Cracker, sometimes white cracker or cracka, is a racial epithet for white people, used especially for poor rural whites in the southern united states. Jack is a name thats been used by parents who are considering baby names for boys. Social security administration public data, the first name crackerjack was not present. Another theory holds that the name jack is of celtic origin, meaning healthy. Cracker jack is the character on the cracker jack box. We call my brother jamie, jman, jack, jacksamillion, and action jackson. So, i was looking for a snack last night at a convenience store and i decided to grab a bag of cracker jack. The name went from john to johnkin to jankin to jackin to jack. It implies a person who lives in the utmost worst conditions and a person who no one really cares about. Crackerjack definition of crackerjack by merriamwebster.
Other theories suggest that jack was derived from the french name jacques, which is the french form for jacob or james. Its sold in oldschool boxes which come in a three pack and although the primary consumers are young children, its invariably located on the top shelf of the supermarket isle. He is a real cracker jack when it comes to getting people to bid. The name jack is a boys name of english origin meaning god is gracious jack is a derivative of john that originated in medieval england. Both of these are caramelcoated popcorn with peanuts. Definition of crackerjack from the collins english dictionary. A cracker is a thin, crisp biscuit which is often eaten with cheese. Got its name cracker jack from a salesman who exclaimed thats a crackerjack. Crack shot definition of crack shot by the free dictionary. Christmas cracker meaning in the cambridge english. Crackerjack is a colloquialism meaning of excellent quality.
A term in southeastern united states english to describe poor white trash, derived from the scottish meaning of the verb to crack, which, in this sense denotes ostentation. The iconic image on cracker jack boxes is of the boy decked out in a sailors outfit and his little dog. Originally a nickname for the given name john, it has now become a given name on its own. The first cracker barrel opened on highway 109 in lebanon, tennessee in 1969. Information and translations of crackerjack in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. A nickname for john and james that has become a name in its own right. Some believe rueckheim may have come up with the name himself and sold people on the story. Synonyms for crackerjack at with free online thesaurus, antonyms, and definitions. Cracker can be an insulting name for a white person. When used as an adjective, the word crackerjack meansbest. Henderson was a good mana crackerjack manwhen he had a better man over him. Then it was appropriated for a brand of caramel corn. Cracker jack is an american brand of snack food consisting of molassesflavored, caramelcoated popcorn and peanuts, well known for being packaged with a prize of trivial value inside.
Jack boys name meaning, origin, and popularity babycenter. Based on his stellar resume, this guy seems like hed be a crackerjack of an employee. Why the monopoly player pieces thimble, top hat, etc. Back in the day, the term cracker jack could refer to anything of high quality, so its no wonder the name stuck. As a family name in britain, this is almost exclusively scottish. Crackerjack definition, a person or thing that shows marked ability or excellence. Prior to that, crack was a noun meaning something superior and a verb meaning to boast. The name was so common in the middle ages that jack became a generic term for a man. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time i comment. When someone says wow heshe is a real cracker jack. The caramelcoated popcornandpeanuts confection was said to have been introduced at the worlds columbian exposition 1893. It is possible the name you are searching has less than five occurrences per year. Some of these doctors are buying their degrees or getting them in crackerjack boxes, plus all the insourced doctors with degrees from high schools all over the world. Every box comes with a prize usually a little puzzle, temporary tattoo, or a valid georgia drivers license.
Crackerjack definition is a person or thing of marked excellence. Legend has it that the name cracker jack came from a customer who, upon trying the treat, exclaimed, that really a cracker jack. My son is little and we either call him jack jack, cracker jack, or jumpin jack and valentines day photos they will work for now, until he gets a little older. Cracker is an elongation of crack, an adjective meaning expert or superior that dates from the 18th century. Where did the term cracker meaning white folks originate. Sailor jack and his dog bingo were invented in 1918, and trademarked in 1919. Cracker meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. The cracker jack name and slogan, the more you eat the more you want. This is more likely to have been the origin of the name. A game where several men gather around a cracker i always picture a.
Definition of crackerjack in the idioms dictionary. What does it mean when someone calls you a cracker. Websters new world college dictionary, 4th edition. Crackerjack synonyms, crackerjack antonyms merriam.
Its a favorite for sunday afternoon meals with the family. Cracker jack was introduced in 1893 and crunch n munch came out in the 1960s. Thousand arms charlotte cracker is the tenth son and 15th child of the charlotte family and the oldest triplet brother of custard and angel. My only experience with either of these was cracker jack at a friends house once when i was a kid, but that was it. If youd use an actual dictionary, instead of stupidly searching glooble, youd learn more. The most common is someone who is really bright and studious and knows the answers to all the questions, or does something really well. In 1896, the first lot of cracker jack was produced, the same year the products name and tagline. He is also one of the three sweet commanders of the big mom pirates and serves as totto lands minister of biscuit. Crackerjack definition and meaning collins english. They print on the bag near the picture of the boy and dog that the boy is sailor jack. Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples log in dictionary.
Submitted by gim from new jersey, usa on jan 21 2007. Rob jacked frank up against the wall, and told him to shut up. I have heard the story that the original pieces were actually struck from the models used for cracker jack prizes. The us term crackerjack has had a complicated history. Cracker definition and meaning collins english dictionary. It is sometimes used in a neutral context in reference to a native of florida, georgia or texas see florida cracker, georgia cracker or texas cracker. Who invented cracker jack, the classic popcorn snack. Jack has been used for man since the mid1500s, as in jackofalltrades. It has long been used as a way to refer to any man, especially from the working classes, as in the expression, a jack of all trades.
The name jack means god is gracious and is of english origin. Us sailor, related to the early meaning of the term crack which you described in a. In 1896 the name cracker jack was officially registered before then the snack had been called candied popcorn and peanuts and the familiarly sticky and sweet candy we know today was born. Home cards sport baseball cards modern 1990 1999 1992 cracker jack cracker jack donruss. I was of the impression that cracker jack was originally used to describe a squaredaway us sailor, related to the early meaning of the term crack which you described in a recent article, and with jack tar for a sailor. The boy on the cracker jack box image is named sailor jack and his dog is called. Crackerjack dictionary definition crackerjack defined yourdictionary. The sailor boy image acquired such meaning for the founder of cracker jack. A tasty treat consisting of popcorn, peanuts and a caramel candy coating. Crackerjack definition of crackerjack by the free dictionary. The name jack is believed to be derived from jankin. Cracker jack and the colonies i learned from a friend, correctly, that crackerjacks got their name from the snack food that features a sailor on the box. However, crackerjack was also a slang expression that meant something pleasing or excellent.
Information and translations of cracker jack in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. From the trademark cracker jack popcorn snack featuring a blue sailorsuited man on the. I was surprised to find that crackerjack is not australian in origin. It was named by an enthusiastic sampler who remarked.