Wordie: Crack: Comments

Comment by chained_bear, 11 months ago

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 15:02:14 +0000

Well, yeah. I just meant in the sense of "fun."

OED says the 16th definition of crack is the connotation in question here: "That which is the subject of boast or eulogy; that which is ‘cracked up’; a horse, player, ship, regiment, etc. of superior excellence..." The first usage in this sense is listed as being in 1637. Unfortunately it doesn't list an etymological source. Hmm.

Comment by sionnach, 11 months ago

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 03:52:13 +0000

I think its usage as a noun, e.g. "how's the crack?", does indeed derive from craic. But adjectival use, such as "our crack forensic pathologist" seems likely to have a different etymology (e.g. from crackerjack, perhaps?).

Comment by chained_bear, 11 months ago

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 01:51:51 +0000

From the Gaelic craic (I think), for "fun."

Comment by oroboros, about 1 year ago

Sat, 27 Jan 2007 10:44:00 +0000

Contronymic in the sense: excellent vs. flawed.