peck·er·wood

/ˈpekərˌwo͝od/

The word “peckerwood” originated as an African-American slang term for “woodpecker” in the 1800s. A peckerwood is a rural white southerner, usually poor, undereducated or otherwise ignorant and bigoted. The term gained popularity in the deep south during the early twentieth century and was meant to be derogatory. It is a reversal of the name of the red bellied woodpecker which had a patch of red on the back of it’s head and neck, therefore a peckerwood is a redneck. Terms that describe similar groups of people are trailer trash or white trash.

In the second half of the 20th century, the term was adoped by racist white supremacist groups and gangs. I am NOT AFFILIATED with any of these groups or gangs. I’m just a plain old redneck.