Where "Tacker" Comes From
"Tacker" is generally traced to the dialects of Devon and Cornwall in south-west England, where the word described a small child, and was brought to Australia by settlers from that region. Wiktionary notes that the complete derivation of the word itself is unclear — the full etymology is "missing or incomplete" — but the dialectal geographic origin is well attested.
It has been recorded in Australian use since at least the 1940s, and has stayed almost entirely gentle in tone — "the little tackers" is the kind of phrase you'd hear from a grandparent or a teacher, never used as a put-down. Murray Bail's 1980 novel "Homesickness" captures the word in exactly this affectionate register: "And what's this little tacker's name?"
Source:
"He was just a little tacker when we moved here."
How Aussies Actually Use It
It's an affectionate term for a young kid, often used by older generations.
"Little tacker" is the most common form, adding extra warmth.
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