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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1
stranger
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stranger
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1 |
I do not have access to an OED. Searching on the internet has produced nothing. I am trying to find the etymolgy of the term "redneck." I have heard everything from its origin being wearing red neckerchiefs in the Revolutionary War to farmer's necks being red from plowing in the sun.
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154 |
Welcome, I have always assumed the latter - poorer people not wearing collars to protect the neck - but never checked it out. I'm sure someone here will be able to provide more help than that.
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
podictionary OED (online etymology dictionary) funnily, OED2 does not give an etymology, but reading the various and varied senses it seems to have different sources (the sun, red kerchiefs, anger, pellagra, religion, etc.) BTW, you can find lots of stuff online by googling in this manner: redneck etymology [in general, (word) etymology]
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290 |
I've never read a convincing etymology, but there are many as tsuwm says.
Ceci n'est pas un seing.
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
Welcome, Meliora. On either the History Channel or Discovery, they have run a show called something like The Truth about Hillbillies; and on that show, they say say that when coal miners first started unionizing, they wore red bandannas/neckerchiefs as a symbol of involvement (unionizing was fairly dangerous), and they were the first people called rednecks.
[not swearing as to veracity emoticon]
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
That's the same story I'd heard but it would seem to be disproved by the Etymonline date of 1830. I don't think the miners started organizing till the early 20th century.
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
fwiw, Etymonline seems to use OED2 data where available.
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
Is that how they get off using the initialism OED?
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 876
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 876 |
No matter what you find, I'll stick with the sunburn story. Works for me, and it's what I always thought, as even to this day there are real life examples. :0)
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
>Is that how they get off using the initialism OED?
well, that and Online Etymology Dictionary.
-ron o.
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