Undercrackers definition and meaning collins english. The term cracker was in use during elizabethan times to describe braggarts. The team and its ballpark were segregated, but in 1949 the crackers made history when they played against jackie robinson and the brooklyn dodgers in a threegame exhibition series. The english meaning of cracker as a braggart appears by elizabethan times, as, for example, in shakespeares king john 1595. Where does the term cracker come from, and how disparaging is it. Another version of the origin of cracker comes from the spanish term cuaquero, which means quaker. I should explain to your lordship what is meant by crackers. Claire, a florida historian and anthropologist who. Coalcracker is from 1853 of persons, 1857 of machinery that breaks up mined coal. The grant house in brevard county was transported by boat from jacksonville and erected on its site on the indian river in 1916. Georgia cracker refers to the original american pioneer settlers of the province of georgia later, the state of georgia, and their descendants in the late 19th century and the early part of the 20th century, georgia ranchers came to be known as georgia crackers by floridians when they drove their cattle down into the grassy flatlands of central florida to graze in the winter, stopping. Crackers meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. 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. Jan 16, 2007 cracker the white man and the whip, the origin of why white people are called crackers by chance kelsey, chance.
The origin of the term as epithet is a matter of dispute. I wanted something creative but couldnt think of anything. Cracker the white man with the whip chancellorfiles. The term cracker is a perjorative term used for whites, especially those from georgia. Noun plural georgia crackers an original colonizer of the state of the american state of georgia, or one of their descendants. This video focuses on making inferences based on a set.
The name of the blog, georgia black crackers, was my mothers contribution to the blog. May 27, 2016 the term cracker is a perjorative term used for whites, especially those from georgia. It implies a person who lives in the utmost worst conditions and a person who no one really cares about. The atlanta black crackers were founded as the atlanta cubs as a semiprofessional team of black college students. The term crackerbarrel was first used in 1916, and it emerged from the country stores of the era. The crackers of georgia, georgia historical quarterly 60 summer 1976. At the merciful close of key prosecution witness rachel jeantels testimony in the trial of george zimmerman for the murder of trayvon martin, defense attorney don west asked ms. An original colonizer of the state of the american state of georgia, or one of their descendants. Georgia cracker refers to the original american pioneer settlers of the province of georgia later, the state of georgia, and their descendants. Known to be very selfsufficient by growing or hunting their own food and building their own homes. A subreddit for the advocation for or debate of southern nationalism, as well as celebration of southern culture and history.
Cracker definition of cracker by the free dictionary. Claire, a florida historian and anthropologist who studies, er, crackers. They began to play independently in 1919 and changed their name to the black crackers because fans had already begun to call them by that name. Georgia crackers 107 and use a great many words like the backwoods population of north carolina. The phrase crackerbarrel was inspired by the barrels full of soda crackers that were for sale in the countrys country stores. The crackers won one of the three games, and the series marked. Cracker, sometimes white cracker or cracka, is a racial epithet for white people, used especially for poor rural whites in the southern united states. 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. The original root of this is the middle english word crack, meaning entertaining conversation as one may be said to crack a joke. Sep 06, 2019 greens dictionary of slang also quotes the georgia jurist and educator a. The meaning of the word has changed a lot over the last four centuries, said dana ste. In these days of shabby chic home decor and grunge fashion, cracker houses are making a. They got their start in music when they saved up some money from a good tobacco crop and got themselves a mail order guitar.
Described locally as a cracker house, the woodframe building is a museum of life in florida before air conditioning. Where does the term cracker come from, and how disparaging. An atlanta crackersatlanta black crackers happy short story. And, by the 1800s, the name cracker wasnt used to describe only impoverished settlers. Meaning instrument for crushing or cracking is from 1630s. It is sometimes used in a neutral context in reference to a native of florida or georgia see florida cracker and georgia cracker. One theory holds that the term comes from the common diet of poor whites. 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. Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings. The foremen who cracked these whips were thus known as crackers.
