Cracker (Answer)

Here is the answer to the cracker word origin game.

I REALLY stumped so many people on this one!

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513 Responses to Cracker (Answer)

  1. azur says:

    There are two other southern regional names that I know of. “Tar Heels” and “Raw Backs”. North Carolina was a large producer of tar (pine pitch) for bottom of boats, and the North Carolina regiments were said that “they stuck to their works as if their heels were stuck with tar”. Of course this became a tease as the other states [especially the Virginian's] who would joke that they were slow, because of the “tar” on their heels. This ensued the nickname “Raw Backs” to the Virginian’s as the “Tar Heels” would reply that the Virginian’s “backs” were raw, because of they (NC) had to run over top of them in order to get to the front.

  2. darlingj says:

    I’m getting you now…

    …but still not getting 30 secs of co-comment promo at the end of the vid…or maybe I do…

    You are SO much better and enduring than a temporary Sponsor…it’s YOU Marina – you will be around after they have had their moment in the sun…

    I feel it – know it…notice the date here…and the future will tell…

    …but then again, I could be wrong…

  3. leoNard says:

    :smile: random rules…http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/featured/everyday-life-russian-antarctic-station/10210…guess when learning happens , just get out of its way… :eek: :razz: Related PostsA Day in the Life of Novolazarevskaya Antarctic Station
    16,500 Condoms Delivered to Antarctica Research Base
    Helpless Penguins Killed by Climate Change….thanks to HFW…[efforts] and [affects]…now is nite, woe the bite..flyte

  4. leoNard says:

    random lesson and comment ‘nice pictures’ SPAIN Hot word to expand on. Soda crackers are food. Bees are Good and so are you!

  5. lostforwords says:

    I thought the way you compared yourself wearing heals to the airport to Russian girls wearing heals to MacDonalds was really sweet–it would be terrible if were born sophisticated snobs! I loved the way you showed your old pictures; the moment had a certain wistfulness, which I liked.

    By the way, there are too good words to investigate: sophisticated and snob.

    lostforwords

  6. tedt says:

    :lol: Me as a German knew that one, how could she stump so many ?
    Btw, most Americans are Europeans, and telling lies was invented by us I think, the old Romans already dd it :lol:

  7. I believe that they called Northerner’s Yank’s or Yankee’s.

  8. daddydoc says:

    you asked, “if the northerners called the southerners ‘cracker’ as a slur, what slur did the southerners use to describe the northerners?”

    the obvious answer is that southern gentlemen don’t use slurs. The more common folk used the offensive term ‘Yankee’, to refer to the foppish idiocy described in the song yankee doodle dandy. note that members of the confederacy considered Washington and Jefferson as southerners.

    other slurs: up until the civil rights movement, the word ‘N*gger’ (nope i don’t mean nagger) was not considered a slur, it only referred to the color of one’s skin->latin nigre meaning ‘black’

    I was born and raised in the north, but my family roots are in the south, and i take personal affront every time i hear the derogatory term Yankee. Did you know that new york has even named one of its baseball teams this offensive slur? personally, i think that they should change it to something far less offensive, like “the New York Nigres”

    nequaquam Veritum

  9. okay4now says:

    Marina, everyone’s always commenting on your looks/features I’d like to add to that and say I think your hair looks real nice. Of course, it always does etc etc. <—wow Andy, why was that so hard to say?

  10. shane says:

    OK, dumb question. Where does the term Yankee come from then?

  11. lostinhere says:

    Post-Civil War, the southerners called northerners ‘CarpetBaggers’. Anyone know the origin?

    • azur says:

      If I remember correctly, the term “Carpet Bagger” is a term used for Northerners that settled in the southern states. They usually carried with them bags made of oriental rugs, thus the name.

      Any one? Any one? Hope this helps.

  12. shane says:

    Marina,

    I was watching the Russia vs Netherlands soccer game today and got to wondering… why are people from the Netherlands called Dutch and speak Dutch. Why are they not Netherlanders and speak Netherian? :)

    Where does the name Dutch come from?

    Also, I visited the Getty museum and they had some Flemish art. I was told Flemish is also from the Holland region. So why is it Flemish art and not Dutch art?

  13. sniperskaya says:

    Marina, I was doing some channel surfing on the TV this morning and happened to catch a show called “Attack Of The Shows” onG4. They had a bunch of Hi-tech stuff, new video games, etc., and the top 10 Women Of The Web. They listed Hot For Words as number 5! Kudos to you, kiddo! Keep up the good work!

  14. lofkc says:

    Yankee is the term for northerns that i know of. From the pictures i take it you are not a natural blonde so was you a red head just curious.

  15. Capman911 says:

    Ok it’s working now. Thanks a million. :wink:

    • Warren says:

      capman911,
      What happened to all of the rest of the replies? I was reading them and then – zip – gone.
      Oh and don’t sweat it. You already explained how you were able to reply like a sniper.

  16. misterben says:

    what is the origin of “sucker” referring to so someone who is gullible or easily tricked.

  17. harkorebel says:

    why dony ya put some pics on yer site. ill bet not everyone is wathing you for yer lessons. :oops:

  18. muggins says:

    I believe the Southern soldier called Northerners was ‘Yanks’, short for ‘Yankee’.
    A term used by the Yanks for Southerner soldiers was ‘Johnny’ or ‘Johnnies’, which is short for ‘Johnny Rebs’, which is short for ‘Johnny Rebels’.’ The crackers were also called ‘Butternuts’ because it was a cheap natural dye they used in their woolen uniforms.

    Wow…no funky xylophone ‘n’ flute transitional music in this lesson.
    I was getting used to that. What CD is that on?

    I want to recommend an easy reading and humorous book called….”Crackers” by Roy Blount Jr., which can be snatched up at
    Amazon, used hardcover, for practically S&H. (5 bucks)
    http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B0017KX4XM/ref=sr_1_olp_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1214051541&sr=1-5

  19. WooYownik says:

    Please, Can You tell what is the origin of the word Pandemonium ? :)
    Thanks

  20. pedanticKarl says:

    I kindly request the word origin of the word “smart” as in Marina is very pretty and smart.

    It seems that there are many uses for the word smart as in, “ouch, that smarts”, and “smart ass” and “smart aleck”. What does aLx have to do with that? :lol:

    Just kidding aLx…..

  21. what is the origin of hte word foot fetish, you are stunning xx

  22. What is the origin of the word, playboy :?:

  23. jamessayssup says:

    I was wondering if you could find the origin of the word.. Defenestrate! A weird verb, and sounds weird. Please investigate ;;) thanks HFW

  24. stupermundi says:

    What is the origin of the word ..

    SMITTEN

    As in Marina I am smitten by youe brains and beauty.

  25. davemarkwz says:

    :idea: Going to make a game of this one.
    It’s something you do in every video. All your students want this.
    You never have a blooper on this word because you haven’t done it
    incorrectly.
    Have you thought of it? :???:
    Once you have, I bet it’ll be your best video ever.
    (And if you haven’t thought of it, I’ll give in – but give it a try)

  26. I would like to request the word “kundalini”.
    You are amazing!

  27. blacckkidh says:

    you should investigate the origin of the word “word” next, lol, it’s in your name too

  28. gsketch says:

    i would like to know where the term Geisha came from

  29. PageDoll says:

    I know who the new teachers pet is!

  30. choiseul says:

    Bleachers — everyone sits on them some point in time.. that word doesn’t even seem to be a word to me, and I do hope I spelled it correctly; just never use it.
    That or the expression Bloody Hell heh…

    See ya милашка

  31. sniperskaya says:

    Dang! Missed another one!
    And the homework answer is we call ‘em Yankees!

  32. daviddstiles says:

    The southerners called the northerners yankees, during the Civil War the southerners called the union solders billy yank and blue belly.

  33. swatoy says:

    Марина ты прекрасна :wink:

  34. Could you please do a lesson on the word (not trying to offend anyone) faggot?

  35. salem590 says:

    Sure stumped me.

