Crip etymology

Etymology & Meaning

The term "crip" has its roots in two distinct sources:

• Mid-19th century, American slang: Derived from "cripple," originally a descriptive term for people with physical disabilities. Over time, it became a derogatory slur used to belittle or exclude.

• Early 1990s, African American Vernacular English (AAVE): Used as a term of endearment or solidarity within the LGBTQ+ community, particularly among people of color.

Origin

In the 1990s, the reclassification of "crip" as a term of empowerment and pride emerged within the LGBTQ+ community, especially among disabled people of color. This was influenced by the work of disability rights activists, such as Lennard Davis and the late Robert McRuer, who challenged the negative stereotypes and ableism associated with the traditional meaning of "crip."

By embracing the term, the LGBTQ+ community sought to reclaim and reframe the language used to describe them, fostering a sense of identity and unity.

Historical Usage & Connotations

• 19th-20th centuries: Used as a derogatory term, often with negative connotations of weakness, vulnerability, and exclusion.
• 1960s-1980s: Associated with the Disability Rights Movement, where activists advocated for the rights of people with disabilities and challenged the use of such terms as "cripple."
• 1990s-present: Reclaimed by the LGBTQ+ community as a term of empowerment and pride, signifying resistance to marginalization and the celebration of disability and queerness.

Current Usage

Today, the term "crip" is used as a self-identifying label by some individuals within the LGBTQ+ community, particularly those who identify as disabled and queer. It represents a rejection of ableist and homophobic stereotypes, promoting inclusivity and visibility.

Example:

"I am a crip and proud. I embrace the intersectionality of my queer and disabled identities, and I reject the societal norms that define me as less."

Crip relate terms

• cripple

  Etymology and Meaning The word cripple has several etymological origins Old English

• intervention

  Etymology Latin intervenire to come between Inter between venire to come

• disdain

  Etymology The word disdain comes from the Old French word desdaignier meaning to

• stop

  Etymology The word stop comes from the Middle English word stoppen which itself deri

• look

  Etymology Old English lōcian to see Proto West Germanic lōkijanan Proto Germanic

• toast

  Etymology The word toast has several possible etymologies Latin tostum meaning

• fatigue

  Etymology Middle English fatigate from Latin fatigare to weary from fat stem of

• altruism

  Etymology The word altruism is derived from the French word altruisme which in tur

• company

  Etymology and Meaning of Company The word company is derived from the Late Latin word

• staple

  Etymology The word staple derives from the Old English word stapol which means a po

• abstruse

  Etymology The word abstruse originated from the Latin word abstrusus which means h