A hillbilly is a term for people who live in rural, mountainous areas in the United States, primarily in the Appalachian region. The term was first used in print in the late 1800s and early 1900s to describe people who lived in the hills, had no means to speak of, dressed as they could, talked as they pleased, drank whiskey when they got it, and fired off their revolver as the fancy took them. The term "hillbilly" was also used by members of the Planters Protection Association, a tobacco farmers union that formed in the Black Patch region of Kentucky, to refer to non-union scab farmers who did not join the organization.
The term "hillbilly" is often considered disparaging and offensive. It is sometimes used to describe people who live in backwoods areas and are perceived as uneducated or unsophisticated. However, some people who identify as hillbillies see the term as a source of pride and cultural identity.
In summary, a hillbilly is a person who lives in a rural, mountainous area in the United States, primarily in the Appalachian region. The term can be considered disparaging and offensive, but some people who identify as hillbillies see it as a source of pride and cultural identity.