The second, and more probable origin, was from the georgians themselves. 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. Mencken wrote, one school holds that many of the early crackers were teamsters and got. Cracker, sometimes white cracker, is a slur used against white people, used especially against poor rural whites in the southern united states. 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. Cracker means something entirely different in florida. Georgia cracker plural georgia crackers an original colonizer of the state of the american state of georgia. The georgia crackers faithfully recreate the vintage sound of the 1920s, while keeping alive the spirit of spontaneity and. Dec 18, 2006 the rustic lives of crackers citation needed were the topic of the novels of marjorie kinnan rawlings. They were known as the group that put hawkinsville, georgia on the map. Longstreet 17901870, who wrote in his book, georgia scenes 1835, that the term was widely used in the. The atlanta black crackers originally known as the atlanta cubs and later briefly the indianapolis abcs were a professional negro league baseball team which played during the earlytomid20th century. At the same time, curiously, many plead ignorance when asked about the meaning of that statement. Information and translations of crackers in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web.
Atlanta crackers atlanta black crackers ebbets field. It is documented in william shakespeares king john act ii. Experiment with random sampling methodology using goldfish crackers. The term cracker was in use during elizabethan times to. The original root of this is the middle english word crack meaning entertaining. Apr 23, 2011 a listener in buford, georgia, says his mothers maiden name was barnett, and reports that he was told that the addition of an e to a last name was once an indication that the person was descended from slave families. Crackin good snacks a division of winn dixie, a southern grocery chain has sold crackers similar to ritz crackers under the name georgia crackers. A native to the state of georgia whose family has lived out in more rural parts of the state for many generations and continues to do so.
Crackers definition of crackers by the free dictionary. According to the 1911 edition of the encyclopaedia britannica, it is a term of co. Particularly are they uncertain about that term cracker. When used in this sense, a cracker is somebody who cant afford any other food. The atlanta crackers were a minor league baseball team that played from 1901 to 1965. Cracker meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. Georgiacracker dictionary definition georgiacracker defined. The term cracker originated in england, it was used to describe a person was a braggart or who told jokes. A cracker is a thin, crisp biscuit which is often eaten with cheese. The cracker term was soon associated with the descendants of these early settlers, especially the cowboys and farmers of georgia and florida. Like many words, the definition depends upon the intent and inflexion of the user. I make em jump right through a hoop, those animal crackers in my soup.
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. But this theory doesnt answer the question of how the word got applied almost exclusively to folks in rural areas of south georgia and florida. It is a crackerism, not a specimen of the english language. It was used to refer to poor whites, particularly those. Cracker the white man and the whip, the origin of why white people are called crackers. Cracker, the old standby of anglo insults was first noted in the mid 18th century, making it older than the united states itself.
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. Coastal georgia was settled largely by descendants of scottish and irish extraction. Information and translations of florida cracker in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. Georgiacracker dictionary definition georgiacracker. 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 term cracker was in use during the elizabethan era to describe braggarts. Georgia black crackers was born on june 23, 2009 and was created to document the research of my maternal ancestors, who hail from georgia.
Searchable collections of manuscripts, war records, historic images, vital statistics, audio and video recordings from the state library and archives of florida. The online etymology dictionary traces the slur cracker poor, white trash either. Cracker definition and meaning collins english dictionary. The publishers of the georgia crackers song folio no. His rich, vibrant voice could have given him a far more successful career than he had. This is where the expression crack a joke originated. The english meaning of cracker as a braggart appears by elizabethan times. The early scotsirish settlers were mostly presbyterian, baptist and methodist. In 1992 i said to heck with the rat race and left a pretty good marketing job in new york city and moved to georgia to help a friend with his booming bar business located in the trendy atlanta city of buckhead. We specialize in georgia gifts including foods from georgia, georgia souvenirs, atlanta gifts, savannah georgia gifts, peach themed gifts, atlanta braves gifts, atlanta t shirts, georgia bulldog gifts and georgia convention gifts that proudly represent our great state a peachy place to be.
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