hillbilly

noun

hill·bil·ly ˈhil-ˌbi-lē

plural hillbillies

often disparaging + offensive

: a person from a backwoods area

Other kids called her a hillbilly because of her accent and her simple clothes. in the skit, he was a shy hillbilly in love with a city girl

Etymology

hill entry 1 + Billy, nickname for William

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of hillbilly was in 1880

See more words from the same year

Style

“Hillbilly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hillbilly. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Copy Citation

hillbilly

noun

hill·bil·ly ˈhil-ˌbil-ē

plural hillbillies

often offensive

: a person from a mountainous backwoods area

—often used disparagingly

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