    I’m sure they called them either Yankees, or Carpet Baggers..

    Oh! and a Request!
    Where did the phrase “Morning Wood” come from?

  36. tabowers215 says:

    DAMNYANKEE!
    I was 12 years old before I knew that ‘Damn’ and ‘Yankee’ were two seperate words. :smile:

  37. yo you should do a show about hte word gun

  38. buzzword says:

    the south refers to the north as the, champions don’t they?

  39. bill2468 says:

    Carpet Baggers

    The unit of luggage that was easy to hand carry onto a train or stage coach made from carpet material.

    BiLL

  40. gio.forever says:

    Marina, where exactily did you were in Spain ??? That hat is very cool !

  41. gio.forever says:

    But the picture shows a black hair teenager :smile:

  42. augie says:

    yes my dear i was stumped !!!!but that black outfit you wore as you say crazy picture WOW your FANTASTIC awsomelious sweetheart

  43. gio.forever says:

    Why do we call “Doctor” when we reffer to a “Medic” ?

  44. blahboy says:

    Marina, what is the origin of the expression “to pass with flying colors”? Or what about the word “consumptive”? How did it come to refer to someone with tuberculosis?

  45. Being a damn Yankee, I’m pretty sure thats what they were yellin when I took outa there like I was on fire…yes ma’am, thats my final answer. Yankee. (How about the origin of that one teach?. other than that it came from the south?) Please Marina, moi drug, how do I write Bvwe Ochin kra see vwe on an English keyboard? was I even close? lol
    Vas drug Leonard

  46. PageDoll says:

    Wow, there is some serious poo flingin’ going on down there a little ways :shock: …sure am glad I was at work today, jeez :neutral:

    • Capman911 says:

      Well you’r here now. So join in :wink:

      • PageDoll says:

        Whats up buddy?..buddy,buddy :grin: Good ta hear from ya!…speeking of kids that came out alright from the mouse show, don’t forget my dearest Christina Aguilara …saw this show twice, once in a sports arena and once in small place, 2700 seats!, in the 7th row! Its was awesome! you can guess who with. :grin: To this day I can’t wacth this dvd without getting goose bumps! I know, call me crazy, but we love Christina. This clip is from about the middle of the show and the whole stage turns into a circus and the song that follows is pretty cool too…turn it up! :grin:

    • buzzword says:

      it’s all old shit, shit that’s been thrown before and will be thrown again. shitty ain’t it?

      • aLx says:

        no, it’s poopy. people w/ $40,000 toys don’t think about shitty things, let alone do them. that’s just … the others, you know. the dumb ones in the cubicles, if i recall correctly. something like that. that’s shitty, yeah …

      • buzzword says:

        ha, that just reminded me of an argument i had with a nascar fan. i was saying those drivers have to were adult diapers. and the guy was like, no they don’t! and i said, dude, they are driving for hours in like an oven on wheels, they piss and shit themselves i tell you! and the nascar dude was getting real offended. and of course i couldn’t stop, so i says, you know when their up there in the winner’s circle, holding the trophy, pretty girls, cameras, cheering crowd… shitty diapers. the winning dude is standing there in shitty diapers. and then they all go back and have to change out of their dirty diapers. he got all pissed but after anything he said i would just say, shitty diapers. i wonder if they have little sponsor stickers on their nascar driver man size diapers.

      • BillyB says:

        Sell it You just need the right venue.

      • BillyB says:

        I race short track & I think, only the ones that crash need the diapers. Takes me back to an old boyscout moto “be prepared” The guy in victory square is clean (probably) except the team bent the rules far enough to excell.
        no diapers for Danica ,fiesty little thing, I’m sure she wears a jock.

      • buzzword says:

        billyb, how much youtube do you watch? i thought i had a high number! by the way i meant to send this to you before fathers day and graduation, look to your right and click on fathers or graduation. the dude has a really great radio show, i listen all the time.

        http://woub.org/radio/index.php?section=4&page=16

      • Captain Jack says:

        OMG BW !!! your comments about my nascar brothers in shitty diapers got me Rolling on the floor laughting my silly ass off. (ROTFLMSAO). I need to call 911 I think I busted my gut. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: OMG I think Im going to die laughing my ass off!!! :!: :!: :!: :!: I can’t stop laughing!. OH im in paint. damn I can’t spell! Shitty Diapers!!!!! I have to tell this joke to all my friends. This is just too funny!!! :lol: :lol:

      • Captain Jack says:

        Watching your Danica vid. Funny the Michael said he got the back end lose and he nailed Danica in the left rear! LOL!!!!

        Wow I have never seen Danica that pissed off. She was going to kick Ryan’s ass!

        Danica is Smart, Fast, and Sexy. That girl has it all!!!!!

      • Capman911 says:

        You’r right buzzword they do wear diapers. I go to alot of Nascar races. If they didn’t they would explode shit all over the car at about halfway through the race :lol:

    • PageDoll says:

      Oh, look who decided to chime in, Mr. all smiles all the time for everyone (alx) :cry: . You never have anything good to say about anything, ever. What a buzzkill you are. Everytime you raise your little fingers to type something its always just a bunch of rubbish. You must be one miserable human being, I feel for ya. And no, you don’t recall correctly, I never said “dumb” or even “something like that”, the misery that is your life must have skewed your recall, :sad: —Marina, How could you have EVER picked this guy to be teacher to be teachers pet? What a giant downer he is.

      • BillyB says:

        Don’t be intimidated by aLx, He was intimidating to me when I first started posting here, I was afraid to talk to him he is from what I can grasp really inteligent, but young & fiesty & from a different culture…speaks in short sentences & gets a lot more across in short than most of us can with an avalanche of words, but it is easy to take him to personally he is young & I’m sure full of a certain amount of angst, whatever the heck that is. I’ve forgotten (not really), what it was like to be his age. What the heck am I doing defending alx, flip him the bird he’ll flip it right back at you.

      • Captain Jack says:

        What would this blog be without aLx? We have to have some buzzkill. You can’t eat cake every day. Anyhow he says his point in a short sentences. He doesn’t do long speeches on how he is right. He says his thing and that’s it. He has lots of points that are spot on. I respect him a lot. I do wish once in a great while he say something really positive. Even if he fakes it. :wink:

  47. monkcow says:

    Is there a word gospazha? I read it in a Heinlein novel and I don’t know if it is real or made up.

    -Thanks tovarisch

  48. monkcow says:

    could you clear up the history behind the word definistrate: to throw something or someone out of a window.

  49. dansworld says:

    Hi Marina – I was wondering what the top 10 or 20 or so top slang terms for either male or female genitalia might be. We all know what they are, it’s just what are we calling them these days. It might be a fun game to play on youtube…thanks – your devoted student

  50. buzzword says:

    did i miss anything? been doing hospital rounds, ugh.

  51. trgoblin says:

    Word Request…

    You could make this video quite interesting… I suspect….

    …the word is “Nymph”

  52. nighteye says:

    Well, maybe they called them slackers?

    Anyway, Marina, your natural hair colour looks good on you – have you considered letting it grow back? It saves money on the peroxide, too. ;)

    • trgoblin says:

      Nighteye… from the spelling of “colour” I’m guessing you are Canadian?

      I don’t think people actually use peroxide any more do they?

      At this point, I think she’d have to transition gradually. To do this professionally would cost big bucks.

      What’s I think is nice is how she shares little bits and pieces of her personal life every now and then. Just enough to create perspective, but not enough to kill the mystery.

      • nighteye says:

        No, I’m dutch – I just try to speak proper english, like english english, and not like american english.

        I never bleached my own hair, so I don’t know about any modern alternatives to peroxide. I also think most people look the best with their natural hair colour – natural selection made it that way. Other hair colours can also look good, but often not as good as the natural colour.

      • trgoblin says:

        I hope you’re not suggesting that American English is not “proper” english – after all, we’re merely talking about one vowel in the spelling, not a major error in grammer.

        The evolution of language occurs partly from the development of “dialects”, or variations of usage within the same language. Without regional dialects, we would all still be speaking latin or something even more ancient, perhaps.

