Vocab from an Okie

I was born and raised in Oklahoma, a strange and wonderful bridge between the South and the Midwest. I tried to come up with as many terms that were exclusivley Oklahoman, but I’m sure some will overlap with other states as well ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Hope you enjoy!

Okie - Another word for Oklahoman. Often associated with the Merle Haggard song, Okie from Muskogee. ”I’m proud to be an Okie from Muskogee!”

bar ditch - The ditch on the side of the road. I never thought this was an Okie term, but my grandmother, who grew up in California and Arkansas, insisted that she’s never heard it called that anywhere else. ”If you don’t pay attention to the road, you’re going to drive right into the bar ditch!”

ope - A mild exclamation often used when bumping into someone or something. This is something nobody noticed until a meme about it came out, and now everone in the Midwest has a complex over it. I guess it could be called a variant of ‘oops’? ”Ope, sorry, let me just squeeze past you here.”

Boomer - Mascot of Oklahoma University. Historically, they were white settlers who believed that the Unassigned Lands were open to anyone for settlement, not just Indian tribes. They thought this because of a clause in Grover Cleveland’s Homestead Act, and some had to be removed from the property. Basically, they’re rebels. See the Oklahoma University fight song.

Sooner - Also a mascot of Oklahoma university. Later, it was decided that the Unassigned Lands would be opened in a land run (Oklahoma is the only state to have had a land run). Land was sold first-come or by bid. Sooners were people who settled on the land prior to the land run opening date. Basically, they’re cheaters. See the Oklahoma University fight song.

necked - Naked, but with a southern accent. It’s really not that different, but it’s significant enough that we will spell it differently to make sure our accent comes across in text. ”He ran out of there necked as the day he was born.”

nader - Short for tornado. Used often during storm season (the end of April throughout May). Said with as much southern accent as one can muster. ”The weatherman said there would be hail, but do you think there will be a nader?”

hidey-hole/fraidy-hole - Slang for the basement. ”The nader sirens went off; we better head to the fraidy-hole.”