Comments on: Cakalacky

By: Ellis Green

Ellis Green — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 02:07:47 +0000

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.

By: Andrew Davis

Andrew Davis — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 21:48:28 +0000

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.

By: Michael Arrowood

Michael Arrowood — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 03:39:44 +0000

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.

By: Traci

Traci — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 18:03:50 +0000

Agreed. They’re always trying to steal our thunder.

By: Traci

Traci — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 18:01:30 +0000

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. ;)

By: Jeri

Jeri — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 21:49:45 +0000

http://www.shopcarolinagirls.com/South-Cackalacky-Tshirt-p/cgts04.htm

By: George Abruzzese

George Abruzzese — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 09:58:40 +0000

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.

By: Kavey’s Cackalacky Roast Rib of Beef » Kavey Eats

Kavey’s Cackalacky Roast Rib of Beef » Kavey Eats — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 21:56:46 +0000

[...] 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. [...]

By: The Real Paul Jones » Word Detective – Cackalacky

The Real Paul Jones » Word Detective – Cackalacky — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 13:20:49 +0000

[...] 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 [...]

By: Kathy McCord

Kathy McCord — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 21:11:27 +0000

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.

By: Lizz Price

Lizz Price — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 02:51:46 +0000

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.

By: David Whitson

David Whitson — Thu, 26 May 2011 16:53:48 +0000

There is no “South” in Cackalacky.