Jim Crow
Americannoun
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a practice or policy of segregating or discriminating against Black people, as in public places, public vehicles, or employment.
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Disparaging and Offensive. a contemptuous term used to refer to a Black person.
adjective
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favoring or supporting a segregationist or discriminatory policy of Jim Crow.
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for Black people only.
a Jim Crow school.
noun
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the policy or practice of segregating Black people
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( as modifier )
jim-crow laws
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a derogatory term for a Black person
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( as modifier )
a jim-crow saloon
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an implement for bending iron bars or rails
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a crowbar fitted with a claw
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of Jim Crow
An Americanism dating back to 1830–40; so called from the name of a song sung by Thomas Rice (1808–60) in a minstrel show
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
His arms had been laden with T shirts reading jim crow must go.
From Time Magazine Archive
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.