This term, once considered pejorative, was around during the English Renaissance, and it even featured in a 'Shakespearean history', to describe someone very entertaining. A famous biologist and naturalist used the term to describe illegal inhabitants, and it was widely common around the Southern US states in reference to making alcohol. What is it, and which Shakespearean play was it used in?

gdec1

Moonshine A Midsummer Night's Dream http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=20010117 Jul 25 06, 4:15 PM

peasypod

No sorry, gdec. I've heard people call me Sunshine before, and gone weak at the knees, but no-one has called me Moonshine, yet.... Aug 04 06, 6:43 PM

peasypod

Anyone else want a CRACK at this one? Aug 06 06, 7:29 PM

vale70

According to your hint, it might perhaps be "cracker", which appears in Shakespeare's "King John", Act II, Scene 1 ("What cracker is this same that deafs our ears/With this abundance of superfluous breath?"). http://catb.org/jargon/html/C/cracker.html Aug 06 06, 8:07 PM

peasypod

Yes, dear vale, it is. Charles Darwin used it in 'The Origin of Species', to refer to "Virginia squatters". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cracker_%28pejorative%29 Aug 06 06, 8:38 PM

Create a Free FunTrivia ID to add to, request more/new answers, or edit this entry

What is the term used to describe someone who thinks they're blind but isn't? What is the term used to describe an employee who is not tied to one country or company but moves around? When was the term 'bug' first used to describe a fault? Today is Black Friday in the United States, considered the first shopping day of the Christmas season. When was this term first used to describe the day after Thanksgiving?

1 George W. Bush: In and Around His First Term This quiz is about the 43rd President of the United States and the events of his first term. Bush, George W. Average 10 Q poppersmoke Jun 09 06 669 plays 2 The Used A basic quiz about the brilliant rock band, The Used! Used, The Average 10 Q the_nu_born Mar 06 06 1143 plays 3 The Used! This is my first quiz on the amazing rock band The Used! Hope you like it! Here goes... Used, The Difficult 10 Q runaway_drive Aug 10 08 321 plays