  53. xrisos says:

    nice video marina!!!!!!!!keep on the good work!also your first picture -the one in school-was great. :oops: :oops:

  54. annuddermale says:

    Northerners were yankees, ‘course…and if they ventured south, carpetbaggers ’cause their luggage was made of carpet…

    as some have already mentioned, you look smashing in the photographs – especially…oh, nevermind…

    Here’s something to make y’all smile:

    FOR NORTHERNERS COMING SOUTH

    In the South: If you run your car into a ditch, don’t panic. Four men in a four-wheel drive pickup truck with a tow chain will be along shortly. Don’t try to help them, just stay out of their way. This is what they live for.

    Don’t be surprised to find movie rentals and bait in the same store. Do not buy food at this store.

    Remember, “y’all” is singular, “all y’all” is plural, and “all y’all’s” is plural possessive.

    Get used to hearing “Y’all ain’t from round here, are ya?”

    Save all manner of bacon grease. You will be instructed later on how to use it.

    Don’t be worried at not understanding what people are saying. They can’t understand you either.

    The first Southern statement to creep into a transplanted Northerner’s vocabulary is the adjective “big’ol,” truck or big’ol” boy. Most Northerners begin their Southern-influenced dialect this way. All of them are in denial about it.

    The proper pronunciation you learned in school is no longer proper.

    Be advised that “He needed killin” is a valid defense here.

    If you hear a Southerner exclaim, “Hey, y’all, watch this,! ” you should stay out of the way. These are likely to be the last words he’ll ever say.

    If there is the prediction of the slightest chance of even the smallest accumulation of snow, your presence is required at the local grocery store. It doesn’t matter whether you need anything or not. You just have to go there.

    Do not be surprised to find that 10-year-olds own their own shotguns, they are proficient marksmen, and their mammas taught them how to aim.

    In the South, we have found that the best way to grow a lush green lawn is to pour gravel on it and call it a driveway.

    AND REMEMBER:

    If you do settle in the South and bear children, don’t think we will accept them as Southerners. After all, if the cat had kittens in the oven, we wouldn’t call ‘em biscuits.

  55. Bob says:

    Today’s quote:-
    “You can pretend to be serious – you can’t pretend to be witty.” – Sacha Guitry 1885-1957

    “You can’t be serious – you must be joking.” -
    John McEnroe 1959-
    (Same Birthday as me, BTW)

  56. GREG says:

    Hey Teacher; You need to bitch at the Guys at Gavatar, it’s nothing if not a mess. Pic are rarely on……….. WTF?

    • annuddermale says:

      haven’t had that problem,roadie…i’ve always seen mine here…

      ‘course some don’t have it…

      and if the site you are on doesn’t enable ‘em, you won’t see ‘em…

      ‘sides, the price is right, i think… :cool:

    • Capman911 says:

      The only problem I have had latley was trying to upload another gravatar and didn’t get it quite right. So back to my bike :wink:

      • Yep, that other one you had was plumb spooky, capman. I mean, how did you get a video loop when everyone else has a still shot? I swear, every time that goldfish swam past your face again I jumped a country mile. And to think I once asked for a refund on the orange sunshine because I wasn’t getting any flashbacks! Sheesh. Flat out gimme the heebie-jeebies.

  57. dececk says:

    i want to post a word request…what’s a LAMER???

  58. dececk says:

    i try to give an answer…i think they call them yankee doodle..is that right?? :mrgreen:

  59. Captain Jack says:

    I think I found my new Yacht! Just imagine all the toys I could park inside! Oh and if I get stuck somewhere that I can only back out, I’ll just run to the other bridge and drive forward. No need to turn around! Just think of the parties we could have on here. Hey and Its cheap at only $350k. Sink in a million $$ and I could have one awesome boat hu? NOT!!! :twisted: :twisted:

    Ok here is a little puzzle for you. We know boats have a ‘Port side’ and a ‘Starboard side’ If your on the ship and facing the bow ( the pointy end) the Port side would be on your left and the starboard side would be on your right. Now which side of the ferry is the Port side? Anyone?

  60. lembata says:

    I think the answer is Yankees but im not sure. And also I want to post a word request for Indubitably.

  61. okay4now says:

    …and cracking-up also means to go nuts, or insane :twisted: , but then to crack-up over something, or she really cracked me up means to laugh…now this is getting more confusing not less…

  62. mloy says:

    Nothing much to say about “cracker”…but in a similar vein, what about “honky”? Or if you’re finally up to it, is “For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge” really what the “F” word of doom and destruction actually means?

    Take care.

  63. Capman911 says:

    I’ll see you guys later :sad:

  64. shawnmnorris says:

    What in the world is your last name, Marina? or do you like to remain only first-named? Maybe that’s better to remain mysteriously hidden – name-wise…

  65. Bob says:

    Homework: It’s Yankees, which I believe comes from the fact that New York was originally a Dutch colony called New Amsterdam.
    Someone, (or ones) called the Dutch by the epithet “Jan Kaas” (literally John Cheese meaning a cheesehead) and this got corrupted to Yankees as a transliteration.

  66. Answer to home work for crackers: Northerners are called carpetbaggers. They would come to the south with junk or scams to sell to the southerners. This bags were made of carpet. Thrick heavy material and the ulgyest bags you every saw. Only northerners could afford such bags. When southerens saw you carring one. They knew you are a Carpetbagger. You can do a word orign on this too. I sent this same comment by web page and youtube and now this one. I want to be the Teachers Pet.

  67. Capman911 says:

    We need more [reply] buttons :???:

  68. Capman911 says:

    Alx, you better watch out. I thought Pagedoll was a girl and was going to flirt with her until I found out she was a he. He even told me :lol: that he was going to keep me going for awhile then tell me he is a dude. So if errin sends you a picture of him or her in a bikini don’t be suprised. :lol: :lol:

    • GREG says:

      We are all just electric pulses of 10101010 ‘s right?
      Would to be odd if the Teach was one of Us, incognito…. hmm? Who could it be?…

      • This idea has been floated a few times before.

        But what’s the sense in that, really? Too much time and not enough to do? Seems unlikely. Make off-the-wall comments just to get people riled or to see who the unstable elements are?

        It doesn’t add up. She can already read everything we submit. Plus, we’re all unstable anyway, lol. Except maybe Argon, one of the “noble gases.” And I suspect even he is composed of some unstable elements as well. Just an observation…

      • GREG says:

        To much time ? yes,,,,,,,,House bound and my dog is ignoring me , so I am annoying you. Don’t let Me stop you from more in lighten conversations, I would love to read them.

      • GREG says:

        I am just a little less stable then metastable helium

      • Capman911 says:

        My little dog is 13 years old and can not hear. So I can sneak up on the little bastard and catch him. If he doesn’t see me coming first. :lol:

    • Prospero says:

      I think that some of you may remember someone named “errinf” that some weeks or months back took a flying hissy fit over the unmitigated gall of google to place [gasp] McCain political ads. Whoever this errinf was, he or she seemed to have the same “delivery” as this current “errin.” The errinf ultimately left the site in a huff, demanding in a post that her subscription or account or something be canceled, but that was after threats against Marina to have her website basically harassed and hounded by people from a liberal oriented website.

  69. GREG says:

    Can you imagine if there were a sandwich called The ; N * GGER.
    Then why is there no outrage about ; THE WOPPER ?

    I say we go burn down something and get us a new TV.

    Oh come on chill :cool: just Cracking . :roll: are you cracking up?

  70. jaydeep says:

    why is the rash chicken pox called “chicken pox” does it have to do anything with chickens?

  71. wetsuit5 says:

    How about the word/phrase “i.e.”

  72. huggawood says:

    Hi hun, could you please tell me the origin of the word smorgasbord (in swdish-smörgåsbord)
    xoxo
    /Annika

  73. GREG says:

    Trolling__/\
    ………………\…………….> :shock:

  74. tayljim says:

    a 5 star job
    Also enjoy you sharing your pictures from
    your personal life with us. Thank you for
    being you.

