Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1811, 1893-1922
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CRACKER, n. [′krɑkər]
1. A loud kiss. Cf. slang Eng. smacker, id.Rxb. 1811 A. Scott Poems 98:
But, fegs, I gart the sappy crackers tell When 'twas my hap to kiss an' dance wi' Nell.
2. A boaster (Sc. 1898 E.D.D.; Ags.17 1940; Uls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn.).
3. "A talker, gossip; one good at chatting" (Cai.8 1934; Bnff.2, Fif.13, Slg.3 1940). Also found in Cum. dial. (E.D.D.).Ags.(D) 1894 J. B. Salmond My Man Sandy (1899) v.:
"You're grand crackers," said Mysie. "Ye ken a hankle mair than ever happened."m.Sc. 1922 "O. Douglas" Ann and her Mother 10:
She's a graund cracker.
4. In pl.: "two pieces of bone or of smoothed hard wood, held between the fingers and made to click with each other" (ne.Sc. 1880 (per Mry.2); Bnff.2, Abd.2, Ags.2, Slg.3 1940; Gsw.1 c.1880), castanets. Watson in Rxb. W.-B. (1923) gives the sing. form.Slk. 1893 J. Dalgleish W. Wathershanks 42:
When I cam near haund them ony wey they wad be cryin 'tae yin anither, "Where's the crackers?" "Hev 'e lost 'er benjo?"
5. "The lash [thin cord at end] of a whip" (Abd. 1825 Jam.2; Cai.7, Bnff.2, Abd.9, Kcb.1 1940; Uls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn.).
[O.Sc. has crakkar, a boaster, loud talker (D.O.S.T.). Senses 2 and 3 are from Crack, v., 2 and 3, + agent suff.; senses 4 and 5 from Crack, v., 1, + agent suff.]
