Indiana definition (most common and nationally recognized definition): 1. A native or inhabitant of Indiana (taken from Oxford American Dictionary). 2. An alumnus or student of Indiana University. Also "Hoosiers": Indiana University sports teams. Note: The Indiana University Basketball team is sometimes referred to as “the Hurryin’ Hoosiers.”
St. Louis Definition (regional slang term): Generally means redneck, hick, or someone from Missouri outside of St. Louis or certain areas of St. Louis.
The word itself and its most common definition have its origins in the state of Indiana (also known as the Hoosier State), though the word has taken on regional meanings outside of Indiana, most commonly in and around the St. Louis, MO area. However, even the St. Louis definition can trace its origins to Indiana and Indiana natives transplanted to the St. Louis area.
There are other definitions on Urban Dictionary that outline the St. Louis definition of the word Hoosier in some detail and the better ones include a history of the word. I won’t go through those definitions again, but I would like to point out, as I did above, that if you look at the origins of the St. Louis meaning you will see that this word, as used in St. Louis, also has its roots in Indiana.
Also, contrary to other definitions listed here, Indiana University has no mascot -- there is no “Indiana Hoosier.”
The following is from the July/August 1992 issue of the Indiana Alumni Magazine:
Still, the many theories are fascinating in their diversity. Take the one that has a contractor in 1825 named either Samuel Hoosier or Hoosher. His workers, who helped build a canal on the Ohio River, were predominantly from Indiana. They were called "Hoosier's men" or "Hoosiers."
A more colorful tale has the word deriving from the phrase fearful early settlers called out when startled by a knock on their cabin door: "Who's here?" — a call that over time degenerated into Hoosier.
And then there's the tongue-in-cheek explanation of Hoosier poet James Whitcomb Riley, who related the term to the roughness and ferocity of the state's early residents. Hoosier pioneers fought so violently, Riley contended, that noses were bitten off and eyes jabbed out during these brawls. Hoosier, said Riley, descends from the question posed by a stranger after entering a southern Indiana tavern and pushing a piece of human flesh with his boot toe: "Who's ear?"
Not nearly so clever but perhaps more plausible is the suggestion by Peckham and others that the term may derive from "hoozer" — a word that in the Cumberland dialect of Old England means "high hills."
"By extension, it was attached to a hill-dweller or highlander and came to suggest roughness and uncouthness," Peckham states. "Thus, throughout the Southeast in the eighteenth century, 'Hoosier' was used generally to describe a backwoodsman, especially an ignorant boaster, with an overtone of crudeness and even lawlessness."
That theory has won the most favor from Warren Roberts, MA'50, PhD'53, an IUB folklore professor who has shown how family surnames may have brought this form of Hoosier from Britain to its Midwest resting place.
Whatever its origin, historians agree that the nickname for Indiana residents was popularized in the 1800s by novels such as Edward Eggleston's The Hoosier School-Master, by Riley's poetry, and by newspaper articles that used it. As a result, although its historical roots may never be discovered, Hoosier is perhaps the most widely recognized state nickname. But even this modern meaning is ambiguous, and the word's use ranges from complimentary to derisive, depending on who is using it.
St. Louis Definition (regional slang term): Generally means redneck, hick, or someone from Missouri outside of St. Louis or certain areas of St. Louis.
The word itself and its most common definition have its origins in the state of Indiana (also known as the Hoosier State), though the word has taken on regional meanings outside of Indiana, most commonly in and around the St. Louis, MO area. However, even the St. Louis definition can trace its origins to Indiana and Indiana natives transplanted to the St. Louis area.
There are other definitions on Urban Dictionary that outline the St. Louis definition of the word Hoosier in some detail and the better ones include a history of the word. I won’t go through those definitions again, but I would like to point out, as I did above, that if you look at the origins of the St. Louis meaning you will see that this word, as used in St. Louis, also has its roots in Indiana.
Also, contrary to other definitions listed here, Indiana University has no mascot -- there is no “Indiana Hoosier.”
The following is from the July/August 1992 issue of the Indiana Alumni Magazine:
Still, the many theories are fascinating in their diversity. Take the one that has a contractor in 1825 named either Samuel Hoosier or Hoosher. His workers, who helped build a canal on the Ohio River, were predominantly from Indiana. They were called "Hoosier's men" or "Hoosiers."
