for addiction and dependence, and poses high risks of severe consequences. Newest pejorativelanguage questions english language.
Derogatory definition of derogatory by merriamwebster. I have just learned about the slang meaning of the word cracker and am now considering changing my gaming username. 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. At one point, krasny mentions the word cracker to cassidy. He made some derogatory comment remark about her appearance. 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 have just learned about the slang meaning of the word. Cracker is always disparaging and offensive when used to refer to a poor white person in the south. The latter derivation is essentially the same as your grandmothers, except that the staple food of poor farmers was cracked corn, not crackers. Oh, i have a cracker of a photo of the two of us after a massive goodbye cry, when i left australia 10 years ago. Aug 17, 2011 cracker is a slang word for a white person. This slang page is designed to explain what the meaning of cracker is. Trayvon martins use of the term cracker doesnt make him a racist. 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. Is cracker the common slang word for the irish answers. That is, cracker has never been uttered from a place of power and privilege matching that of white americans. However, the word still retains the flavor of southern poverty. Crack or craic is fun, enjoyment, abandonment, or lighthearted mischief. A thin crisp wafer or biscuit, usually made of unsweetened dough. With a single phrase, rachel jeantel, that friend of trayvon martins, may have lit a fuse in the trial of his accused killer.
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. People can usually get away with using it in our reverseracist world. This entry was posted in an ghaeilge, drossary and tagged cracker, craic, daniel cassidy, dwelly, how the irish invented slang, mcwhiney, michael krasny, origin of word cracker, scots, scottish gaelic, shakespeare on december, 2017 by debunkerofcassidy. If youve got any comments or suggestions, though, wed very much like to hear them.
We hope that the following list of synonyms for the word derogatory will help you to finish your crossword today. An huge collection of all those strange english words and phrases combined in a dictionary of slang and. Code switch where does the slur cracker come from, anyway. Jul 01, 20 but it turns out crackers roots go back even further than the 17th century. This slang page is designed to explain what the meaning of crack the case is. Somehow, black people, nor every other race on the face of the fucking earth, have ever treated people badly. Various theories exists regarding this term s application to poor white southerners.
Cracker means something entirely different in florida. In order to better understand what crack is and how it is different from cocaine, it is necessary to know what each substance is and how they are. Derogatory definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Gammon a derogatory term for white people, especially older white men based on the appearance of their faces. 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. Short form of paparazzi, to invoke the whole invasionofprivacy angle, but with the spelling changed by analogy with the british insult rotter. Learn the words you need to communicate with confidence. A cracker is a thin, crisp biscuit which is often eaten with cheese.
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. For those needing a refresher course, here are just a few reasons why cracker doesnt compare to the n word. A list of slang words and phrases, idioms, jargon, acronyms, and abbreviations. Derogatory meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. Submitted by waltergr via thejargonfile on aug 14 2009. Jul, 2010 yet another theory is that the term derives from an elizabethan word used to describe braggarts. 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. This idiom has its origins in slavery white people were called crackers because of the sound of a slaveowners whip. The meaning of the word has changed a lot over the last four.
Derogatory term for whites, particularly from the american south. She was upset by derogatory comments made about her clothes. Improve your vocabulary with english vocabulary in use from cambridge. The opposite is true, it is an often used term of ethnic selfdescription and is a source of pride. Crack, on the other hand, is made into white chunks that look like small rocks. Plus, rotsy just sounds like it would be a bad thing, while still feeling like a whole new word with no immediately obvious meaning or etymology. If you would like to suggest a term or an update to an existing one. Some cracker group broke into our wordpress installation and defaced it. Among these latter, the act of eating, which hath by several wise men been considered as extremely mean and derogatory from the philosophic dignity, must be in some measure performed by the greatest prince, heroe, or philosopher upon earth. Crack slang synonyms, crack slang pronunciation, crack slang translation, english dictionary definition of crack slang. Cracker, sometimes white cracker or cracka, is a sometimes pejorative expression for white people, especially poor rural whites in the southern united states. Because slang is casual language, some of these might not be appropriate for younger learners. English only forum a derogatory word for popularizer.
Cracker, sometimes white cracker or cracka, is a racial epithet for white people, used especially for poor rural whites in the southern united states. 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. Now it is used as a derogatory term for white people much like. Cracker definition of cracker by the free dictionary. Pejorative language is any language that portrays someone or something in a negative light, no matter whether it is intended to be disparaging and derogatory, contemptuous or disapproving, belittling or offensive, or even abusive. Often the media incorrectly substitute the word hacker for cracker a behavior that irritates many in the computer underground. Cracker definition and meaning collins english dictionary. We see no point in informing the world that fridge is australian slang for a refrigerator. It implies a person who lives in the utmost worst conditions and a person who no one really cares about. Meaning instrument for crushing or cracking is from 1630s.
When used by black people, cracker can refer to a southern white racist, not necessarily poor or rural. There have been white people whove taken issue with the black slang word salty meaning angry, pissed off for being derogatory against mentally ill people, which is blatantly untrue. 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. Indeed, since the dawn of time, us irish have managed to invent our very own slang words and phrases to unleash on all unfamiliar with the lingo. Difference between hacker and cracker is that the term hacker, although originally a complimentary word for a computer enthusiast, now has a derogatory meaning and refers to someone who accesses a computer or network illegally. Cracker is no where near as hateful or derogatory as the nword. It wasnt easy but weve tried to include uniquely australian slang here and to exclude british and american slang even though these are commonly used in australia. In ireland the spelling craic is now more common than crack. Today, cracker is often used as a derogatory term for a white person for obvious reasons. Im pretty sure the original meaning of the term crackeras a derogatory remark referred to the white man cracking a whip at his slaves.
Definition of crack the case the online slang dictionary. 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. Coalcracker is from 1853 of persons, 1857 of machinery that breaks up mined coal. Derogatory definition, tending to lessen the merit or reputation of a person or thing. Synonyms for cracker at with free online thesaurus, antonyms, and definitions. For the record, cracker is not considered derogatory among the crackers living in the south today. But it never really took, so she shortened it to just miz cracker. The online etymology dictionary traces the slur cracker poor, white trash either to crack to boast or to corncracker poor white farmer. All the way back to the age of shakespeare, at least. Mostly it was used in the 1950s through the 1980s, but there are probably some people who still use it today. Jun 01, 2015 the escapist portal the escapist forums. Cracker is a contemptuous term for a poor rural white person, especially in georgia or florida.
Crackerjack definition, a person or thing that shows marked ability or excellence. 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 white person. What is the origin of the slang word cracker answers. And so, dear reader, here be but a microcosm of americas nineteenthcentury colloquialisms and slang, some from the upper class, some from the lower, and much from the strata in between. Synonyms, crossword answers and other related words for derogatory. What does the racial term cracker mean and how did the term. The definition, example, and related terms listed above have been written and compiled by the slangit team. It turned out, in fact, to be a cracker of a show to cheer up the punters on a showery and cold earlymarch night.
Here, we highlight the most commonly heard irish idioms and words, their meanings, and examples of how they are used in everyday speech. The term has been regarded as offensive for most of its long life on earth, both in europe and the united states. Those who could afford such a luxury were labeled crackers. Cracker, sometimes white cracker, is a racial slur used against white people, used especially against poor rural whites in the southern united states. It is commonly used, often by africanamericans, and not as offensive as most racial slang. Various theories exists regarding this terms application to poor white southerners.
1119 1044 418 1515 483 1396 794 885 795 215 20 1423 1076 290 312 1165 1268 902 871 697 425 1008 1440 1167 182 562 1039 277 687 477 430 716