Greaser definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Greasers synonyms, greasers pronunciation, greasers translation, english dictionary definition of greasers. One who greases, such as a worker who greases working parts in a machine. 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.
Compare latin crepare to rattle, crack, creak, with a secondary figurative sense of boast of, prattle, make ado about. The amount of misinformation contained in some of these answers is amazing. Climategate etc etc often making a sort of pun on the original. A dictionary of american idioms slang is very informal usage in vocabulary and idiom that is characteristically more metaphorical, playful, elliptical, vivid and ephemeral than ordinary language random house unabridged dictionary learn 600 slang expressions. Originally, this was simply an informal term for aborigine, and was in fact used by aboriginal people themselves until it started to be considered offensive in the 1950s. The name greaser was given to the mexicans that greased carts in the mid1800s.
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. Through several 50s revivals think bands like the stray cats and movies like the outsiders from the 80s this language has stayed firmly in use and even evolved. Today, cracker is often used as a derogatory term for a white person for obvious reasons. 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. The true origin of the word spic, the racist insult aimed at hispanics as hate incidents are on the rise and antiimmigrant rhetoric intensifies, the word spic has come into focus. These are a few of the slang words that were used in the early to mid sixties. Greasers are a youth subculture that was popularized in the 1950s to 1960s by predominantly working class and lower class teenagers and young adults in the united states.
In the early 60s, as today, the young people had a different lingo and it, as today, drove our parents nuts. I know it goes back to before 1600 which would put its or. Greaser it could mean someone who uses an excessive amount of hair products, or just a tough guy you might want to stay away from. Jul 01, 20 but it turns out cracker s roots go back even further than the 17th century. Once college kids know that high school kids are using a term, it becomes passe. Also these words are words used in and around hawthorne ca. Western slang, lingo, and phrases a writers guide to the old west. Words come in and out of favor in direct proportion to the speed with which they travel through the age ranks. Cracker is always disparaging and offensive when used to refer to a poor white person in the south. A greaser is a person, male or female, who is fascinated with, interested in, embodies or eminates style andor fashion of the rebellious american youth of the 1950s and early 60s, pyschobilly, rock n roll, and rockabilly music, classic cars and trucks, muscles cars, older films, and other nostalgic items.
Read on to see what was cool on the scene with this long list of 1960s slang. These descriptors can paint the picture of a typical greaser. The outsiders the slang in the book reflects both the times of the setting and its cast. Cracker conveys history of bigotry that still resonates. Yes, cockney rhyming slang is a foreign language to most people, so i thought id let you in on the secret and help noncockneys translate some of our favourite. Cracker conveys history of bigotry that still resonates cnn. This is not intended to be a complete dictionary of australian slang and terminology but i have put a few aussie slang words, local names and terms together. A guy with tons of grease in his hair, which later came to describe an entire group of people. Greaser was a derogatory term for a mexican in what is now the u. Cracker, sometimes white cracker, is a contemptuous term used against white people, used especially against poor rural whites in the southern united states. Hinton, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Cracker comes from the gaelic word craic which means a good conversation and is still in use in ireland today. Cracker definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Etymology of the term greaser the word greaser originated in the 19th century in the united states as a derogatory label for poor laborers, specifically those of mexican or italian descent.
Synonyms for cracker at with free online thesaurus, antonyms, and definitions. The pole was supple, the crate swayed as each man crept out clinging desperately and finally fell off into the sea. The outsiders slang words thanks for watching hope you enjoyed bye 2 3 chapter one page 1 lone it cussed definition. Greaser definition in the cambridge english dictionary. In remoter areas, aboriginal people still often refer to themselves quite neutrally as blackfellas and whites as whitefellas. The adf is made up of the royal australian navy ran, the australian army, and the royal australian air force raaf. The definition, example, and related terms listed above have been written and compiled by the slangit team. Offensive slang used as a disparaging term for a person of latin, especially latin american or italian, descent. The outsiders study guide contains a biography of author s. As a contemptuous american english slang for native mexican or latin american, first attested 1848, a term from the mexicanamerican war. Rob jacked frank up against the wall, and told him to shut up. The slur likely derived from what was considered one of the lowliest occupations typically held by mexicans, the greasing of the axles of wagons. The word greaser a vestige of the mexicanamerican war was a derogatory term used to refer to mexicans and mexican americans referring to the practice of mexican laborers in the southwest greasing their backs to facilitate the unloading of hides and cargo, their skin color, or presumptions about their hygiene.
