cracker

American  

[krak-er] / ˈkræk ər /

noun

1. a thin, crisp biscuit.

2. a firecracker.

3. Also called cracker bonbon.  a small paper roll used as a party favor, that usually contains candy, trinkets, etc., and that pops when pulled sharply at one or both ends.

4. (initial capital letter) a native or inhabitant of Georgia or Florida (used as a nickname).

5. Slang: Disparaging and Offensive. a contemptuous term used to refer to a white person in the South, especially a poor white living in some rural parts of the southeastern U.S.

6. Slang. black hat.

7. snapper.

8. braggart; boaster.

9. a person or thing that cracks.

10. a chemical reactor used for cracking.

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adjective

1. Informal. crackers, wild; crazy.

   They went crackers over the new styles.

cracker British  

/ ˈkrækə /

noun

1. a decorated cardboard tube that emits a bang when pulled apart, releasing a toy, a joke, or a paper hat

2. short for firecracker

3. a thin crisp biscuit, usually unsweetened

4. a person or thing that cracks

5. offensive another word for poor White

6. slang a thing or person of notable qualities or abilities

7. informal worthless; useless

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Sensitive Note

The term cracker is used as a neutral nickname by inhabitants of Georgia and Florida; it is a positive term of self-reference. But when the nickname is used by outsiders, it is usually with disparaging intent and perceived as insulting by Georgians and Floridians. Cracker is always disparaging and offensive when used to refer to a poor white person in the South; the word in this sense often implies that the person is regarded as ignorant or uneducated. When used by Black people, cracker can refer to a Southern white racist, not necessarily poor or rural. See also Cracker State.

Etymology

Origin of cracker

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English craker; crack, -er ¹; cracker defs. 4, 5 were perhaps originally in sense “braggart,” applied to frontiersmen of the southern American colonies in the 1760s, though subsequently given other interpretations ( corn-cracker ); cracker for def. 11 crackers “crazy,” cracked, -ers

Example Sentences

Two days after the big day, Celtic and Livingston offered up a Christmas cracker in West Lothian.

From BBC

The importance of inter-generational connection seems to be paying off, as five-year-old Evan said he was drawing hearts on his paper cracker "for my granny who dropped me off and I love her".

From BBC

Customers line up for samples of crackers and cakes.

From The Wall Street Journal

Eight years ago, they arrived in Melbourne 3-0 down and were presented with a pitch with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.

From BBC

Re:dish Good Stuff store also stocks seasonal items like Christmas crackers.

From BBC

Related Words

• biscuit
• cookie
• pretzel