The term cracks me up every time I hear it but where did it come from?
2007-11-17 13:16:10 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
You mean the slur? There are a few theories. One was a name used by whites on whites, another from slaves given to slave owners (whip crackers). The first link gives you a history of all kinds of horrid names. The second is a more comprehensive look at "cracker" itself.
If you mean the bread, it probably has to do with the sound it makes.
2007-11-17 13:26:02 · answer #1 · answered by Julia S 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One author I read said a possible reason for the term cracker was from the Scots Gaelic word craik, meaning to boast and brag obnoxiously. The southern Scots immigrants (hillbilly type people in the Appalachians) were proud, boastful, and hard to get along with. They would call people like that "craikers". It sounds a little far-fetched. I think most people think it's because crackers are white. It's just not nice to have a word that's used to make people feel bad.
2007-11-17 14:11:29 · answer #2 · answered by Snow Globe 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well in the deep south in small towns with one general store white people would gather around the cracker barrel and chat and get the local news. Since at that time segregation was legal, so it was white people were the only ones around the cracker barrel.
2016-03-13 23:38:41 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
a cracker is the term used for wranglers in the south that used to collect the cows when it was time to round them up for the night or for butchering. they would use their whip and it makes a cracking sound when it hits.
2007-11-17 13:23:06 · answer #4 · answered by poof10958 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
always thought it was short for whip cracker or slave driver
2007-11-17 13:25:45 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
gee.. I though it was because crackers ar soooo white.
2007-11-17 13:29:50 · answer #6 · answered by thinking.... 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