Yokel

Also youkell. [Of uncertain origin. Perh. a fig. application of dial. yokel (1) green woodpecker, (2) yellow-hammer.] contemptuous term for a (stupid or ignorant) countryman or rustic; a country bumpkin.

1812.  J. H. Vaux, Flash Dict. Youkell, a countryman or clown.

1820.  Sporting Mag. (N.S.), VI. 193. It was thought Redgreaves was a Yokel; but upon further scrutiny, it turned out that he was a Clerkenweller.

1823.  ‘Jon Bee’ (title), A Dictionary of the Turf,… useful … for Novices, Flats, and Yokels.

1828.  P. Cunningham, N. S. Wales (ed. 3), II. 222. A raw yokel [note, Countryman] was once complained of to me by a messmate of his, for robbing him of a dollar.

1861.  Thackeray, Four Georges, iv. Black legs … inveigle silly yokels with greasy packs of cards in railroad cars.

1883.  D. C. Murray, Hearts, xxv. The yokel, being a yokel, was not good at the reading of facial expression.

  attrib.  1844.  Dickens, Mart. Chuz., xxxvi. None of your steady-going, yokel coaches, but a swaggering, rakish, London coach.

1891.  C. T. C. James, Rom. Rigmarole, ix. Maidservants … looked eagerly for their yokel sweethearts.

1916.  E. L. Masters, Spoon River Anthology, ‘Harmon Whitney,’ 10.

  Hence Yokeldom, yokels collectively; Yokelish a., characteristic of a yokel.

1886.  Manch. Exam., 16 Feb., 5/3. The chosen home of rural stupidity and yokeldom.

1886.  Jrnl. Anthrop. Inst., Nov., 236. A very good rural population, with somewhat yokelish notions.