Origin of word cracker

A whole mess of white people like to get worked up about the word cracker, some in the mistaken belief that this will somehow result in permission to use the nword. Saltine crackers are one of the bestselling types of crackers in the world, but the history of these crackers dates back to the early 1800s when a bakery came up with the original recipe. From cambridge english corpus in such static solutions the hydrostatic pressure in the fluid and the elastic pressure exerted by the walls of the crack are in balance. Macduff utters the words on hearing of the death of. It is ulster gaelic and scots gaelic creachadair word meaning, raider and freebooter, but also associated with the free range cattle drovers in ulster. The primary meaning for cracker is a thincrisp wafer, whether circular or square. But when the nickname is used by outsiders, it is usually with disparaging intent and perceived as insulting by georgians and floridians. Coctus was the past participle of the verb couqere meaning to cook. Another theory is that the term refers to whips that crackers used to drive slaves or cattle.

A thin crisp wafer or biscuit, usually made of unsweetened dough. I was of the impression that cracker jack was originally used to describe a squaredaway us sailor, related to the early meaning of the term crack which you described in a recent article, and with jack tar for a sailor. The term cracker is used as a neutral nickname by inhabitants of georgia and florida. But when the nickname is used by outsiders, it is usually with. 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. The word in the example sentence does not match the entry word.

Sprinkle cracker crumbs evenly over the bottom and sides, then pour in the ricotta mixture. The final was a real cracker with some marvellous pitching from both sides. Where did the term come from though, and is it actually as offensive as other racial s. As used above, and in the halls of facebook, it derives from a verb that. At one point, krasny mentions the word cracker to cassidy. The word cracker is commonly understood as a racist slur for whites. Cracker conveys history of bigotry that still resonates cnn. The english word biscuit came from the old french bescuit, which literally meant twice cooked. The early scotsirish settlers were mostly presbyterian, baptist and methodist.

Crackers definition of crackers by the free dictionary. Folk etymology claims the term originated either from their cracking, or pounding, of corn rather than taking it to mill, or from their use of whips to drive cattle. All the way back to the age of shakespeare, at least. He also scored a cracker of a goal in the firsthalf.

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. The phrase originally meant swift and brutal murder, and was first used in macbeth. Its a racial slur nowadays because word meanings and usages change and evolve over time. Ramsey claims that the word cracker originated from the british slang for cracked head, as in that bloke is crackers and was used to insult the poor and working class. This idiom has its origins in slavery white people were called crackers because of the sound of a slaveowners whip. Crackerjack definition is a person or thing of marked excellence. Get cracking go to work, start doing what is to be done is by 1937. 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 means something entirely different in florida. Heres the history behind the florida cracker cowboys of our state associated with the word. Compare latin crepare to rattle, crack, creak, with a secondary figurative. The epithet cracker has been applied in a derogatory way, like redneck, to rural, nonelite white southerners, more specifically to those of south georgia and north florida. He explained that florida cowboys used whips to herd cattle, and to scare away gators, and were called crackers because of the sound of their incessant whipcracking. Crackerjack definition of crackerjack by merriamwebster. The premium brand used the traditional recipe and massproduced small square crackers with salt dusted on the top. The phrase cracker barrel was inspired by the barrels full of soda crackers that were for sale in the countrys country stores. 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. Sometimes the owners of the general stores wouldnt accept anything but cotton, which forced a lot of crackers to change their crops. Read the following steps to learn how to download the word for free.

Various theories exists regarding this terms application to poor white southerners. Paul davis of orlando has traced the word in the oxford english dictionary. This name long predates the use of the term crackpot meaning crazed, as it dates from at least the 12th century, before which the region had been taken over by viking insurgents. A cracker is a flat, dry baked food typically made with flour. Where did the word cracker for white people come from.

Compare latin crepare to rattle, crack, creak, with a secondary figurative sense of boast of, prattle, make ado about. When the word came into the french language it is hard to say. Where does the term cracker come from, and how disparaging. The words cookie or cracker became the words of choice to mean a hard, baked product. Then it was appropriated for a brand of caramel corn. Midwayusa is a privately held american retailer of various hunting and outdoorrelated products. Cracker, sometimes white cracker or cracka, is a racial epithet for white people, used especially for poor rural whites in the southern united states. 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. In large bowl, mix together graham cracker crumbs, oats, brown sugar, butter and milk. Cracker is an elongation of crack, an adjective meaning expert or superior that dates from the 18th century. In short, i think cracker is the anglicised form of creachadoir.

The reverend sylvester graham, a presbyterian minister who became a social reformer and a ferocious advocate of healthful living, is the man who put the graham into the treat we now know and. Crackers are often branded as a nutritious and convenient way to consume a staple food or cereal grain. The word biscuit got to england via the french, who had, as mentioned above, gotten it from the romans. And that this trickled down into american slang to be used by blacks against whites but it not in any way a reference to the race of the people its used against. To crack the whip in the figurative sense is from 1886. There are various theories concerning the origin of the term cracker. Old english cracian make a sharp noise, give forth a loud, abrupt sound, from protogermanic krakojan source also of middle dutch craken, dutch kraken, german krachen. What is the origin of the slang word cracker answers.