  75. John says:

    Maia Marina
    Crackers was the name of a cat my x wife and i use to care for. She had kittens in the bed in the middle of the knight and one of them really liked water so much when we watered the flower bed he would run and roll all around in the water. I never saw a cat that liked water so much.

  76. errin says:

    Confederate soldiers had hardtack biscuits as their rations, and hardtack is akin to a cracker because it is flat and dry. I wonder if our trusty teacher took the time to explore this possible origin of ‘cracker’ being a derogatory term for Southerners because of the hardtack they ate during the Civil War. Very plausible origin, and all I used with my knowledge of American history, something that is not Marina’s forte. In fact, it is something she is ignorant of. Quite a disqualifier when trying to come off as an expert on words of an American historical origin.
    Ok, I’ve said my peace on this matter, but, needless to say, I am deeply disappointed by such red herring philology as this. Marina isn’t perfect, but she should be held to high standards because she can be. HotForWords is great when done right, disappointing when done wrong. Mistakes are nothing more than something to be learned from and not repeated, so don’t take constructive criticism as something adversarial when it is not. Just try to be a little more thorough with your lessons, teach. It makes it easier to trust you that way.
    Peace and love, Errin : )

    • Prospero says:

      You’ve not identified a mistake.

      You used your knowledge of “American history” to speculate as to the possible origin of a word by suggesting that “cracker” MIGHT have arisen out of some derogatory view of southerners because of the hardtack they ate during the civil war, which was in your words “akin” to a cracker. Have you researched the first uses of the word “cracker” and the first uses of that word in reference to white people?

      Has any linguistics expert or etymologist adopted your speculation as a possibility? What does the Oxford English Dictionary say?

      Do the following points make your theory less plausible? (1) both union AND confederate soldiers used hardtack, (2) hardtack was invented around 1800 – a full 60+ years before Civil War, (3) originally hardtack was used by sailors of the US and Britain as a long lasting sustenance on long sea voyages, and in the 1840s it was used by miners and explorers in the gold rush, (4) there does not appear to be any examples of southern whites being singled out in derogatory manner for their consumption of hardtack, and (5) there doesn’t seem to be any examples of anyone, northerner, southerner, sailor, explorer, miner, being given any derogatory name because of the word “hardtack” or that “cracker” was in fact derived from the consumption of hardtack.

      The word “cracker” actually goes back to 1440, “hard wafer,” but the specific application to a thin, crisp biscuit is from 1739. This doesn’t seem to lend itself to your theory.

      There is a quote from 1766 which states, “”I should explain to your Lordship what is meant by crackers; a name they have got from being great boasters; they are a lawless set of rascalls on the frontiers of Virginia, Maryland, the Carolinas and Georgia, who often change their places of abode.” [1766, G. Cochrane] That’s a century before the Civil War, and 35 years prior to the invention of hardtack, and southern whites are being called “crackers” and this gentleman (Mr. Cochrane) is explaining to a Lord in England what that means.

      And, what do you mean, “red herring” philology? A red herring is something that is intended to divert attention from the real matter at hand. Is that what you think Marina was doing? She was employing a cunning debate technique to get us off the track of the true etymology of the word “cracker?” :grin:

    • Capman911 says:

      Who pissed in your cornflakes? Please I mean no derogatory question. I am saying this in kindness, but give Marina a break she’s only human just like you and I. I have made plenty of mistakes on this web site and no one has chastized me for my mistakes. If you are such a well learned person and it sounds like you are then start your own You Tube site and teach us the way you think we should learn. I for one would join your site and listen to what you have to say. I am not prejudice, I will listen to anybody. Whether they are Danish, African, French, Russian, American or just an alien from outerspace. I have made a lot of new friends on this site who I care for and hope they care for me. They are from all over the world and I have learned alot from them and their different cultures. We enjoy the bantering and have fun with each other, even if the lesson is wrong or off pace. So Marina makes a few mistakes so do us all, we are human. Thanks for reading this Errin and I hope you have a better day. For we do care about you just as much as anyone else who comments here. As you put it Peace and Love. Mike

      • Prospero says:

        The key here is that Marina was correct, and errin made a knee-jerk false accusation (in the process claiming to be knowledgeable, while clearly demonstrating that she is not).

      • Okay, capman, that tears it. I’ve had it with all your mistakes. Now go out back of the shed and cut me a hickory switch. If it’s not big enough, I’ll go get one myself. And remember: this is gonna hurt me a lot more than it hurts you….NOT! :twisted:

    • Captain Jack says:

      @Errin, If you don’t like the show your watching why don’t you just change the channel???? :neutral:

    • okay4now says:

      Every army that we know anything about had something like hardtack, the world sailed on it–even the Romans, & Marina does enough in Latin to make the grade. Besides, even if she were wrong now and then it’s the intelligence and progress of the student body that’s important–and in that regard she’s doing pretty good job even though now & again you can catch a student in error. :oops:

    • davecodave says:

      ERRIN. If you piss her off and make her quit HOTFORWORDS, im going to to be soooo angry at you.
      Nobody…And I mean NOBODY wants to watch ERRINFORWORDS!
      (so lighten up)

  77. errin says:

    For the record, Marina completely fucked up the word origin of the word ‘Wop’ in a recent lesson. She has a very limited understanding of American culture and history, so it is hard to take her seriously as an ‘expert’ of derogatory American words. If Marina is so clueless as to not know that wop stands for ‘Without Papers’ (harkening back to the Ellis Island days which were pre-passport), then how can she be trusted to have a clue as to what cracker means? Then again, maybe she’s too busy sharing her pictures and coloring books and knick knacks with us to get the job done as an educator and a philologist.

    • geronimo says:

      90% or more of the people here like the fact that she shares her pictures and things about her personal life with us. Who cares if she she DID get something wrong, this is all for fun, it’s a college course. I also have always heard that WOP is for with out papers, but what is your actual proof that your are right and she isn’t? Let’s see some links. If you are going to take this site too serious you will never have any fun. Maybe you should look for a more anal website to spend your time. Something along the lines of P.e.t.a. or greenpeace.

    • Prospero says:

      Without papers origin of the word “wop” is a myth. You’re wrong, and your history is way off base.

      It is absolutely not an acronym for “With Out Papers” or “Without Passport.” This is one of the most famous examples of folk etymology or backronym. The reason for this is that the term was already in popular use as early as 1910, a period in which no immigrant needed papers to enter the United States (passports and visas were not required of immigrants entering the country until 1921).

      [Origin: 1910–15, Americanism; < It (Neapolitan dial.) guappo swaggerer < Sp guapo pimp, ruffian, via dial. F < L vappa wine that has gone flat, worthless person; initial w perh. by assoc. with a related Gmc word]

      “Wop” is a derogatory word for “Italian,” 1912, Amer.Eng. slang, apparently from southern It. dialect guappo “dandy, dude, stud,” and it was used as a greeting among male Neapolitans, said to be from Sp. guapo “bold, dandy,” which is from L. vappa “sour wine,” also “worthless fellow;” related to vapidus.

    • Prospero says:

      Oh, for the record, I like it when Marina does cute things in her video – shows some pictures – makes a juice – shows us her bloopers – all that stuff. It adds character to her videos.

      I concur with geronimo that part of the fun of this site is its lighthearted nature. Marina’s not only hot, but she comes across as a very happy and fun person. I like that.

    • Captain Jack says:

      Errin, Where on this blog did you read that she was an expert of derogatory American words? I must have missed something.

      • Prospero says:

        Errin makes no sense.

        There is no inherent difference between the etymology of derogatory American words, and non-derogatory American words. Marina’s knowledge of American culture and history is also not a prerequisite to her being able to research the etymology of words.

        Errin seems to be of the belief that Marina just sits around contemplating and speculating about where words might have come from. That’s certainly not the case. Marina has said in some of her posts that she has several main sources that she looks to to find the etymology of words. This isn’t stuff she makes up, this is stuff that other people have made careers out of gleaning from the language.

