Yellow hammer

Posted by Jim Loftus on February 23, 2009 at 10:15

While growing up in the Midwest (central Illinois) I heard adults use the words "yellow hammer" to describe an unlikeable person, but I was (and still am) ignorant of the origin or exact meaning. I remember it was used in a context both economic - yellow hammers were poverty stricken - and implying social status - yellow hammers were "white trash" in the social pecking order - but it also could be used as a substitute for "idiot" or, in the Midwest flavor, a "dumb ****." I have no clue as to the reference of the color yellow, or the use of the tool imagery in "hammer."

• Yellow hammer Graham Cambray 23/February/09
  • Yellow hammer ESC 23/February/09
    • Yellow hammer ESC 23/February/09
      • Yellow hammer Graham Cambray 23/February/09
        • Yellow hammer Graham Cambray 23/February/09
          • Yellow hammer ESC 23/February/09
            • Yellow hammer Graham Cambray 23/February/09
              • Yellow hammer Victoria S Dennis 23/February/09