Cracker definition in the cambridge english dictionary. Claire, a florida historian and anthropologist who studies, er, crackers. Joe cole scored a cracker of a goal, but norwich were certainly not outclassed, except up front. Crackerjack definition and meaning collins english dictionary.

The meaning of the word has changed a lot over the last four centuries, said dana ste. The word was used especially of georgians by 1808, though often extended to residents of northern florida. Many georgians were proud to call themselves georgia crackers who took the name from their ancestors who drove their cattle cracking whips south to florida grasslands. Aug 15, 20 the word cracker is commonly understood as a racist slur for whites. There are various theories about the origin of the term cracker. The company was best known for their slogan, polly wants a cracker. The term cracker was in use during elizabethan times to describe braggarts. The original root of this is the middle english word crack meaning entertaining conversation one may be said to crack a joke. Mar 26, 2020 this explanation of the origin of the triscuit cracker name and meaning is one that surely nobody expected to be so interesting. Many people go through daily life without thinking of where many words and phrases associated with street slang come from, cracker back was a word invented on the the 20th september 2009. The us term crackerjack has had a complicated history. There are three main theories about how the word developed. It states that, near the tip of the crack, the leading order of the expansion of the elastic field is symmetric.

The term cracker barrel was first used in 1916, and it emerged from the country stores of the era. Like many words, the definition depends upon the intent and inflexion of the user. 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. With a single phrase, rachel jeantel, that friend of trayvon martins, may have lit a fuse in the trial of his accused killer. 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. Prior to that, crack was a noun meaning something superior and a verb meaning. Aug 20, 2002 some sources assert graham himself invented the snack in 1829. Contrary to popular belief and the 3 false previous answers, crackers is a term originally use by white people for other, lower class, white people. The word cracker has a primary meaning, in addition to its slang meaning. Dec 14, 2012 the soda cracker, an american product, predates the cream cracker, and, as we shall see, the word cracker, in the united states, predates the word biscuit as well.

A cracker is a thin, crisp biscuit which is often eaten with cheese. But dare compares corn cracker kentuckian, also poor, lowclass white farmer of georgia and north carolina 1835, u. The game was a cracker with some fantastic open football and long range scoring from both sides. The bis part meant twice and the cuit part was derived from the latin coctus, meaning cooked. It seems that the greatest mystery, though, lies in the origin of the word more is known about the lifestyles of crackers through two and a half centuries than the historical development of the word cracker, ste. In the interview, cassidy laughs smugly and says that he is certain that the word cracker is derived from irish.

Code switch where does the slur cracker come from, anyway. Various theories exists regarding this term s application to poor white southerners. You can use cracker crumbs, bread crumbs, or panko, but doyle is going to try groundup triscuits, which are made from whole wheat flour. A cracker is not a slave owner or overseer cracking a whip. 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. It has been suggested that white slave foremen in the antebellum south were called crackers owing to their practice of cracking the. 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. A history of the florida cracker cowboys tampa magazine.

Cracker definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Cracker was a derogatory term applied to these poor farmers from before the american revolution. Mar 24, 2020 according to garrison, linguists now believe the etymology of the modern english word, cracker to be the gaelic word, craic, still used in ireland, but anglicized in spelling to crack. The cracker term was soon associated with the descendants of these early settlers, especially the cowboys and farmers of georgia and florida.

This is the word i believe is the actual origin of cracker. Flavorings or seasonings, such as salt, herbs, seeds, or cheese, may be added to the dough or sprinkled on top before baking. Dictionary grammar blog school scrabble thesaurus translator quiz more resources more from collins. Your chance to have a onetoone lesson with bestselling language expert paul noble, try a free audio sample of his brand new mandarin chinese course. Dec 31, 2006 there are various theories about the origin of the term cracker. 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. What is the origin of the term cracker as it refers to. But it turns out crackers roots go back even further than the 17th century. Titled celtic christmas, this second solo album from tommy is a real cracker. To a florida native, being called a cracker is a compliment.

The original root of this is the middle english word crack1 meaning entertaining conversation one may be said to crack a joke. Microsoft word 2020 v16270 crack full version microsoft word 2020 v16. The origin of the florida cracker orlando sentinel. What is the origin of cracker as an ethnic slur for. Clean the food processor bowl, then in it combine the graham cracker, oats, pecans, brown sugar and cinnamon. Inviting as the idea might be, the vikings didnt turn up there and decide that the locals were mad and name the place accordingly.

Cnn had a remarkable discussion panel this weekend, thanks to the presence of george zimmerman and paula deen in the news, in which. How did the slang term cracker come about to mean white. Mar 06, 2014 clearly, hack is the word of the moment. Claire wrote in one of 11 panels used in the exhibit. One theory is that it refers to the cracked corn that was a major part of the diet of poor southern whites. The term cracker has dozens of different meanings, some as old as florida. Nabisco is one of the brands most often associated with the crackers, but today, any type of cracker with salt on the top can be called a saltine cracker. Nabisco took over premium and registered the word saltine as a trademark.