But it turns out cracker s roots go back even further than the 17th century. Cracker is an elongation of crack, an adjective meaning expert or superior that dates from the 18th century. This page explains what the slang term cracker means. Slang a person or thing of recognized excellence 2. Great for parents, teachers, law enforcement, and teenagers. It implies a person who lives in the utmost worst conditions and a person who no one really cares about. Cracker, sometimes white cracker, is a racial slur used against white people, used especially against poor rural whites in the southern united states. Crackerjack definition of crackerjack by merriamwebster. Cracker was a derogatory term applied to these poor farmers from before the american revolution. Definition of cracker in the medical dictionary by the free dictionary. It is a farmers who raised only cracked products, such as wheat and corn. Another theory is that the term refers to whips that crackers used to drive slaves or cattle. If you would like to suggest a term or an update to an existing one.
Crackerjack definition is a person or thing of marked excellence. 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 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. You can find this even back in some of shakespeares plays, like king john. All the way back to the age of shakespeare, at least. However, nowadays, especially in florida, it is just a pejoritive for any white person. Oct 20, 2011 the term cracker was also given to the farm hands that would work on the plantations as slave drivers.
The internet dictionary online jargon, acronyms, and texting. In this paper, the comparison of professional and amateur dictionaries is viewed through the filter of neology. Cracker definition of cracker by medical dictionary. All definitions are approved by humans before publishing. The definition, example, and related terms listed above have been written and compiled by the slangit team. Crackers definition of crackers 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. Its also anything that cracks, like a firecracker or a computer code cracker, or of. Today, cracker is often used as a derogatory term for a white person for obvious reasons. Definition of christmas on a cracker the online slang. Leading internet dictionary defines thousands of online communication, technology and business terms. Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples log in dictionary. Whence arose a particular sobriquet, nickname, byword, epithet, or slang term. White cracker unknown 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.
Cracker definition in the cambridge english dictionary. A thin crisp wafer or biscuit, usually made of unsweetened dough. Cracker conveys history of bigotry that still resonates cnn. 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. Code switch where does the slur cracker come from, anyway. Cracker definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Cracker, sometimes white cracker, is a racial slur used against white people, used especially. 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. Cracker, sometimes white cracker or cracka, is a racial epithet for white people, used especially for poor rural whites in the southern united states. When used online, the abbreviation gc most commonly means group chat.
Initially, cracker was not a pejorative term, but ferris says it has become one, the equivalent of redneck. Implied in the term cracker is that they dont fit in with other white culture. Information and translations of cracker in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. With a single phrase, rachel jeantel, that friend of trayvon martins, may have lit a fuse in the trial of his accused killer. In the 1970s, gasfilled, breakable ampoules of amyl nitrite. Its also anything that cracks, like a firecracker or a computer code cracker, or of course, that thin, savory snack that cracks when you break it. A cracker is someone who breaks into someone elses computer system, often on a network. The term is, indeed, a somewhat derogatory term for white people. The drug slang translator contains a comprehensive list of drug slang words. We are constantly updating our database with new slang terms, acronyms, and abbreviations.
The meaning of the word has changed a lot over the last four. All of our slang term and phrase definitions are made possible by our wonderful visitors. Cracker definition of cracker by the free dictionary. Synonyms for cracker at with free online thesaurus, antonyms, and definitions. The term cracker is used as a neutral nickname by inhabitants of georgia and florida. If you know of another definition of cracker that should be included here, please let us know.
A cracker is not a slave owner or overseer cracking a whip. A cracker is a thin, crisp biscuit which is often eaten with cheese. But when the nickname is used by outsiders, it is usually with disparaging intent and. A cracker was basically someone who cracks a lot of jokes but usually always refers to scotch or irish. In american slang,what does a cracker mean,and is it. The complementarity of crowdsourced dictionaries and. Various theories exists regarding this terms application to poor white southerners. Christmas cracker meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. This is the jargon file, a comprehensive compendium of hacker slang illuminating many aspects of hackish tradition, folklore, and humor.
Prior to that, crack was a noun meaning something superior and a verb meaning to boast. 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 4 is used as a neutral nickname or term of selfreference. It is sometimes used in a neutral context in reference to a native of florida or georgia see florida cracker and georgia cracker. Crackerjack dictionary definition crackerjack defined. It was used to refer to poor whites, particularly those. A peckerwood is a rural white southerner, usually poor, undereducated or otherwise ignorant and bigoted, the term gained popularity in the deep south during the early twentieth century and was meant to be derogatory. Googles free service instantly translates words, phrases, and web pages between english and over 100 other languages.
Crackers meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. Cracker means something entirely different in florida. One theory is that it refers to the cracked corn that was a major part of the diet of poor southern whites. Hed written about the etymology of some antiwhite slurs. 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. A dictionary of slang c slang and colloquialisms of the uk. Its also anything that cracks, like a firecracker or a computer code cracker, or of course, that.
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