|
|
Why are we Canadians called Canucks, and why are Americans called Yankees?
Question
#31457. Asked by LOTRluver.
|
sequoianoir
|
YANKEE - (Dictionary entry) A native or inhabitant of New England OR of a northern U.S. state, especially a Union soldier during the Civil War OR of the United States. The origin of Yankee has been the subject of much debate, but the most likely source is the Dutch name Janke, meaning 'little Jan' or 'little John,' a nickname that dates back to the 1680s. Perhaps because it was used as the name of pirates, the name Yankee came to be used as a term of contempt. It was used this way in the 1750s by General James Wolfe, the British general who secured British domination of North America by defeating the French at Quebec. The name may have been applied to New Englanders as an extension of an original use referring to Dutch settlers living along the Hudson River. Whatever the reason, Yankee is first recorded in 1765 as a name for an inhabitant of New England. The first recorded use of the term by the British to refer to Americans in general appears in the 1780s, in a letter by Lord Horatio Nelson, no less. Around the same time it began to be abbreviated to Yank. During the American Revolution, American soldiers adopted this term of derision as a term of national pride. The derisive use nonetheless remained alive and even intensified in the South during the Civil War, when it referred not to all Americans but to those loyal to the Union. Now the term carries less emotion except of course for baseball fans !!!
|
Create a Free
FunTrivia ID to add
to,
request more/new answers, or
edit this entry
Other Similar Questions & Answers
Suggested Related FunTrivia Quizzes - 90,000 currently online
 |
Once It Was Called....
|
This quiz is about the many places around the world that are called something other than their original name.
|
|
Place Names
|
Difficult
15 Q
|
bullymom
May 27 02
9297 plays
|
 |
Called to Serve
|
How much do you know about missionary work and the lives of missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? Here are a few basic principles on the ins and outs of being an LDS missionary. See how much you know!
|
|
Latter Day Saints
|
Average
10 Q
|
ThunderCatBYU
Jul 04 05
2700 plays
|
 |
What's It Called?
|
Can you identify these items from the sports world?
|
|
Sports for Kids
|
Easy
10 Q
|
jcmttt
Sep 17 04
4914 plays
|
|
"Ask FunTrivia" is for entertainment purposes only, and answers offered are unverified and unchecked by
FunTrivia. We cannot guarantee the accuracy or veracity of ANY statement posted. Feel free to post an updated
response
if you feel that an answer is inadequate or incorrect. Please
thoroughly research items where accuracy is important to you using multiple reliable sources. By accessing our
website, you agree to be bound by our terms of service.
|