        Some of the information to back up Marina can be found just by some crafty internet searching and references to websites that focus on linguistics and etymology. Errin seems to think you just go by your recollection of American history/culture and come up with a theory that may work, and then berate someone who actually did the research. It took me about 3.5 minutes to blow the vapid “hardtack” theory of cracker etymology out of the water. It’s about the most inane and stupid idea one could come up with, and has no basis in fact (and clearly shows that while errin is quick to rudely berate others for their “mistakes” he or she has little concern for being anywhere close to the truth).

      • Prospero says:

        By the way, cap’n, don’t you think Marina should finally make me teacher’s pet for my vigorous defense against these verbal assaults?

      • geronimo says:

        Yes Prospero she should!

      • Captain Jack says:

        Your “Word Fu” is great old master!

        No! I don’t think she should make you teachers pet. :shock:
        Yea she should make you Teachers Assistant! In fact many of us could be a TA. Abracadabra I make you and Unofficial TA (UTA) for HFW. :grin: I think that since I am a Captain I can do that, unofficially of course . But I am at sea right now (well a lake that leads to the sea) my words are law. Anyone else want to become a UTA in hopes of becoming an OTA by Commander in Chief Marina? :smile:

      • Capman911 says:

        Jack can you marry people at sea? Or have you ever done one before. Could be a good side line job to help pay for the new boat or Yacht Yatch Yacth well you no what I mean :lol: :smile:

      • buzzword says:

        i want prospero to be teachers pet so he’ll stop begging. give the dog his bone.

      • Captain Jack says:

        Capman, Nope I can not. Its just a common myth. BUT if one where an ordain minister then one could do such a thing. I have heard you can go on the internet and become ordained, or something like that. But thats what has to happen to legally marry someone.

        Speaking of such. I think I have a charter to do next weekend. Some couple wants a captain to take them out for the evening. I hear it might be a proposal. Whats that movie? Where the girl is always planning weddings and she doesn’t even have a BF? But I think in the end she does get hitched up?

        _/)__/)__

      • lividemerald says:

        Good job, prospero811. I agree with you 100%.

    • davecodave says:

      WE ARE NOT WATCHING SO THAT WE CAN BE EDUCATED…!!!
      (didn’t you see her get up and go get the pictures? ….hello)

      • Captain Jack says:

        But Im getting educated! I know some new word origins and get to see some old photos of young Marina. :grin:

      • koalabear says:

        Marina is quite clever with these videos.

        The cute picture at the start of the video is a hook to get people to watch the video.

        Then in a short 2 minute time frame, she explains the etymology of a word or phrase.

        Then there is reader feedback with homework, rating of her video and suggesting new words.

      • koalabear says:

        Also from Marina’s point of view we are just a lot of “gravatars” with varying degrees of grammar skills.

        We know who Marina is, but from Marina’s point of view, we are just a collection of obscure made up names.

      • koalabear says:

        I think that is the big HOOK. You do learn something.

        Marina is very attractive and very … charismatic.

        There must be a better word then charismatic, but I can’t think of one at the moment.

      • Prospero says:

        It’s actually very educational. I’ll listen to the video, and Marina is wonderfully easy on the eyes. Then I’ll sometimes google the homework assignment and there are a couple of etymology sites that have blurbs on the words, etc. It basically means each week I’ll add a couple of new words to my vocabulary or understand them better.

  78. stupermundi says:

    What is the origin of the word PARADIGM.

    Are you familiar with the phrase ‘subvert the dominant Paradigm’

    Also what is the origin of my nickname…Stupermundi

  79. voldemort says:

    i request the word “chill”

  80. Hitman says:

    Incerdible Marina, the average of lesson is increasing a lot.Its maybe 1 per day or 1 each 2 days.
    Thanks.

    We made into the quarters! :grin:

  81. blast990 says:

    Hello I’d like to request a Word. How about the word “boza”. I drink a lot of it here in Bulgaria but I want to know its origin.

  82. errin says:

    Nothing intelligent or sexy about derogatory words. A lot of times, people use such words just so that they can receive negative attention. Perhaps a lesson would be better spent discussing derogatory terms for women who are unduly needy of having attention paid to them. Sound fun? :?: Make a game out of it then. I’m sure it’ll get noticed. Or maybe not. :lol:

    There’s a billion damn words in the English language. Why waste time on the bottom of the barrel words? That just seems so inefficient and unintelligent. Aim a little higher with a mind like that, please.

    • BillyB says:

      There’s a billion damn words in the English language.

      :shock: “Damn” sounds derogatory…
      Hey the words themselves were’nt derogatory, I find it interesting as to why people made them so. I didn’t used to care, but we at work end up in some good discusions because of my new obsession. Marina is using up a few older lessons that were waiting in que for awhile. If you don’t like the content be patient, “Quintessential” type words show up from time to time

    • geronimo says:

      Thank you for your comment Ms. feminazi. Every woman has to be like you or they are worthless right? I am sure you bring down every room you enter. Why don’t you get off your high horse, and accept the fact that there is nothing wrong with Marina or other women like her. I have nothing against women like you, except when you think you have to go on your crusade to make everyone think and act like you. Should I go around making sure all feminine acting men start acting more manly?

    • Prospero says:

      There absolutely is value in understanding the origin of derogatory words. Understanding their origin educates us on their origin, and gets rid of pernicious myths, like the one you propagate about how “wop” supposedly meant “without papers.”

      Understanding that “wop” originated in old Italian dialects and Neapolitan discourse, growing out of the term “guapo,” allows us to discard the after-created myth that Italians were coming into the country in droves “without papers.” I lets us say to someone who thinks that wop meant “without papers” — ummm… no, it didn’t. That’s just a false explanation conjured up out of anti-Italian bias. I see you posted it here, trying to claim Marina was wrong, and you thereby do nothing but disseminate a vicious falsehood based on on hatred of Italians.

      Marina, on the other hand, set the record straight and has now educated thousands upon thousands of people who love her videos. Those people, when having conversations in their daily lives will say, if the topic comes up, that they learned the real origin of the word wop. That’s a real contribution, and one far better than your shrill, ignorant, and incorrect criticisms.

    • davecodave says:

      Whats that red thing in the back ground of your picture? is that a swastika? MOVE OUT OF HERE HITLER-ETTE.

  83. tryant says:

    Oh yeah Marina,You said “I REALLY stumped so many people on this one!”, how about doing the word “stumped”?

  84. tryant says:

    Southerners called Northerners “Bluecoats” during the Civil War and “Snowbirds” nowadays. If the weather patterns(global warming) make it much hotter in the South the “Johnny Rebs” might be moving North and calling Us “Neighbor”! That’s OK with Me,I love a sweet southern accent from a fine Gal South of the Mason Dixon! Gimme more! :wink:

    • Capman911 says:

      From Georgia their called Georgia Peaches. Sound yummy doesn’t it :?:

      • tryant says:

        Hmmm,yepper,why not have a taste? When it come to peach pie My theory is “looks good,smells good,must be good”. Never did try any Georgia Peach Pie but did have some sweet,blonde Kentucky Pie chasin Me around a while back.Years before that a brunette,former Kentucky Pie actually caught Me for about a year!

        What was that saying? “If You keep chasing Her She just might catch You”!

        Years ago The Allman Brothers Band did an album called “Eat A Peach” if I remember right that is.

  85. drunkpete says:

    hi-ya, i dont know your view on swearing but i would love to hear you tell me the meaning of ‘cunt’ you may or may not wish to do this one but its worth asking for

  86. m0e says:

    what about “elite” ?

