[Quote=Faldage]
In the case, e.g., of 'cracker' as a derogatory term for poor or racist whites some people have made the 'whipcracker' guess. If we find the term 'cracker' used for something very similar to the modern definition in a context that can easily be taken to have been connected to the modern usage and that pre-dates the circumstances that are involved in the 'whipcracker' guess than we can reasonably assume that the 'whipcracker' guess is wrong

Unless evidence can be found that the pejorative term 'cracker' has evolved from that pre-dated moment and from 'whipcracker ' along seperate lines. Then both guesses are right.

Last edited by BranShea; 09/06/2008 8:16 PM.