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    Why is "uncle" used as a form of giving up or surrendering, why not nephew or aunt?

    Question #119462. Asked by 29CoveRoad. (Dec 20 10 1:25 PM)


    Windswept

    		This dates way back in time to the Roman days. Young children when captured by mean other kids would say in Latin
    "Patrue, mi Patruissimo" or "Uncle, my dear Uncle" in order to be freed.

    http://www.eduqna.com/Words-Wordplay/316-Words-Wordplay-7.html

    Dec 20 10, 3:05 PM
    abechstein

    		This article finds the first use in English in the US in the late 19th or early 20th century. Some etymologists relate the term back to the Irish "anacol", meaning an act of protecting or mercy.

    There's a joke cited in this article which seems to be the source of the phrase (it's not very funny, but it's an interesting explanation).

    http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-say1.htm

    Dec 20 10, 5:31 PM

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