Since the force of a derogatory label must be maintained through repetition, it can be. Derogatory meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. Cracker is no where near as hateful or derogatory as the nword. 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. I chose it because i really wanted to include the word bounty in it. 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. Its a racial slur nowadays because word meanings and usages change and evolve over time.
Those who could afford such a luxury were labeled crackers. 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. English only forum a derogatory word for popularizer. It is commonly used, often by africanamericans, and not as offensive as most racial slang. Learn the words you need to communicate with confidence. 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. That is, cracker has never been uttered from a place of power and privilege matching that of white americans. 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. Cracker is always disparaging and offensive when used to refer to a poor white person in the south. What is the origin of the slang word cracker answers. The original root of this is the middle english word crack1 meaning entertaining conversation one may be said to crack a joke. Various theories exists regarding this terms application to poor white southerners.
It turned out, in fact, to be a cracker of a show to cheer up the punters on a showery and cold earlymarch night. Crackerjack definition, a person or thing that shows marked ability or excellence. For the record, cracker is not considered derogatory among the crackers living in the south today. Im pretty sure the original meaning of the term crackeras a derogatory remark referred to the white man cracking a whip at his slaves. Various theories exists regarding this term s application to poor white southerners. I have just learned about the slang meaning of the word. Definition of crack the case the online slang dictionary.
Coalcracker is from 1853 of persons, 1857 of machinery that breaks up mined coal. The opposite is true, it is an often used term of ethnic selfdescription and is a source of pride. This tag is for questions about pejorative language. The definition, example, and related terms listed above have been written and compiled by the slangit team. It implies a person who lives in the utmost worst conditions and a person who no one really cares about. However, the word still retains the flavor of southern poverty. At one point, krasny mentions the word cracker to cassidy. This slang page is designed to explain what the meaning of cracker is. I have just learned about the slang meaning of the word cracker and am now considering changing my gaming username. 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. I believe it is derived from plantation owners who cracked the whip to keep slaves in line. Lets examine miz crackers drag name and whether its a.
The online etymology dictionary traces the slur cracker poor, white trash either to crack to boast or to corncracker poor white farmer. Gammon a derogatory term for white people, especially older white men based on the appearance of their faces. A thin crisp wafer or biscuit, usually made of unsweetened dough. Derogatory definition, tending to lessen the merit or reputation of a person or thing. Cracker, sometimes white cracker or cracka, is a racial epithet for white people, used especially for poor rural whites in the southern united states. We hope that the following list of synonyms for the word derogatory will help you to finish your crossword today. 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. Newest pejorativelanguage questions english language.
In ireland the spelling craic is now more common than crack. Crack slang synonyms, crack slang pronunciation, crack slang translation, english dictionary definition of crack slang. Miz crackers original drag name was brianna cracker, a homophone of brie on a cracker. Mostly it was used in the 1950s through the 1980s, but there are probably some people who still use it today. 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. Derogatory definition of derogatory by merriamwebster. 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. Somehow, black people, nor every other race on the face of the fucking earth, have ever treated people badly. How did the slang term cracker come about to mean white. We see no point in informing the world that fridge is australian slang for a refrigerator. Weve arranged the synonyms in length order so that they are easier to find. 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. 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.
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. Synonyms, crossword answers and other related words for derogatory. 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. Trayvon martins use of the term cracker doesnt make him a racist. Derogatory definition of derogatory by the free dictionary. 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.
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 definition of cracker by the free dictionary. The term has been regarded as offensive for most of its long life on earth, both in europe and the united states. Crack or craic is fun, enjoyment, abandonment, or lighthearted mischief.
Some cracker group broke into our wordpress installation and defaced it. Cracker definition and meaning collins english dictionary. If you make a derogatory remark or comment about someone or something, you express your. I dont know how it started but i think it started in georgia during the civil war probably had something to do with hard tack, a cracker eaten.
She was upset by derogatory comments made about her clothes. If youve got any comments or suggestions, though, wed very much like to hear them. 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. Here, we highlight the most commonly heard irish idioms and words, their meanings, and examples of how they are used in everyday speech. Cracker, sometimes white cracker or cracka, is a sometimes pejorative expression for white people, especially poor rural whites in the southern united states. For the past few years ive been using bounty cracker as my username.
Derogatory definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Jul 01, 20 but it turns out crackers roots go back even further than the 17th century. Now it is used as a derogatory term for white people much like. 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. The meaning of the word has changed a lot over the last four. Aug 17, 2011 cracker is a slang word for a white person. We are constantly updating our database with new slang terms, acronyms, and abbreviations. Short form of paparazzi, to invoke the whole invasionofprivacy angle, but with the spelling changed by analogy with the british insult rotter.
For those needing a refresher course, here are just a few reasons why cracker doesnt compare to the n word. All the way back to the age of shakespeare, at least. Improve your vocabulary with english vocabulary in use from cambridge. Because slang is casual language, some of these might not be appropriate for younger learners.
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 you would like to suggest a term or an update to an existing one. A list of slang words and phrases, idioms, jargon, acronyms, and abbreviations. The term cracker was in use during elizabethan times to describe braggarts. With a single phrase, rachel jeantel, that friend of trayvon martins, may have lit a fuse in the trial of his accused killer. Derogatory definition is expressive of a low opinion. When used by black people, cracker can refer to a southern white racist, not necessarily poor or rural. 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. This sense of the word crack is found in irish english, scottish english, and geordie as well as mackem in north east england. The latter derivation is essentially the same as your grandmothers, except that the staple food of poor farmers was cracked corn, not crackers. This slang page is designed to explain what the meaning of crack the case is.
A cracker is a thin, crisp biscuit which is often eaten with cheese. 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. Cracker, sometimes white cracker, is a racial slur used against white people, used especially against poor rural whites in the southern united states. Back in the 1700s, cracker was a derogatory term used by american whites to describe poor southerners of their own race. He made some derogatory comment remark about her appearance.
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. 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. Its a cracker of a book and you should read it if you havent already. Since then, its meaning has become more generalized and it is often used by blacks to describe whites, especially racist whites.
People can usually get away with using it in our reverseracist world. Synonyms for cracker at with free online thesaurus, antonyms, and definitions. This idiom has its origins in slavery white people were called crackers because of the sound of a slaveowners whip. What does the racial term cracker mean and how did the. Crack, on the other hand, is made into white chunks that look like small rocks. Where does the term cracker come from, and how disparaging. 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. Standard cocaine comes in the form of a white powder, though its color and texture can be altered by certain additives. 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. 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. Derogatory crossword answers, clues, definition, synonyms. Submitted by waltergr via thejargonfile on aug 14 2009.
In reference to a native of florida or georgia, however, it is sometimes used in a neutral or positive context. But it never really took, so she shortened it to just miz cracker. 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. Meaning instrument for crushing or cracking is from 1630s. 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. These nicknames are often based on the appearance of the drug. 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.
The original root of this is the middle english word crack meaning entertaining conversation one may be said to crack a joke. This page explains what the slang term cracker means. Today the term has since evolved into a derogatory meaning white person. Im not gonna compare it to the nword but until recently i was under the impression that cracker meant white, like an actual edible cracker, and im pretty sure thats what most people think it means as well. Cracker means something entirely different in florida. 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. Derogatory term for whites, particularly from the american south.
Jul, 2010 yet another theory is that the term derives from an elizabethan word used to describe braggarts. It is a derogatory term used to refer to white people, sort of like the white version of the n word. Midwayusa is a privately held american retailer of various hunting and outdoorrelated products. Cracker conveys history of bigotry that still resonates cnn. Is cracker the common slang word for the irish answers.
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