croker sack: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowRegional, Informal, Rural
Quick answer
What does “croker sack” mean?
A large bag, typically made of coarse material like burlap or hessian, used for storing or transporting agricultural produce such as potatoes, grain, or feed.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large bag, typically made of coarse material like burlap or hessian, used for storing or transporting agricultural produce such as potatoes, grain, or feed.
A regional term, primarily Southern US, for a burlap bag; can metaphorically refer to a state of poverty or rustic simplicity (e.g., "poor as a croker sack").
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is not used in British English. The equivalent British terms would be 'hessian sack' or 'burlap bag' (though 'burlap' is itself of North American origin).
Connotations
In American (Southern) usage, it carries connotations of agriculture, manual labor, and a specific cultural and generational context. In British English, equivalent terms lack these specific regional connotations.
Frequency
Extremely rare in British English; low-frequency regional term in American English, largely confined to the Southern United States, and declining in use.
Grammar
How to Use “croker sack” in a Sentence
a croker sack of [noun: produce, e.g., potatoes, peanuts]to fill/tie/carry a croker sackVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “croker sack” in a Sentence
verb
American English
- We need to croker sack these taters for the market. (regional, non-standard verb use)
adjective
American English
- He had a croker-sack towel for drying off after working in the field. (regional, compound adjective)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Rare; might appear in ethnographic, linguistic, or historical studies of Southern US culture.
Everyday
Used primarily by older generations in the rural Southern US in informal, domestic, or agricultural contexts.
Technical
Not used; agricultural manuals would use standard terms like 'burlap sack'.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “croker sack”
- Spelling as 'crocker sack' or 'croker bag'.
- Using it in formal writing or outside its regional context, causing confusion.
- Assuming it is a standard term understood by all English speakers.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is traditionally made of burlap (also called hessian or jute), a coarse, woven natural fibre.
No, it is a low-frequency regionalism. Most Americans outside the South would say 'burlap bag' or 'gunny sack'.
Its etymology is uncertain but likely related to 'crocker', an obsolete term for a potter or one who sells earthenware, possibly transferred to the sack used for such goods.
Generally, no. It is an informal, regional term. Use standard terms like 'burlap sack' or 'hessian bag' in formal contexts.
A large bag, typically made of coarse material like burlap or hessian, used for storing or transporting agricultural produce such as potatoes, grain, or feed.
Croker sack: in American English it is pronounced /ˌkroʊkɚ ˈsæk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “poor as a croker sack”
- “ugly as a croker sack”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a Southern CROW cawing 'CRO' while picking at a KERnel of corn inside a SACK.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTAINER FOR RUSTICITY/POVERTY (e.g., 'He came from nothing, just a boy with a croker sack').
Practice
Quiz
In which regional dialect is 'croker sack' primarily used?