Changes

southern workingman or farmer and his scrawny, sallow-looking wife and nasty children. By extension it now refers to any uncouth person.

southern workingman or farmer and his scrawny, sallow-looking wife and nasty children. By extension it now refers to any uncouth person.

The term "redneck" was in use by 1890; the first known print usage of the term appears in an 1891 Mississippi newspaper in reference to an upcoming Democratic primary. The The exact origin of "redneck" is undetermined. Perhaps it refers to the sun burnt necks of people who worked in the hot fields all day, or to red necks characteristic of sufferers from pellagra (a disease caused by poor diets).  

The term "redneck" was in use by 1890; the first known print usage of the term appears in an 1891 Mississippi newspaper in reference to an upcoming Democratic primary. The exact origin of "redneck" is undetermined. Perhaps it refers to the sun burnt necks of people who worked in the hot fields all day, or to red necks characteristic of sufferers from pellagra (a disease caused by poor diets).  

"Cracker" has a similar meaning; it was commonly used before the Civil War.<ref> Grady McWhiney, ''Cracker Culture: Celtic Ways in the Old South'' (1988) [http://www.questia.com/library/book/cracker-culture-celtic-ways-in-the-old-south-by-grady-mcwhiney.jsp online edition]</ref>

"Cracker" has a similar meaning; it was commonly used before the Civil War.<ref> Grady McWhiney, ''Cracker Culture: Celtic Ways in the Old South'' (1988) [http://www.questia.com/library/book/cracker-culture-celtic-ways-in-the-old-south-by-grady-mcwhiney.jsp online edition]</ref>