  87. juicy-aus says:

    Well first off i have to say you are looking stunning as always but im sure you get that alot :-)
    I would like to request a word or abreviation depending on how you view it; but the word i would like you to research is “Wog”
    In Australia many people are reffered to wogs, mostly italians or greeks. BUT! i have heard many different meanings including “western oriantal gentlemen” etc etc. So if you see it fit that would be awsome for you to look into :)

    Another word which i would love for you to look into aswell is “Justice”
    This word has a strong meaning and i would love to see where it originated from, not only because of the powerful meaning it has but it is also my surname and it would be awsome to no the origin :-)

    If you read this then much love
    Juicy

  88. geronimo says:

    Most funny Richard Pryor bit ever using the term ‘Cracker’ It starts around the 2 min. 30 sec. mark. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=734EApNpylA

  89. Since a significant part of the population of the North- Eastern States was of Dutch origin, many people had ”Jan” as first name…this was definetely and still is, the most common first name in Holland …therefore, Southerners mainly of English and Scottish descent started to call Northeners ”yankees”….Marino4ka..i rember that somebody asked you something about the origin of the verb ” kidnap”,well this has nothing to do with a kid captured having a nap… :lol: i definetely think that this verb has got indeed a Scandinavian origin: a Swedish friend of mine told me that the verb ”NAPPA” in Swedish means -to snatch’-or -to grab- anyway i did not want to prevent you to do a nice video about this! … :oops:

    • Capman911 says:

      See SDC I just learned something new by your comment to Marina. Maybe she will do kidnap and its origin :cool:

      • Captain Jack says:

        Even though I was kidnapped when I was little. I too would like to see a vid on origin of the word kidnap. Im think “kid” was taking from the word “Kids” as in little goats. “Napping” was to steal something.
        Sorry thats all from my head. To lazy to Google it. :roll:

      • Privet Mike! reading your replies to my comments is always a pleasure :cool: great ,you have such a cool nickname with a great and deep meaning :shock: …mine is so frivolous compared to yours… :oops: thank you so much for your attention,i’m sure that i will also have so much to learn from you :smile: take care and keep in touch! -lots of respect and knowledge!- Daniel :grin:

  90. m0e says:

    also what about

    “magnanimous”

  91. m0e says:

    word request…….
    what is the origin of: “coitus”/”coital” IE; “post coital”
    it already sounds latin does it it go back any further than that?

  92. kaibanator says:

    heyas, :cool:

    Loved the video :) especially what we have learned after the class. Kind of reminds me of how the students and teachers from my college years got along between classes :D

    I’ll be honest, I never knew that ‘crackers’ was a derogatory term, only because I have never heard anyone from papers or tv or people i know, in Australia use the term. Except for only a reference to being slightly loonie :shock: Luckily I did guess origin number 2 as it seemed more likely :)

    Great job Marina! :mrgreen:

  93. Capman911 says:

    I sent buzzword and wordlover a comment trying to get them to reply and come back to the site and play with us some more. I hope it works. :smile:

  94. knslyr says:

    Quest Question :mrgreen:

    What is the origin of the word Quest? Is Quest in any way relate to the orgin or meaning of the word Question?

    Thanks Marina and keep up the excellent work!

    - Knslyr

  95. Capman911 says:

    I missed out being close to first becasue I was having to reformat and reload Windows xp Pro in my other computer. Seems like a video driver got corrupted and was causing reload problems. Oh well say le vee or something like that or is it just murphys law. :sad: But I got the answer wrong. I read an article someone left about the origins of cracker and it said number 1 and 3. :oops:

    • Capman911 says:

      I love the pictures of you Marina when you were little your so cute. Is that the Ural River you are setting next to :?: I would like to spend our honeymoon there. :lol: :lol:

      • I think she said it’s the Russian River. Take a look at a map of Sonoma County, CA to locate it. Lots of fun canoeing to be had there. I’ve run it a couple times, and it’s tons of fun for amateur canoeists. It discharges at the town of Jenner on the Pacific coast. Lots of honeymoon B&Bs there, but reserve well in advance! LOL

      • geronimo says:

        I once had a surveillance that took me there. I was following a woman with a supposed neck injury and she and her boyfriend went canoeing and I had to run along the bank all day to keep up and video tape them. It was a rough day but at least it was in a pretty area. The Russian river is really nice.

      • Capman911 says:

        Ok fine gang up on me see if I care :lol: So I don’t know my Ural from the Russian. :razz: I thought they only had one big river. :oops: I quess the proper thing to do now is shit happens. So don’t get any on you :lol: :lol:

      • Bob says:

        Now, now, Capman,
        There’s no need to be Volga. :lol:
        Just pull up your Astrachan collar to hide your blushes. :lol:

      • GROAN! Ouch, Bob. OB-viously, you LENA bit toward the PECHORA-tive.

  96. Capman911 says:

    Well I missed that one by a mile :sad: I agree with prospero811 on the Yankees and carpetbaggers. :wink:

    • I’m happy to report that the guy in the pic posted by roadrunrnch bears no resemblance to me except that we both have a head and two arms. For some reason, he reminds me of aLx, though. I can’t quite put my finger on just what it is, however. Hmmmm.

  97. Prospero says:

    Northerners were called yankees and carpetbaggers.

    • geronimo says:

      I was just called a yank the other day by a girl from Georgia. I had just told her about my great great grandfather who fought for the north.

      • Capman911 says:

        So that makes you a Son of the American Revolution. I say that as a compliment to you sir. :cool:

      • geronimo says:

        http://www.geocities.com/pabucktails/mycolorepisodeDwight.html

        At this web site hit cntrl F and type in “A.J. Sofield” to read about my great great grandfather. It is short. He was killed by an exploding shell from a cannon. At Gettysburg there is a plaque for him, and is featured in their video. I’m just glad he had children first.

      • Capman911 says:

        Sorry Geronimo my wife just told me that was a different war. My mistake :oops:

      • Capman911 says:

        That is very impressive :smile: I jump out the plane now for my mistake :wink:

      • geronimo says:

        Yes I noticed that capman but didn’t want to say anything. You only missed by 90 years. Leave it to a wife to gleefully point it out. I’m surprised errin didn’t point out what a fool you are when it comes to American history. :razz:

        We can only trace our family back to the 1830′s so I don’t know where they were during the revolution.

      • Capman911 says:

        I wasn’t very good in school. I hated school. So I dropped out the second day in the twelth grade. I was in the eleventh grade twice and when I finally made it to the twelth grade the principle came to my class and said I had to be put back in the eleventh grade because I didn’t have enough credits to be a senior. So I stood up and told him to go fuck himself and walked out. I finished at night school six months ahead of everyone else and got my GED. At least I got my education. So history is not a good subject for me. :???:

      • Prospero says:

        Well, capman911, some of the smartest and most successful people around never finished school. If history is not something you’re strong on, but you’re interested in it, trek on down to the library and have them direct you to the American (or other) history section and read a book or two. You could have an above average understanding of American history in a few months of reading a 10 pages a day.

  98. Ole! I am liking very much
    the field of view your new
    camera brings. I can see
    Marina is “strung like a bow”!

    Russian girls on heels…
    must be a liddle biddle*
    *teeny bait fish used to
    catch bigger fish AKA
    “spinners”.

    What do southerners
    call northerners?
    nowadays we call
    them “tourists”

    Back in the day?
    “carpetbaggers”

    Sorry I’m late with my
    homework, again.
    Workwork is intruding
    into my quality time.

    Like the joke punchline says:
    Better Nate than lever.
    ciao

  99. stewc says:

    Hello Marina

    You have a great site and I carry your lessons around on my iPod. One never knows when it will be really useful to know the origin of a word like salmonella or paparazzi.

    Yesterday, 19 June, the Scottish Government announced that there would be for the first time, a Register of Tartans. I’ve got a couple of kilts and a pair of tartan trews myself, and I couldn’t help but notice that you too like wearing tartan: very pretty. But I have no idea where the word “tartan” originates from. Can you help?

    Best wishes, Stewart

  100. juhsepi says:

    I have a word request. Q-Tip.

    Why is called Q-tip? Is the Q short for something else? Why not P-tip, or L-Tip?

    Why Teacher, Why? :???:

    • juhsepi says:

      Southerners called Northerners carpetbaggers after the Civil War. During the war I believe it was Yankee.

