Whitey

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

  1. A derogatory or informal term used to refer to a white person often in contexts reflecting racial stereotypes or social commentary ; a slang expression sometimes used humorously or critically to denote Caucasians in contrast to other ethnic groups ; an informal label applied primarily in racial or cultural discussions to describe someone of European descent without neutral intent
  2. A slang designation for individuals of white racial background frequently carrying pejorative or humorous connotations ; a colloquial term employed in social or ethnic contexts to single out Caucasians possibly with critical undertones ; an informal expression used in discourse to indicate someone identified by their pale skin color often implying social or racial implications
  3. An informal and often disparaging label for white people used in conversations about race and identity ; a slang term arising in social vernacular highlighting white ethnicity sometimes with ironic or negative sentiment ; a casual reference to people of white European descent frequently encountered in socio-cultural discussions or literary contexts

Etymology: The word "whitey" is a straightforward formation: the adjective "white" with the diminutive suffix "-y" attached. The suffix comes down through Old English "-iġ" and Middle English "-y", and it was used to make pet names and small or affectionate forms, as in "dolly" or "Billy." Combined with "white," it turned the colour word into a noun for a white person. The base word traces back a long way. "White" descends from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "bright," which passed through Proto-Germanic and Old English "hwīt" into Middle English and modern English. The suffix and the root are both ordinary, native English building blocks, so the word's history is plain rather than dramatic. Its meaning is the notable part: it moved from a description of colour and brightness to a label for a person's skin colour.

Synonyms: white person, Caucasian, Anglo, European

Antonyms: black person, African, person of color