Trailer Trash - term origin?

Posted by ESC on September 03, 2002

In Reply to: Trailer Trash - term origin? posted by Word Camel on September 03, 2002

: I have been looking, without much luck, for the origin of the term "trailer trash". I am guessing it is relatively new and may even be linked with the development of the "manufactured home" market in the 80's and 90's. It's not listed in the 1981 edition of the American Heritage Dictionary.

: It seems to be a catchier equivalent to "white trash", the derogatory term used to describe poor whites in the American south. So far the Internet has yielded nothing.

I'll look in my references this evening. I've just heard it in recent years. It probably goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway. This is a really hateful term.