      I’m sure I’m wrong because the it comes down to at what point in time the homework is asking for us to focus on. Right? :???:

      • Capman911 says:

        I think you’r right. Carpetbaggers got their name from a bag they would carry with all of their belongings that was made out a carpet type materal or accually carpet :smile: The first sight of them would spawn southerners and westerners the cowboys so to speak to call them carpetbaggers. :grin:

      • stupermundi says:

        Yes this is true but it also means someone who is from another state and moves to a different state to make it their home. George Bush is a carpet bagger because he is from maine and carpetbagged his residency to that of a native Texan.(and satans asshole) Hillary is also a carpetbagger because she came from Hell (I mean Arkansas) to become a New York native…understand? A carpetbagger is any one from a different state who moves to another state to become a native of the new state. Like many New Yorkers are from other states.

      • Bob says:

        By stupermundi’s logic, that would make everyone in USA except Native Americans (Injuns) a carpetbagger, because they all originated from outside of America.
        I remember reading that carpetbaggers were originally itinerant con-men who would try to sell gullible Southerners worthless items, which they carried around in a carpet bag.
        For instance, I could show a ball-point pen and say “This belonged to Robert Morris. Robert Morris was a signatory of the American Declaration of Independence.” The gullible mark would hopefully draw the inference that the pen had been used to sign that document.
        However, whilst my name is Robert Morris and I use the pen to sign checks, (so I haven’t told a lie), I am not the signatory of the Declaration of Independence, and ball-point pens were not invented when that document was signed.

  101. Dear teacher
    Ouch ! I am sorry my comments are more linguistic oriented usually but….. YOU ARE GORGEOUS. I think that Kirsten Dunst has a lot of ressemblance with you on this picture where you’re next to the river. Sorry to overstep my bounds.
    Respectfully
    Don Felipe gonzales

  102. trgoblin says:

    Just a guess, but did they call northerners “Yankees”? If not, what was the origin of Yankee?

    I also heard another one today that was interesting:
    “Come Hell or High Water”.

  103. jamessayssup says:

    Hey. I’d like to request the word, DEFENESTRATE. its a really weird word with a weird meaning. please investigate ; ) Thanks!

  104. ptm368 says:

    What’s the origin of the word “Tattoo” as it applies to skin art, and does it have anything to do with the musical “tattoo”??

    And there’s been a lack of “teacher’s pets” lately… Have the students been misbehaving??

  105. thxeleven38 says:

    Dear Teacher:

    Two terms southerners call northerners come to my mind.

    During and pre US Civil War, a.k.a. War between the States,
    “Yankees”, a term shortened by Britons to “Yanks”.

    post US Civil War
    “Carpetbaggers”, originated due to the influx of yankees who carried
    all of their possessions in a bag made out of carpet material.

    from: http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=yankees
    [Probably from Dutch Janke, nickname of Jan, John.]
    Word History: The origin of Yankee has been the subject of much debate, but the most likely source is the Dutch name Janke, meaning “little Jan” or “little John,” a nickname that dates back to the 1680s. Perhaps because it was used as the name of pirates, the name Yankee came to be used as a term of contempt. It was used this way in the 1750s by General James Wolfe, the British general who secured British domination of North America by defeating the French at Quebec. The name may have been applied to New Englanders as an extension of an original use referring to Dutch settlers living along the Hudson River. Whatever the reason, Yankee is first recorded in 1765 as a name for an inhabitant of New England. The first recorded use of the term by the British to refer to Americans in general appears in the 1780s, in a letter by Lord Horatio Nelson, no less. Around the same time it began to be abbreviated to Yank. During the American Revolution, American soldiers adopted this term of derision as a term of national pride. The derisive use nonetheless remained alive and even intensified in the South during the Civil War, when it referred not to all Americans but to those loyal to the Union. Now the term carries less emotion—except of course for baseball fans.

  106. udthechamp says:

    I want to ask the meaning of sexual intercourse.

  107. As a southern raised in the north this word tends to follow you. Yankee
    You can see this word being yelled by the irate southern officer in civil war films but its older.
    During the American revolutionary war a British General James Wolfe called his troops hailing from the New England colony Yankee’s, as an insult.
    A few other explanations for this word have been given for around the same time a Cherokee word “eankke”“ pronounced closely to the English, Yankee, again attached to New England Colony.
    A popular Dutch surname used to refer to all Dutch speaking Americans and extended to everyone over time.

    The popularity for the insult Yankee inspired the song Yankee Doodle, Doodle a insult meaning simpleton or fool. The Americans embraced the song changed the lyrics and now is the state song of Connecticut. The last line in the song “He stuck a feather in his hat, And called it macaroni.”
    Macaroni was a term for a fashionable male, by sticking a simple feather in your hat you were fashionable.

  108. timmy46 says:

    Hey you often do a lot of specifically american words, how about you do a very english word. The word “Toff”, where does that come from??

    Keep up the awesome videos!!

  109. Hey Marina
    in the first picture you showed us you look some what like, Avril Lavinge.

  110. greenbush says:

    No. 44. I don’t know. Guessing that the Southerners called us people up North, Union boys/Federals/Feds/Yanks/Yankee doodle/snow flakes. That was before my time. Not schmucks. :mrgreen: I’ll be going back to my Jack Lalanne work out, with carrot juice, to get my brain working better. Too many missing links.

    • Capman911 says:

      Dang I’ve been drinking carrot juice for my eyes. Ever seen a rabbit with glasses :lol:

      • Capman911 says:

        Oh I forgot about Captain Kangaroo with Bunny rabbit. He did wear glasses :oops:

      • greenbush says:

        Sorry capman that I’ve not posted replies lately to you, too busy. Yes, carrot juice from the juicemaster was what I was thinking about, and it has vitamin A for the eyes and skin. Maybe antioxidents as well. Sorry to hear about the swimming accident comming from one who helps us defend our homes with water, a fireman. I’ve heard to many times youth diving in water to shallow, Joni also comes to mind. The Christian lady that makes pictures with her mouth instead of her paralyzed hands.

  111. What is the origin of the word “yankee”, and why do the British use it to refer to those of us from the U.S., while our own southerners refer only to the northerners by that title?

  112. yaroslav says:

    Я понял! Марина, ты — русская? :) Я как то раньше и не думал об этом. Все-таки русские девушки самые красивые! А откуда ты? Из какого города? Что за река на фотографии? Я так рад :)

    I’ve understand! Marina, are you russian? I didn’t know about it! Russian girls are the most beautiful in the world! And where are you from? Which city? And which river have you shown? I’m so glad ))) Sorry for my bad english. Answer my, please! May be, in russian ;)

  113. GREG says:

    I knew the people that use cracker as a derogatory term towards Whites have no idea what it means. People in Florida and Georgia called them selves this to indicate that they were locals. Not from the North.
    It is like todays White Trash. Corn cracker because cracked corn was a food source. Blacks I’ve known called me this as a joke because they thought it meant, I was weak and pasty white.

  114. bobsully says:

    Well that called them Yankees for one thing.

    Like your little exercise suggestions after the last show. Maybe you should do a computer chair / exercise video series.

  115. redneckoby says:

    the northerners were called bills or yankees or just yanks for short as well as several profanities

  116. Captain Jack says:

    Todays HFW quote: “You can pretend to be serious – you can’t pretend to be witty.” – Sacha Guitry 1885-1957

    Ain’t that the truth?

  117. pedanticKarl says:

    Wow, Marina, I thought this was going to be just a plain old lesson, but
    you piqued my interest and I was highly enlightened and educated, especially the part about being related to “crack a joke”. I’m always telling you that you crack me up and you have me rolling on the floor laughing. I guess I’m a cracker, or is it that you are the cracker and I am the crackee?

    You ask some tough questions. How about “yankees” or carpetbaggers” for the homework assignment.

    Thank you for sharing your photos.
    Also, thanks for the fix – the lesson list that is. ♥ kisses ♥

  118. ddd says:

    Nice vid Thnx HOtforwords (=
    :oops: :razz:

  119. Captain Jack says:

    Wow! I think I got that correct. #2 hu? And many of you tried to get me to change my mind. Even with that link that mentioned theory #1 and #3 but not #2.

