Semper Ubi Sub Ubi
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Bonnie Taylor-Blake:
September 19th, 2010 at 10:57 am
Hi, Evan.
Thanks for your article on “Cackalacky” (and variants). I just thought I’d point out that we have a 1972 appearance of “Cackalacky,” which was used in a play. Also, “Calinky,” surely a close cousin, pops up in a 1974 work by James Michener. See below for more information. (I’m located still earlier forms of “Calinky” via Google Books, but — last time I checked — it was impossible to nail down precious bibliographic information.) — Bonnie
http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0808C&L=ADS-L&P=R2679
Paul Jones:
September 24th, 2010 at 3:01 pm
One thing that Dr Eble and Bland Simpson and I were able to recall but not document is that during the mid-1960s both Bland, who was living in Coastal NC, and me, living in Charlotte, heard the term Cackalack used. Those who used the term in both cases were enlisted men — Marines from Jacksonville or Soldiers from Fayetteville — who were unhappy about being stuck down here in Cackalack.
I’ve seen no written evidence of this usage, but would love to hear/see anything anyone finds.
I love Page Skelton’s hot sauce, but I trust his etymologies for which he has offered no evidence ;->
David Whitson:
May 26th, 2011 at 12:53 pm
There is no “South” in Cackalacky.
Lizz Price:
July 18th, 2011 at 10:51 pm
In elementary school, we frequently watched an educational PBS show (1980′s) that referred to South Carolina as South Cackalacky. If memory serves it was a reference to a bird. At least that is what we were told.
Kathy McCord:
September 13th, 2011 at 5:11 pm
I was born in 1950 and my grandmother schoolteacher often referred to our state as North Cackalacky. I’m sure she probably told me why, but I don’t remember. You mentioned the Scots and the Germans. That doesn’t help me since her German ancestors came to NC’s western part of the state in the 1600s, and my grandfather’s, ancestors were part of the first Scots to come here in the 1700s.
The Real Paul Jones » Word Detective – Cackalacky:
December 9th, 2011 at 8:20 am
[...] alerts me that Word Detective is now on the case. Here. Dr. Connie Eble, Dr. Glenn Hinson, and in particular Bonnie Taylor-Blake offer good information [...]
Kavey’s Cackalacky Roast Rib of Beef » Kavey Eats:
February 17th, 2012 at 4:56 pm
[...] With Google at my fingertips, I quickly learned that Cackalacky is a nickname for Carolina, USA and for many things originating in the two states, North and South, though the origins of the word are a mystery. [...]
George Abruzzese:
July 28th, 2012 at 5:58 am
My family would take trips down to the Outer Banks of North Carolina when I was a kid in the 80′s. My dad always referred to it as North Cackalacky. I always thought it was one of his weird nicknames as he did that with everything. I was surprised to find out that this one at least was not invented by him! lol As my dad was born in 1941, I can only imagine that he heard it growing up in the 50′s and 60′s, as most of his pop culture references come from that time period.
Jeri:
October 2nd, 2012 at 5:49 pm
http://www.shopcarolinagirls.com/South-Cackalacky-Tshirt-p/cgts04.htm
Traci:
December 8th, 2012 at 1:01 pm
I don’t know why you say the Cherokee or Scottish language sources are implausible. We surely do have The Cherokee and the Scotch-Irish settled in our mountains, with many of us descended from them with other words and phrases enduring since then. Think “poke” for the word, bag. Don’t you think that is a possibility?
In any case, I grew up hearing my dad and grandfather using “North Cackalacky” as a synonym for North Carolina, often when trying to convey that we are in a remote, removed area from everyone else in the world. Still, it was always said with great warmth and pride.
As far as using it when describing South Carolina–well, they don’t count anyway. ;)
Traci:
December 8th, 2012 at 1:03 pm
Agreed. They’re always trying to steal our thunder.
Michael Arrowood:
December 29th, 2012 at 10:39 pm
I’m a native Tar Heel (born 1961) and never heard this particular usage until about 10 years ago. I live in Western NC, and no one I knew ever referred to North or South Carolina by that term when I was growing up. I just assumed it was a recent slang invention… it would be very interesting if something more specific about its origins can be learned. Never heard of a native using it.
Andrew Davis:
February 11th, 2013 at 4:48 pm
I was born in NC in 1968, my family got to the Carolinas in 1697. I have never heard anyone ever use the term Cackalacty or any derivation of that word.
In my experience, it has always been used by Northerners, in a slightly but not always sneering manner. Right after they ask if I have guns or know how to make shine.
I do not believe it is a term which came from the Carolinas.
Ellis Green:
February 18th, 2013 at 9:07 pm
I’m from S.C., born in 1961. First hearing the term in the late 80′s/early 90′s, from well-known wrestler, The JunkYard Dog, who repeatedly used the phrase. People in my neighborhood thought he started it. Then I thought it was a young, hip-hop thing.
Rita:
April 8th, 2013 at 10:47 am
I lived in South Carolina just outside of Charleston for about six years in the nineties. Nearly everyone I knew used the term ‘South Cackalacky’ at least once. My mother has called North Carolina ‘North Cackalacky’ for as long as I can remember.
Heather:
April 9th, 2013 at 8:39 am
I’ve lived in NC for almost my entire life. My family has lived in NC since before the Revolution. My grandma used the term “Cackalacky”…but only in reference to NC, never SC. Then I heard it in a song & it became very popular.
Marc:
May 14th, 2013 at 5:19 pm
Let’s stop the Carolina’s battle. Maybe if we both got along we’d be able to combine and be a powerhouse. For the record, Cackylacky can be used to refer to either Carolina. North Carolina is not the only state with Carolina in its name and FYI, NC did secede from SC soooo uhhh who was first? I’ll leave it with Cackylacky is for both Carolinas to share…no need to be greedy