What does the slang term ratchet mean?

[mikeford]

I get the gist from looking it up in the urban dictionary, but where did it come from and is the meaning really loose, as in nobody knows exactly what it means and applies it to anything and everything?

 

[BoomerD]

http://nymag.com/thecut/2013/04/ratchet-the-rap-insult-that-became-a-compliment.html

 

[noobsrevenge]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSwDY91MWxM

 

[AznAnarchy99]

You know that ugly girl who thinks she's hot and acts super slutty? Add a little bit of ghetto and that's pretty much a ratchet.

 

[mikeford]

Thanks, very interesting. People seem to like the word and so its getting used without a "lot" regard to what it means, but it does have a fair amount of descriptive meaning. The clearest part is what it doesn't imply, where attempting to use it would get you stared at as ignorant and not hip.

 

[Dedpuhl]

I have no idea where it came from, but I immediately thought of the UGK song (I'm So Bad) where I first heard it.

 

[lozina]

I dunno but when I hear ratchet I think about two hot skanky girls twerking on Christmas

 

[thraashman]

I think this.

 

[shortylickens]

I dunno but when I hear ratchet I think about two hot skanky girls twerking on Christmas

That will fine for me.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I first thought of

Nurse Ratchet

 

[mcurphy]

I first thought of

Nurse Ratchet

My first thought as well! I haven't heard this term used in any conversation other than when talking about tools.... So people are using ratchet as a noun to describe other people or things?

 

[who?]

How wretched is a ratchet?

 

[Chocu1a]

Busted up, janky, knarley, ghetto.

 

[who?]

Try saying it without such a heavy accent.