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According to the New Oxford Dictionary of English 1998 (paper book)
nigger > noun offensive a contemptuous term for a black person
ORIGIN late 17th cent. (as an adjective): from earlier neger, from French nègre, from Spanish negro 'black' (Negro)
USAGE The word nigger was first used as an adjective denoting a black person in the 17th century and has had strong offensive connotations ever since. Today it remains one of the most racially offensive words in the language. Ironically, it has acquired a new strand of use in recent years, being used by black people as a mildly disparaging way of referring to another black person.
Last edited by boxcorner; 01-07-2011 at 06:19 PM.
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