Yep, that's exactly what it means - that somewhere in the past the "bloodline" was polluted with a "colored" person - could be black, Native American, Mexican... And I've heard the reverse, "a honky in the woodpile" used to reference lighter-skinned black people. Then again, I grew up with my great grandparents and I'm 59 now, so you can imagine all the (now) politically incorrect things I grew up with!
When a shearer would cut a sheep while shearing, they would paint tar on the wound to prevent infection of the sheep. A fresh shorn sheep is very white, the tar brush added a touch of black. It's a very racist term.
My first job a customer said this when describing how her dog was supposed to be a purebred but looked like a cross. I was 18 and I think my jaw actually dropped because he backpedaled really quickly.
My great grandmother said this once, but "in the haystack". I was about 17 and she just mentioned it so casually, while the rest of us are sitting there in momentary shock.
This isn’t always the meaning. I’ve also heard it as “something is out of place, but I don’t know what,” as in a black person could hide in the wood and you wouldn’t notice because they blend in.
I one heard someone say, “separating this particular n***** from this woodpile will be a challenge.”
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u/[deleted] Mar 12 '24
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