cracker

[ krak-er ]

noun

1. a thin, crisp biscuit.
2. a firecracker.
3. Also called crack·er bon·bon [krak, -er bon-bon]. 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) Slang: Sometimes Disparaging and Offensive. 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 ( def 2 ).
7. snapper ( def 5 ).
8. braggart; boaster.
9. a person or thing that cracks.
10. a chemical reactor used for cracking. Compare catalytic cracking, fractionator.

adjective

1. crackers, Informal. wild; crazy:

   They went crackers over the new styles.

cracker

/ 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. not worth a cracker informal.
   worthless; useless

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. Cracker State.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cracker¹

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 fordef 11 crackers “crazy,” cracked, -ers

Example Sentences

This flavorful dip is used for a vegan pizza or flatbreads, but it’ll be delicious for your favorite crudité or crackers, too.

From Washington Post

I love the ease of both and will happily eat them again and again scooped onto lettuce leaves, in sandwiches or on crackers for a quick meal on a busy day.

From Washington Post

Inside, an included bin separates drinks and ice from happy-hour goodies, like cheese and crackers.

From Outside Online

Threatening the city with loss of these franchise fees is like waving a cracker to distract us from the buffet.

From Voice of San Diego

They’ll stick with tuna fish and crackers, among the few items she can afford at the supermarket.

From Fortune

David Lowery of Camper von Beethoven and Cracker made this case in a viral post from 2012.

From The Daily Beast

Producers often tend to equate harder-hitting crime stories with a city setting – from Cracker and Prime Suspect to Luther.

From The Daily Beast

Terry was headed to a Cracker Barrel to “think” when a car cut her off.

From The Daily Beast

Chocolate melts, cotton candy disintegrates, graham-cracker walls separate, and gingerbread roofs eventually cave in.

From The Daily Beast

In another short, the actress had to act like she was eating a doll head with a safety pin through it on a cracker.

From The Daily Beast

And he himself brought her the golden-brown bouillon, in a dainty Sevres cup, with a flaky cracker or two on the saucer.

From Project Gutenberg

She vacantly hummed a fantastic tune as she poked at the wood embers on the hearth and munched a cracker.

From Project Gutenberg

There came a "pop" like an exploding fire-cracker, and a bullet whistled past Matt's ear.

From Project Gutenberg

And his name was "Cracker," because his birthday fell on the Fourth of July, when firecrackers were popping.

From Project Gutenberg

The move, although skilfully planned, was baffled by the quick wit of Robin the Crumb-cracker, the blacksmith's apprentice.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• biscuit
• cookie
• pretzel