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Help[Opinions] Re: Briar (as a feminine name)
in reply to a message by erb816
I thoroughly dislike this name. This must be a regional thing, but in my area, the name would almost certainly get the bearer teased and/or outright bullied. A briar hopper, or briar for short, is used as an insult against Appalachians. Presumably because briars are prickly thorns. I can never hear Briar as a name and not automatically think of that. The appeal just escapes me completely.
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This reminds me that one of my associations with "briar" is "briar patch" ... from an American folk tale book that I read (or had read to me?) when I was a small child.
Here's one version
https://americanfolklore.net/folklore/2010/07/brer_rabbit_meets_a_tar_baby.html
Here's one version
https://americanfolklore.net/folklore/2010/07/brer_rabbit_meets_a_tar_baby.html
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Searching briarhopper resulted in information about a radio show from 1935.
https://www.historysouth.org/briarhoppers/
Eventually, I did find an entry in https://www.daredictionary.com/view/dare/ID_00005809 1966 that references the slang term. "Brier hoppers. Poor hill folk (hillbillies) who come into Ohio from Kentucky and West Virginia to make money. Usually live on credit." It sounds like it is Ohio slang rather than broadly Appalachian.
https://www.historysouth.org/briarhoppers/
Eventually, I did find an entry in https://www.daredictionary.com/view/dare/ID_00005809 1966 that references the slang term. "Brier hoppers. Poor hill folk (hillbillies) who come into Ohio from Kentucky and West Virginia to make money. Usually live on credit." It sounds like it is Ohio slang rather than broadly Appalachian.
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No, I don't think Appalachians themselves use the term. It's definitely a term heard mostly in Ohio, maybe parts of Indiana, referring TO transplanted Appalachians. A slang term, I guess. But kind of an ethnic slur. It's not meant affectionately. I did not know about the radio show. That's interesting.
This message was edited 4/19/2021, 3:41 PM
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Learn something new every day.
I've never heard of this taunt / insult; then again I don't live anywhere near Appalachia. I suppose this is something to consider.
I've never heard of this taunt / insult; then again I don't live anywhere near Appalachia. I suppose this is something to consider.
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It might be a very regional thing, because I grew up in the Appalachians, and I don't remember hearing it.
This message was edited 4/19/2021, 11:42 AM
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Ohio...
I'm in southwestern Ohio, where a lot of Appalachians relocated for jobs and whatnot back in the day. Apparently they were not always well received. Much like immigrants from another country, I suppose. If you say, "he's a briar", it's like calling someone a dumb hillbilly. It's pretty universal in these parts. It's really kind of unfortunate. I have Appalachian roots, too. But I wouldn't want my child to deal with that.
I'm in southwestern Ohio, where a lot of Appalachians relocated for jobs and whatnot back in the day. Apparently they were not always well received. Much like immigrants from another country, I suppose. If you say, "he's a briar", it's like calling someone a dumb hillbilly. It's pretty universal in these parts. It's really kind of unfortunate. I have Appalachian roots, too. But I wouldn't want my child to deal with that.
This message was edited 4/19/2021, 1:17 PM
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