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    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?

    Question #68710. Asked by peasypod. (Jul 23 06 7:59 PM)


    gdec1

    		Moonshine
    A Midsummer Night's Dream

    http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=20010117

    Jul 25 06, 3:15 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, 5:43 PM
    peasypod

    		Anyone else want a CRACK at this one?

    Aug 06 06, 6:29 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, 7:07 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, 7:38 PM

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