hillbilly

hillbilly pronunciation

/HILL-bill-ee/

Meaning

Names somebody from the hills, often Southern Appalachia or the Ozarks. Outsiders have used it as a put-down. Mountain folks may dodge it, joke with it, or wear it with pride, depending on who is talking and the tone. Close cousin to redneck talk, but the hill and the hollers sit closer to the center of this word.

How folks use it

• “He calls himself a hillbilly and means it as a compliment.”
• “City folks said hillbilly like it was dirt, but that boy could fix anything with a wrench and baling wire.”

Origin and etymology

American compound of hill and billy (an old Scots word for fellow or buddy). Print use shows up around 1900, including a New York Journal line about Alabama mountaineers. A story tying it to King William's "Billy boys" is popular but scholars call that folk etymology. The label stuck to Appalachian and Ozark people through jokes, film, and later "hillbilly music."

Frequently asked questions