The slang word phrase acronym bitch eating crackers means. Definition of bitch eating crackers the online slang. You dumb mug, get your mitts off the marbles before i stuff that mudpipe down your. Definition of the slang term cracker with an example. With a single phrase, rachel jeantel, that friend of trayvon martins, may have lit a fuse in the trial of his accused killer. A list of slang words and phrases, idioms, jargon, acronyms, and abbreviations. Another theory is that the term refers to whips that crackers used to drive slaves or cattle. Slang a tough young man, especially one from a white workingclass background who is much involved with motorcycles or cars.
And while of the vocabulary overlaps, some terms are fairly specific to the beatniks think prehippies and the greasers think hotrodders you may notice. Cracker, sometimes white cracker or cracka, is a racial epithet for white people, used especially for poor rural whites in the southern united states. This job was one of the worst jobs that anyone could have, which made the name greaser one of utmost disrespect. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. When the teens in the 1950s and 1960s adopted the name greaser, they did so with the idea of being rebellious. The meaning of the word has changed a lot over the last four. Someone or something that greases applies grease 1942, emily carr, the book of small, regatta, the pole was greased and men tried to walk out to the end of it and dislodge the crate.
Rock and roll music, rockabilly and doowop were major parts of the culture. Some military slang words, such as digger, have become widely used by. Slang a tough young man, especially one from a white workingclass. Greasers can refer to greaser derogatory, a derogatory term for a mexican greaser subculture, a subculture that developed in the united states in the 1950s greaser transformers, a member of the micromasters rocker subculture a motorcycle subculture that started in the united kingdom in the 1950s a device to apply grease. The true origin of the word spic, the racist insult. It is sometimes used in a neutral context in reference to a native of florida or georgia see florida cracker and georgia cracker. Crackers meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. Each have their own distinct traditions but share a defence force culture. What are slang words for the book the outsiders and what. The term came to be embraced colloquially by georgians as a source of humor. A cracker is a thin, crisp biscuit which is often eaten with cheese. The 1960s was an iconic decade that gave rise to a lot of interesting slang words, some of which we still use today. One theory is that it refers to the cracked corn that was a major part of the diet of poor southern whites.
Asked in the outsiders what is greaser slang for a gun in the book. Rockabilly quotes and retro phrases of the 1950s cats. The subculture remained prominent into the mid1960s and was particularly embraced by certain ethnic groups in urban areas, particularly italianamericans and hispanicamericans. I should explain to your lordship what is meant by crackers. When it comes to mens fashion, rockabilly or greaser style is about as classic cool as it gets. The keyword here is used as some of these words came from an earlier era. When used by black people, cracker can refer to a southern white racist, not necessarily poor or rural. And seniors dont want to sound like freshman and so forth. Origin of greaserfrom grease, oily hair tonic commonly usedslang a poor or workingclass youth, esp. Greaser definition, a person or thing that greases. Much of the rockabilly slang has been absorbed by mainstream culture. In mainstream press, the word hacker is often used to refer to a malicious security cracker.
In yiddish slang, this is also used landsman carries the meaning of someone you are familiar with, because they are from the old country or from your ethnic group. Its also anything that cracks, like a firecracker or a computer code cracker, or of course, that thin, savory snack that cracks when you break it. There is a classic definition of the term hacker, arising from its first documented uses related to. Greaser definition of greaser by the free dictionary. Members of the australian military known officially as the australian defence force or adf use many unique slang terms. Rockabilly quotes and retro phrases of the 1950s rockabilly can refer to a musical style as well as a fashion sense. Code switch where does the slur cracker come from, anyway. Worries courtesy of jim hip sloppy, messy or dirty. Greaser meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. Complete dictionary of cockney rhyming slang happy2move. What does wisecracker mean in the outsiders answers. But it turns out cracker s roots go back even further than the 17th century. This page explains what the slang term cracker means. Also here are the links to the two videos i have referenced in the video.
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. If you would like to suggest a term or an update to an existing one. It implies a person who lives in the utmost worst conditions and a person who no one really cares about. Cracker slang article about cracker slang by the free. Rockabilly quotes and retro phrases of the 1950s cats like us. Broader ethnic categories aboriginal australian aboabbo aus australian aboriginal person. Its common in english that people take common phrases example. What are some slang terms used in the outsiders answers. All the way back to the age of shakespeare, at least. It was not used in writing to refer to the american subculture of the mid20th century until the mid. Calamity jane obviously the hardcussing, heavydrinking frontier woman, but is also a gambling term for.
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