We are constantly updating our database with new slang terms, acronyms, and abbreviations. Cracker conveys history of bigotry that still resonates cnn. Crackerbarrel definition, of or suggesting the simple rustic informality and directness thought to be characteristic of life in and around a country store. If you know of another definition of cracker that should be included here, please let us know. Synonyms for cracker at with free online thesaurus, antonyms, and definitions.
This term and the gaelic spelling craic are still in. Cracker, sometimes white cracker or cracka, is a racial slur used for white people, used especially against poor rural whites in the southern united states. If you would like to suggest a term or an update to an existing one. Crackers definition of crackers by the free dictionary. Its super offensive, as a white person, to call yourself and other white people this. One theory is that it refers to the cracked corn that was a major part of the diet of poor southern whites. Georgia cracker, 19th20th century cattle drivers of the georgia plains. Cracker means something entirely different in florida.
One theory holds that it originated with disadvantaged corn and wheat farmers. Compare latin crepare to rattle, crack, creak, with a secondary figurative sense of boast of, prattle, make ado about. Thats a slightly older slang term there are examples going back into the 1950s which means exhausted or worn out. Cracker comes from the gaelic word craic which means a good conversation and is still in use in ireland today. Cracker definition in the cambridge english dictionary. A cracker might be performing cracking for malicious activities, profit, for certain nonprofit intentions or causes, or just for a challenge. 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. The cracker term was soon associated with the descendants of these early settlers, especially the cowboys and farmers of georgia and florida.
Computer cracker, a security hacker who maliciously exploits weaknesses in a computer or network. Cracker has also been used as a proud or jocular selfdescription. A dictionary of american idioms 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 term, a slang, sometimes derogatory term for any person of white european descent. Cracker conveys history of bigotry that still resonates. Crackers article about crackers by the free dictionary. The term cracker was also given to the farm hands that would work on the plantations as slave drivers. Its also anything that cracks, like a firecracker or a computer code cracker, or of course, that thin. Definition of cracker jack the online slang dictionary. Georgia cracker, an american pioneer settler of the 19th century in the state of georgia. The latter derivation is essentially the same as your grandmothers, except that the staple food of poor farmers was cracked corn, not crackers.
Has become more popular recently as the opposite of nigger. The early scotsirish settlers were mostly presbyterian, baptist and methodist. Another version of the origin of cracker comes from the spanish term cuaquero, which means quaker. What does the racial term cracker mean and how did the. Subscribe to our free daily email and get a new idiom video every day. Information and translations of cracker in the most comprehensive.
Others directly involved with the proxy vote say cracker barrels antigay policies ultimately hurt its business and that this factor also played a significant role in the companys decision. 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. But it turns out crackers roots go back even further than the 17th century. Another theory is that the term refers to whips that crackers used to drive slaves or cattle. The amount of misinformation contained in some of these answers is amazing. A cracker is someone who breaks into someone elses computer system, often on a network. One theory holds that the term comes from the common diet of poor whites. He is a real cracker jack when it comes to getting people to bid. The definition, example, and related terms listed above have been written and compiled by the slangit team.
Cracker definition and meaning collins english dictionary. 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. They would put a short length of twisted twine or string attached to the end of a whip to produce a cracking sound. He also explained that although the term is derogatory in much of the country, in florida, its a source of pride. 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. Crackers, depending on the variety, may also contain added chemical looseners, milk. Software cracker, someone who circumvents copy protection in computer software. The original root of this is the middle english word crack meaning entertaining conversation one may be said to crack a joke. 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. Where does the term cracker come from, and how disparaging. With a single phrase, rachel jeantel, that friend of trayvon martins, may have lit a fuse in the trial of his accused killer.
Us another word for poor white cracker a cookie prepared from wheat flour, shortening, and yeast. Sometime in the past thirty years or so the phrase has become rhyming slang in britain for knackered. The meaning of the word has changed a lot over the last four. All the way back to the age of shakespeare, at least. Cracker dictionary definition cracker defined yourdictionary. It means you celebrate your whipcracking heritage in the context of. 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 in use during elizabethan times to describe braggarts. In fact, the wikipedia entry for cracker pejorative even notes the. Cracker butterflies, a genus of butterfly from the neotropics.
Youre hanging out with your buddies and one of them throws out a sexual slang term that everyone else in the room seems to know the meaning of except you. Cracker slang article about cracker slang by the free. Trayvon martins friend said he described george zimmerman as a creepyass cracker. A cream cracker is a savoury dry biscuit, often eaten with cheese. Crackerjack definition of crackerjack by merriamwebster. A cracker is an individual who performs cracking, or the process of breaking into a computer or a network system. Cracker, sometimes white cracker, is a usually pejorative term for a white person, mainly used in the southern united states, but in recent decades it has entered common usage throughout north america. 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. Cracker definition of cracker by medical dictionary.
This page explains what the slang term cracker means. I know it goes back to before 1600 which would put its or. All of our slang term and phrase definitions are made possible by our wonderful visitors. Theres a guy on our corner who shouts about the end of the world. The process of cracking corn was essential to the process of distilling scottish whiskey and later, whiskey in the appalachians.
I should explain to your lordship what is meant by crackers. A cracker is a thin, crisp biscuit which is often eaten with cheese. Get a cracker here in the uk mug for your daughterinlaw nathalie. A dry, thin, crispy baked bread usually salty or savoury, but sometimes sweet, as in the case of graham crackers and animal crackers.
Some crackers break into a network system deliberately to point out the flaws. Florida cracker, 19th20th century cattle drivers of the florida scrub regions. Crackerjack definition is a person or thing of marked excellence. Cracker, sometimes white cracker or cracka, is a racial epithet for white people, used especially for poor rural whites in the southern united states. How did the slang term cracker come about to mean white. Various theories exists regarding this terms application to poor white southerners. Do white people actually find the term cracker offensive.
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