Dictionary.com

peckerwood

[ pek-er-wood ]
/ ˈpɛk ərˌwʊd /

noun

Midland and Southern U.S. woodpecker.
Southern U.S. Slang: Disparaging and Offensive. poor white.

adjective

Southern U.S. small or insignificant: He makes a living farming and running a peckerwood sawmill.

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Origin of peckerwood

1825–35, Americanism;pecker + wood1; inversion of woodpecker

Words nearby peckerwood

pêche Melba, Pechenga, Pechora, peck, pecker, peckerwood, pecking order, Peckinpah, peckish, Peck's Bad Boy, pecksniff
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for peckerwood

  • Perhaps I didn't quite believe in the red-headed Peckerwood myself just then, and felt unable to incarnate him to Matthew.

    The Golden Bird|Maria Thompson Daviess

  • Matthew lingered behind the others and helped me feed the old red ally and Mrs. Ewe and Peckerwood Pup.

    The Golden Bird|Maria Thompson Daviess