Apr 08, 2020 another theory asserts that it was applied due to georgia and florida settlers florida crackers who cracked loud whips to drive herds of cattle, or, alternatively, from the whip cracking of plantation slave drivers. Florida crackers were colonial era british and american pioneer settlers and their descendants in what is now the u. Claire, a florida historian and anthropologist who studies, er, crackers. The first is that a cracker was a slang term used by 19th century georgian slaves to refer to the slavemasters. Descendants of florida crackers will also be considered florida crackers. Top synonyms for cracker other words for cracker are biscuit, cookie and hardtack. Florida memory is a digital outreach program providing free online access to select archival records from collections housed in the state library and archives of florida. Britannica notes that the term dates back to the american revolution, and is derived from. Cracker, sometimes white cracker or cracka, is a term for white people, used especially for poor rural whites in the southern united states.
Crackerbarrel 1861 barrel full of soda crackers 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. Definition of the slang term cracker with an example. Dea intelligence report u this product was prepared by the dea houston division. People often use the word cracker as a derogatory word. Cracker the white man with the whip chancellorfiles.
Coalcracker is from 1853 of persons, 1857 of machinery that breaks up mined coal. The term cracker was in use during the elizabethan era to describe braggarts. Cracker definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Yet another theory maintains that the term cracker was in use in elizabethan times to describe braggarts see crack to. Britannica notes that this usage of the term dates back to the american revolution, and is derived from the cracked corn which formed their staple food. The sound of the crackers whip, made from 10 to 12 feet of braided leather, helped the cowboys keep cattle on the trail when driving and. It refers to some of the earliest cowboys in america and a. Florida crackers are resilient, courageous, and very selfsufficient. Information and translations of florida cracker in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. The early scotsirish settlers were mostly presbyterian, baptist and methodist.
Cracker, sometimes white cracker, is a slur used against white people, used especially against poor rural whites in the southern united states. The cracker drove his herd of cattle to a greener pasture. 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. Florida was the lead cattle producing state in america, florida cracker is from when the men were cracking their whips on the cattle to get on the ships to go to the more northern states. 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. Florida cracker in community dictionary florida ended up being the lead cattle making state in the usa, florida cracker is from the time the men were breaking their whips from the cattle to get regarding the boats to visit the greater amount of north says. Since the huge influx of new residents into florida in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, from the northern parts of the united states and from mexico and latin america, the term florida cracker is used informally by some floridians to indicate that their families have lived in the state for many generations. Claire, a florida historian and anthropologist who. The term its a cracker came about during the 70s from a tv program called the. The term cracker was also given to the farm hands that would work on the plantations as slave drivers. Cracker means something entirely different in florida. A turtle still served by the yearling restaurant in cross creek and celebrated by the town of inverness in an annual festival. This way they can elude authorities by avoiding using known terms like meth. Marijuana caballo spanish heroin cabbage head an individual who will use or experiment with any kind of drug cabello spanish cocaine caca heroin cactus mescaline cactus buttons mescaline cactus head mescaline cadcadillac 1 ounce cadillac.
To them the nickname is a compliment not an insult. A cracker is a thin, crisp biscuit which is often eaten with cheese. This is where the expression crack a joke originated. Florida memory digitizes materials that illuminate the states history and culture. Clarence major, in his dictionary of afroamerican slang, lists two rather interesting ideas about the origin of the term. Cracker the white man and the whip, the origin of why white people are called crackers. People of color for example african indentures and slaves and men of property repeated what they heard from white male elites and wrongly white historians racialized it. Comments and questions may be addressed to the chief, analysis. One theory is that it refers to the cracked corn that was a major part of the diet of poor southern whites. Cracker definition of cracker by the free dictionary. Florida crackers are native born floridians who speak a unique language. In fact, the wikipedia entry for cracker pejorative even notes the. Other cool words that are still being used by florida crackers include. The illicit nature of the drug leads both dealers and users to come up with slang terms for meth itself, its use, and other aspects of the culture surrounding it.
Cracker, sometimes white cracker or cracka, is a sometimes pejorative expression for white people, especially poor rural whites in the southern united states. Synonyms for cracker at with free online thesaurus, antonyms, and definitions. Information and translations of cracker in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. As a weed blogger, this is inexcusable, but im notoriously uncreative, plus im not prowling the streets for junk schwag in nyc delivery for life.
Because slang is casual language, some of these might not be appropriate for younger learners. Sometime in the past thirty years or so the phrase has become rhyming slang in britain for knackered. Jul 01, 20 the meaning of the word has changed a lot over the last four centuries, said dana ste. It is considered a source of pride to be descended from frontier people who did not just live but flourished in a time before air conditioning, mosquito repellent, and screens. Here, weve put together some key slang drug terms to help families identify addictions. But when the nickname is used by outsiders, it is usually with disparaging intent and perceived as insulting by georgians and floridians. According to the 1911 edition of the encyclopedia britannica, cracker is a term of contempt for the poor or mean whites, particularly of georgia and florida. How did the slang term cracker come about to mean white people. Crackers definition of crackers by the free dictionary.
