Peckerwood

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈpÉ›kÉ™wÊŠd/

Origin

Inversion of woodpecker. Application to white people is due to the perception that the woodpecker is a symbol of whites, whereas the crow is a symbol of blacks.

Full definition of peckerwood

Noun

1. (Southern US, slang) A woodpecker.
2. (Southern US) A peckerwood sawmill.
3. (US, offensive, slang) A white person, especially a Southerner, or one who is ignorant, rustic, or bigoted.
4. (prison slang) A white (male) inmate, especially one who is racist or who is a member of a race-based prison gang.

Synonyms

• (white person) cracker
• (rustic) redneck

Derived terms

• featherwood
• wood, woodpile

Anagrams

• woodpecker