A native or resident of Indiana is a Hoosier. What is a Hoosier?

Answer 1

No one really knows what the definition is but here are a few theories on the origin of the word.

In 1825 named either Samuel Hoosier or Hoosher helped build a canal on the Ohio River. He and his men were predominantly from Indiana. They were called "Hoosier's men" or "Hoosiers."

It is also though of to be a derivitive of the phrase fearful early settlers called out when startled by a knock on their cabin door: "Who's here?" — a call that over time degenerated into Hoosier.

And then there's the tongue-in-cheek explanation of Hoosier poet James Whitcomb Riley, who related the term to the roughness and ferocity of the state's early residents. Hoosier pioneers fought so violently, Riley contended, that noses were bitten off and eyes jabbed out during these brawls. Hoosier, said Riley, descends from the question posed by a stranger after entering a southern Indiana tavern and pushing a piece of human flesh with his boot toe: "Who's ear?"

Not nearly so clever but perhaps more plausible is the suggestion that the term may derive from "hoozer" — a word that in the Cumberland dialect of Old England means "high hills."

It was also attached to a hill-dweller or highlander and came to suggest roughness and uncouthness. Thus, throughout the Southeast in the eighteenth century, 'Hoosier' was used generally to describe a backwoodsman, especially an ignorant boaster, with an overtone of crudeness and even lawlessness.

Answer 2

Since they already answered your questions, (via Wikipedia), I have to comment on Sane, Mr.Level 5....it must be very easy when all you do is copy and paste your answer directly from Wikipedia while sounding extremely intelligent and knowledgeable too!

I'm originally from Indiana, lived in many other places, and live back here now, and I've never heard Hoosier used in a derogatory way. (I'm sure people from Kentucky, etc., do! :) but...) it's simply like saying people from New York are "New Yorkers." I think Indianaers is just hard to say!

Answer 3

my mom told me that this state was mostly farm land back in the 20's when she was growing up. and before that we can only imange how far apart the adverage neighbor was. well my grandma told her that people would walk down the road and the owner of the property ahead would yell out who'sss theeeeeeerrrrrr making it sound like hoosier so that is how indiana people got the nickname of hoosiers.

Answer 4

A hoosier can be a style of china cabinet or hutch, dating to the early 1900s, in the mission, craftsman or prarie four square houses. Very popular in Indiana and other parts of the midwest.

Answer 5

A Hoosier is a person from Kentucky who ran out of money before they got to Michigan !!!!

Answer 6

It is said that because of their accents, when people would knock on teh door they would say, "Who's there?" (Hoosier.) The name stuck as people from other parts of the country made fun of people from Indaina and their accents.

Answer 7

The term is commonly accepted and employed at all levels of discourse by people from Indiana themselves, and is considered neither derogatory nor informal when used to describe people from Indiana.

However, it is embraced more enthusiastically in the southern half of the state, reflecting the likely origin of the word from Appalachian heritage.

In other areas of the country, such as St. Louis, the word is used in a derogatory fashion in similar context to "white trash".

Answer 8

Nobody really knows! Here's a site with some of the theories:

http://www.indiana.edu/~mmweb98/Hoosier.html

Answer 9

According to wikipedia, we are just a bunch of "...inexperienced, awkward, or unsophisticated..." people.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoosier

Go COLTS!!!

Answer 10

Having lived outside of Indiana, I'd have to say the above answer is true. Most people in Indiana are morons.