The term cracker was in use during the elizabethan era to. Another version of the origin of cracker comes from the spanish term cuaquero, which means quaker. Florida crackers were colonialera british and american pioneer settlers and their descendants. A cream cracker is a savoury dry biscuit, often eaten with cheese. The term cracker was in use during elizabethan times to. Not exactly slang, but south florida is sometimes referred to as the 6th borough due to all the ny. Florida crackers have a kinship with other fellow florida crackers and they can communicate nonverbally.
Bizarre slang words and phrases from every state stacker. He also explained that although the term is derogatory in much of the country, in florida, its a source of pride. If this were in fact, true, then the term would come directly from the cracking of the slavemasters whip. There are many different words or phrases used for cocaine and using cocaine. Were aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. The office of national drug policy has a few marijuana slang and colloquial terms for marijuana i was unfamiliar with. But most often the term refers to key west nativesthe first settlers and the longtime residents of key west. The first of these arrived in 1763 after spain traded florida to great britain following the latters victory over france in the seven years war. Cracker comes from a celtic word meaning braggart or loudmouth. Oct 20, 2011 the term cracker was also given to the farm hands that would work on the plantations as slave drivers. Florida cracker does not mean a man who cracked his whip on slaves or white trash. It is sometimes used in a neutral context in reference to a native of florida or georgia see florida cracker and georgia cracker. Our south florida treatment center offers addiction treatment in stuart for. Sep 16, 2019 bizarre slang words and phrases from every state the united states is a vast and diverse nation with a huge assortment of languages and dialects.
A dry, thin, crispy baked bread usually salty or savoury, but sometimes sweet, as in the case of graham crackers and animal crackers. How did the slang term cracker come about to mean white. Definition of shit snacking crackers the online slang. Due to this, new slang terms are often adopted and old ones dropped. Its perhaps no surprise, then, that in a country with at least 350 languages, you find a great deal of variation in the slang termssome of which are downright strange. Mexico acapulco red marijuana ace marijuana pcp african black marijuana african bush marijuana african woodbine marijuana cigarette airhead marijuana user airplane marijuana alice b. What is the origin of the term georgia cracker answers. So when suddenly words and phrases that have strong ties to the black. They would put a short length of twisted twine or string attached to the end of a whip to produce a cracking sound.
The most update 420 slang terms 2020 abomb marijuana and heroin smoked in cigarette acapulco gold marijuana from s. Cracker, sometimes white cracker or cracka, is a racial epithet for white people, used especially for poor rural whites in the southern united states. Thats a slightly older slang term there are examples going back into the. One is a type of flat bread peanut butter and crackers one is a christmas novelty in britain that pops or. One is a derogatory mean, rude term for a white person. The process of cracking corn was essential to the process of distilling scottish whiskey and later, whiskey in the appalachians. When people speak of the key west conch, they may be referring to the large sea snail that lives in the depths of the gulf of mexico surrounding the florida keys. In american slang,what does a cracker mean,and is it. The meaning of the word has changed a lot over the last four centuries, said dana ste. At banyan detox stuart, we provide detox and addiction treatment in stuart. A list of lyrics, artists and songs that contain the term florida cracker from the website.
The term cracker originated in england, it was used to describe a person was a braggart or who told jokes. The online etymology dictionary traces the slur cracker poor, white trash either to crack to boast or to corn cracker poor white farmer. The cracker term was soon associated with the descendants of these early settlers, especially the cowboys and farmers of georgia and florida. What is the origin of cracker as an ethnic slur for. Descendants of florida crackers are also considered florida crackers. Some are from drug culture and some are used to refer to cocaine in code on the street. Another theory is that the term refers to whips that crackers used to drive slaves or cattle. Part of growing up a floridian, for me anyway, was going somewhere else in the country like the northeast or midwest, or even a southern state for the first time and realizing you dont. The latter derivation is essentially the same as your grandmothers, except that the staple food of poor farmers was cracked corn, not crackers.
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. Other possible origins of the term cracker are linked to early florida cattle herders florida crackers that traditionally used whips to herd wild spanish cattle. Part of growing up a floridian, for me anyway, was going somewhere else in the country like the northeast or midwest, or even a southern state for the first time and realizing you dont know what all these weirdos are talking about. This video will explain why im proud to be a cracker. Black slang and aave africanamerican vernacular english have long been considered inferior to socalled standard english, and the black people who use it seen as uneducated or unintelligent forcing many to master the art of codeswitching. The original root of this is the middle english word crack, meaning entertaining conversation as one may be said to crack a joke. Where does the term cracker come from, and how disparaging. Claire, organizer of the exhibit entitled cracker culture in florida history. Also, some words that are fine to use in britain may be considered offensive in other places.
The term, cracker, can convey a negative meaning when used to refer to people, but in florida, its meaning is altogether different. Having said that, ill stick my neck out and give you mine. A name given to the original cowboys who were actually from florida, it is derived from the sound of the whip they use while rounding up cattle. The term cracker is used as a neutral nickname by inhabitants of georgia and florida. 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.
999 909 1280 846 817 84 952 65 594 1362 636 1229 1054 1170 1557 1208 1094 154 1522 622 68 698 965 424 687 627 489 1544 1501 803 494 1424 1251 914 1434 867 1343 850 390 1368 1125 388