Quote Originally Posted by Phil View Post
I believe the term would be "Cracker" derived from the Scots word "craik" meaning talk referring to a loud talker or braggart. Craik, by the way, has been hijacked by the Irish but is, in fact, a Lowland Scots word.
Actually the term "cracker", as applied to a boaster or barggart, is first noted in the English language in c. 1509-- the first (early 18th century) reference to the word "cracker" in Scots that I have thus far encountered referred to a pistol. "Craic", in Irish, does not mean "to talk" (that word is "caint"), but rather refers to a gathering or group of people-- "The 'craic' at the pub is brilliant."

"Cracker", in the North American sense, probably refers to "corn crackers" (those who shuck corn) and/or "whip crackers" (drovers herding cattle) and is a contemptuous term (like hillbilly) used to describe "poor white trash", as well as the native whites of Georgia and Florida. Its first recorded use in North America seems to be c. 1784 as reported in the London Chronicle when describing "banditti" in the former Maryland Colony.