Dictionary

honyock en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈhʌnjæk/ (General-American)
• /ˈhɑnjɑk/ (General-American)

Etymology

* Historically, honyock referred to immigrant homesteaders "stubbornly" farming "hardscrabble" or "hardpan" land considered better suited to livestock ranching. * The first recorded usage in print appeared before 1860. Usage of the word peaked around 1927, and subsequently fell into relative disuse by 1980. * Multiple possible origins of this word have been suggested: ** Portmanteau word from Hun/Hungarian and the ethnic slur Polack. ** Derivation of the German compound word "Honigjäger", meaning honey chaser; A reference to pursuing "sweet" opportunities and inevitably getting "stung" by unanticipated but predictable consequences. ** Derivation of the Hungarian adjective "hanyag", and its multiple definitions and negative connotations such as careless, sloppy, slothful and slow.

Meanings

1. (US, slang) A person (especially a farmer) of relatively recent Central or Eastern European peasant extraction.
   • Today "honyock," or farming homesteader, and old-timer live peaceably side by side and each has learned much from the other. The old-timer taught his neighbor the art of stock raising on the range, and the honyock convinced the old-timer that some forage crops could be raised and that it was not good economics to ship out a carload of cows and at the same time ship in a carload of condensed milk. 1938, Unknown FWP Author, A South Dakota Guide, Works Project Administration, Chapter 1, South Dakota Today
2. (US, derogatory, slang, sometimes) A person who is foolish, stupid, oafish, wild, impetuous, or stubborn.
   • (Father) told me I was a honyock, kissed my mother(...), and gave me a Dutch rub. 2009, Charles Taylor, Winter from Spring, Xlibris Corporation, page 29:
   • "Olivia, put some clothes on and I'll be back to deal with you directly. And as for you!" He poked Rhys on the center of his chest. "Come with me, you hairy-legged honyock!" 2013, Connie Mason, Mia Marlowe, Waking Up with a Rake, Sourcebooks Incorporated:
   • "You city boys are so complicated." "Better to be complicated than simple." "Who're you calling simple?" "The same honyock who damn near got us killed driving here like he was doing the Indy 500 on a dirt road in the woods." "I'll have you know that was all skill." 2011, Robert W. Callis, Hanging Rock, iUniverse, page 141:
   • Oh, and did you notice that last line? "I am the Lord." This is not just some guy off the street; not some honyock who doesn't know anything! 2016, Tex Tonroy, Out o' th' Bushes: A Texas Preacher's Guide to Givin' Plumb Up!, WestBow Press:

Forms

Relateds

hunky · honky

Synonyms

or hick (rural farmer) · clodhopper (rural farmer) · yahoo (wild or uncouth) · dirt farmer (rural farmer) · hayseed (rural farmer) · or lout (wild or uncouth) · homesteader (rural farmer) · simpleton (foolish or stupid) · ignoramus (foolish or stupid) · rube (foolish or stupid) · yokel (rural farmer) · oaf (wild or uncouth) · or know-nothing (foolish or stupid)