    @ Marina, Hey thanks for sharing your photos. That was a treat. Oh and what where you thinking when you where wearing that big red hat with that sexy black dress? hehehehe :grin: . Your so funny Marina!
    I notice you change your hair color a few times. So what is your true hair color?

  120. joeshea says:

    Why is the word “faux” pronounced like “foe?”

  121. Simon says:

    :idea: definitely yankees.

    so, Marina, what’s your natural hair color? :?:

  122. labbatt78 says:

    i wonder why people in Quebec were called “quebecers” :?:

  123. BillyB says:

    I’ve been checking for your comment on the Celeb baby scoop. & saw

    …Pinging is currently not allowed.

    but I couldn’t find what you said. What was the jist of it?

    BTW

    Jamie Lynn, 17, who stars in Nickelodeon’s television show ‘Zoey 101′, was said to be doing well after the birth of 7lb 11oz Maddie Briann.

      • BillyB says:

        What is pinging? And why is it not allowed?
        I went over, left a note & I quess I’ll check back & see if it disapeers.
        Our pictures showed up over there too :cool:

      • GREG says:

        It’s like ………..sending out ” pings ” to locate a host and using Internet worms to infect them and …….almost like a cookie virus .
        Pinging is used to determine the time it take to reach out to a site and back , also. ( mill secs.)

      • stupermundi says:

        pinging has it’s origin in submarines which send a radar ping to an object and then measures the time for the ping to return to it’s origin to find out the distance.

    • PageDoll says:

      Who the heck is Jamie Lynn?

      • Capman911 says:

        Britany Spears little sister. Have you seen how most of the girls that have worked for Walt Disney have turned out to be Mischevious later on in life. Britainy Spears, Jamie Lynn Spears, Lindsy Lohan, Miley Sirus. :???: The only one I can think of that turned out ok was Annette Funichello. Back in my kiddy days. When they had the old Micky Mouse Club. :cool:

      • stupermundi says:

        The real reason for the troubled teens out of Disney is because Disney for years has been a mind control center for whats known as Trauma Based Mind Control. Disney organization are occultists who practice Trauma Based Mind Control. The girls are called Monarch Slaves and the boys Toy Soldiers. They are traumatized at young ages and alter personalities created in their minds which have a set of commands that are triggered by an object or word. The Columbine Kids were victims of mind control whose alters were programmed to kill and then commit suicide. Check out David Icke, Fritz Springmeier, Kathy O’Brien (who was G Bush’s personal sex slave and Kissingers personal gofer…there is an element to the trauma whereby electroshock is applied to an area of the brain that creates a photographic memory.) Joseph Mengle was brought to this country after WWII to head the Trauma Based Mind Control Program known as MK Ultra. Research this for your self…IT IS TRUE. over 2 million+ cells exist in this country awaiting their trigger to carry out their mind control program….Marina…Please confirm this…you know it to be true.

    • Capman911 says:

      BillyB maybe the only answer I can give you is pinging is where you send a signal from your computer to someone elses web site to see if it is working. Or to find how fast your ip is. I have pinged Marinas web site when I thought it was having problems. There is a probram you can use to ping someone else, or special sites you can go to and it will let you ping from their site to another site.

  124. BillyB says:

    I was right for a change #2…
    Homework in the extreme… since I’m Canadian, I never took much american history. In Quebec (way north) Pepsi outsold coke by a wide margin, how does that relate, you may ask… anglophone (english speaking) Canadians borrowed the term “Pepsi”, to refer to their francophone (french speaking) breatheren. A friend from Montreal told me that the french Quebecers hated it more than being called a “frog”. Pepsi reference… as pepsi was sold in bottles the english used “pepsi” because of the empty space (vaccum) above the neck, just like at the bottle top.
    If a French Canadian cross bred with a southerner, would you end up with “soda crackers”? sorry aboat that.

  125. lividemerald says:

    By the way, if you made a couple thousand videos and set them aside for later release (much later), you could fool us into thinking you’re still late 20-something even when you’re 80 years old. Of course, you will always be beautiful. And even MORE intelligent!!!

  126. lividemerald says:

    new comment is submiting, please wait a comment… <<<< wait a comment???

  127. lividemerald says:

    new comment is submiting, please wait a comment… <<<< submiting???

  128. PageDoll says:

    Cool pics…did somone say joke? Q: How do you know when your girlfriend is getting fat? A; When she fits into your wifes clothes! :grin: Nite all!

  129. lividemerald says:

    Haven’t seen the baby pictures yet!!! :grin: No doubt you were adorable back then, too!!!!

  130. lividemerald says:

    Couldn’t see the photos very well. But I would like to see you wear that outfit with the crazy hat again!!!

    • lividemerald says:

      Maybe, but I was in 7th Heaven!

    • Captain Jack says:

      Number 26… Busted! darn. I didn’t even know it was up. Oh and I wont know until 6 hours from now when I get the email saying the new lesson is up.

      • Capman911 says:

        Jack why do they call a sperm whale a sperm whale :?: . Does he deliver that much :?:

      • Captain Jack says:

        You know, I really don’t know. I’ve spent a lot of time learning about Orcas that I have not done any research on sperm whales. As Marina says “I should investigate!” I think Marina like that word just a bit too much. Hhehehe.

        Ok Im back…Whew! That was a long jog to the wiki and back. Running all those miles through the internet is hard work ya know! hehehe

        Spermaceti is the semiliquid, waxy substance found in the head of the sperm whale. The name derives from the late Latin sperma ceti (both words actually loaned from Greek) meaning “sperm of the whale” (strictly, “sperm of the sea monster”). The common name for the species is actually an apocopation of Spermaceti Whale. Early whalers mistook the substance for the whale’s semen. Spermaceti is found in the spermaceti organ or case in front of and above the skull of the whale and also in the so-called junk which is right at the front of the whale’s head just above the upper jaw. The case consists of a soft white, waxy substance saturated with spermaceti. The junk is a more solid substance.

        Hey Mike you just might be right about that! What is also interesting is the term “Junk” Which now we use as a slang term for male genitals.

      • lividemerald says:

        It’s no coincidence that a fictional sperm whale was called Moby Dick. Just ask Gregory Peck, Patrick Stewart, and (if he were alive) HM.

      • lividemerald says:

        Woops! I forgot. Gregory is a dead pecker.

      • Bob says:

        :cool:
        Cool new word there, Jack; “apocopation” ; Whitesmoke didn’t know it, but then it doesn’t know Whitesmoke either. :roll:

        Marina, there are quite a few words that begin with the prefix “apo-”; in this case it means “cut off” and in other words “hidden” but in others … :?:
        A lesson, please.

      • lividemerald says:

        True, Bob. For example, everyone’s favorite apo word: apolipoproteinemia. (I apo-logize!)

      • Captain Jack says:

        @Bob, And there you have it my friend, why I use Google for my spell checking now. It found it right off the bat when I miss spelled it. Nice thing about Google spell check not only is it free but it has a much larger data base to work from than my tiny little computer. Making any spell checker obsolete. Now If Google could do grammar that would be awesome.

      • Captain Jack says:

        I just realized something. You guys are up very late tonight. Not that we haven’t seen Marina up this late.

        Ok Im going to bed now. Have much to do Saturday.

  131. elite_panda says:

    WOW :shock: You look so different in your photos marina

  132. elite_panda says:

    i think it’s the sealers. LOL jk

  133. Wow, it’s true. You do look incredible with darker hair. I guess the modeling makes a gal make changes, and maybe too because it represents a change to those of us who have always known you blond, and thus it is novel, but you really do look more natural and … whole… with darker hair.

    Maybe I am just a sap for the girl-next-door look.

    Good luck conquering the world!

  134. Yankees, silly.

    How did you not know that? :shock:

  135. I’m #1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Author: HotForWords

Not your typical philologist! Putting the LOL in PhiLOLogy :-)