I'm starting to think that hicks like the ones I grew up around are eternal, transcending time and space. Jacob and Esau, y'all. Enkidu and Gilgamesh. Civilization and its Discontents.
The basic idea is probably as old as the city itself. Certainly 'paganus' has that sort of connotation, and 'heathen' has a similar etymology.
Whether there were related ideas before the first cities, perhaps the first settled villagers had them about nomads or vice versa, it's hard to know.
In Scotland the equivalent term is 'teuchter'.
Having had a good number of neo-pagan friends, the etymology of "paganus" cracks me up every time I think about it. The irony is rich. Never heard "teuchter" before.
North East Quine may have the definitive answer, but I understand 'teuchter' to mean someone from the rural north east of Scotland, especially the Doric speakers of the hinterland of Aberdeenshire.
Unless someone is jokingly applying it to themselves it's a slur - see the Scottish National Dictionary definition - spoilered below as I dont come into that category
TEUCHTER, n. 1. Also cheuchter, chuchter, choochter, a term of disparagement or contempt used in Central Scotland for a Highlander, esp. one speaking Gaelic, or anyone from the North. (Cai., e. and wm.Sc. 1972; Cai., Bnff., Ags., Edb., Gsw., Ayr., Dmf., Rxb. 2000s). Also attrib
I've only heard it in the wild from a Gaelic-speaking Sgiathanach who used it to describe a particular turn of phrase she considered particularly, well, yokelish I suppose.
Oh I've heard in the wild from someone from Glasgow who really should have known better. They were a central belt Scot who was disparaging Gaelic culture and history with it - and that derogatory sense used to be a lot more common than it is now. It's a different thing when lowlanders use it that way.
I'm pretty sure you can buy coasters, mugs etc printed with the word "teuchter." I've heard it used within the last month as a self-descriptor in a joke which was too niche to repeat here.
I've heard it applied to the highlands and islands in general (and Gaelic speakers in particular), I'd not previously heard it associated with the north east.
Comments
I've only heard it in the wild from a Gaelic-speaking Sgiathanach who used it to describe a particular turn of phrase she considered particularly, well, yokelish I suppose.
Thanks! Pardon me for missing boundaries. I should know better.
I have to post this here, don't I?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUaqkp2xMzY