A more colorful tale has the word deriving from the phrase fearful early settlers called out when startled by a knock on their cabin door: "Who's here?" — a call that over time degenerated into Hoosier.
And then there's the tongue-in-cheek explanation of Hoosier poet James Whitcomb Riley, who related the term to the roughness and ferocity of the state's early residents. Hoosier pioneers fought so violently, Riley contended, that noses were bitten off and eyes jabbed out during these brawls. Hoosier, said Riley, descends from the question posed by a stranger after entering a southern Indiana tavern and pushing a piece of human flesh with his boot toe: "Who's ear?"
Not nearly so clever but perhaps more plausible is the suggestion by Peckham and others that the term may derive from "hoozer" — a word that in the Cumberland dialect of Old England means "high hills."
"By extension, it was attached to a hill-dweller or highlander and came to suggest roughness and uncouthness," Peckham states. "Thus, throughout the Southeast in the eighteenth century, 'Hoosier' was used generally to describe a backwoodsman, especially an ignorant boaster, with an overtone of crudeness and even lawlessness."
That theory has won the most favor from Warren Roberts, MA'50, PhD'53, an IUB folklore professor who has shown how family surnames may have brought this form of Hoosier from Britain to its Midwest resting place.
Whatever its origin, historians agree that the nickname for Indiana residents was popularized in the 1800s by novels such as Edward Eggleston's The Hoosier School-Master, by Riley's poetry, and by newspaper articles that used it. As a result, although its historical roots may never be discovered, Hoosier is perhaps the most widely recognized state nickname. But even this modern meaning is ambiguous, and the word's use ranges from complimentary to derisive, depending on who is using it.
Indiana Examples: 1. Joe is from Indiana; he’s a Hoosier like us. 2. I was a Hoosier in college; I went to Indiana University. 3. Did you see that the Hoosiers made it to a bowl game this year in football?
St. Louis Example: Did you see the gun-rack in Craig's pick-up? He's such a hoosier.
St. Louis Example: Did you see the gun-rack in Craig's pick-up? He's such a hoosier.
by Soldier_Dude January 10, 2008
Get the hoosier mug.by jiggymarley December 27, 2012
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by corrosive commentary February 14, 2021
Get the Hoosier mug.Hoosier Mex (also known as Indiana Mex) is what Indiana, USA natives call their Mexican-American styled food. Similar to Tex-Mex food, Hacienda Mexican Restaurants which is solely based in Indiana, has been around since 1978 uses this term to describe their food offerings. While the corporate owners are not Mexican born or raised, they have coined this food classification to help inform non-Indiana natives (or those not located in the Goshen, IN · Mishawaka, IN · South Bend, IN · Plymouth, IN · Evansville, IN · Elkhart, IN · Kokomo, IN · Michigan City, IN · Warsaw, IN areas) that they are not, an "Authentic Mexican Restaurant" but rather, offer "their take on Mexican classics" and are Americanized Mexican styled, not-so-spicy, but craveable food.
I went to Hacienda in Indiana thinking I was going to get authentic Mexican food but instead I got Hoosier Mex.
by indianabornandraised October 10, 2023
Get the Hoosier Mex mug.by G30RG3 R0$@$ May 13, 2011
Get the Hoosker mug.an amazing indie pop/rock band from england. They have the ability to write songs about both sorrow and joy, something not often found in most of today's music. weither it be "Everything goes dark" or "Worst Case Scenerio" they know how to ensare the senses to make you feel the emotion in each beat. they hardly get the talent they deserve. if anyone is interested in underground alternative rock with pop and electronic influences, then listen to The Hoosiers!
by The Gentleman Thief December 1, 2010
Get the the hoosiers mug.1) An ass-kicking song by the St. Louis ska band MU330. Quite possibly the greatest lyric ever recorded...
"We'll have kids at 17, gettin' laid at Dairy Queen."
2) Redneck love of the worst kind, usually involving cousins or siblings.
"We'll have kids at 17, gettin' laid at Dairy Queen."
2) Redneck love of the worst kind, usually involving cousins or siblings.
Vern and Ayleen were kissin' out back to the Dairy Queen. Since they's cousins, there was some serious HOOSIER LOVE going on.
by His Royal Throbness May 20, 2005
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