Archie en · NOUN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- /ˈɑɹt͡ʃi/ (General-American)
- /ˈɑːt͡ʃi/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- (Southern-England) audio
Etymology
Clipping of Archibald + -ie. The sense “anti-aircraft artillery” is said to be from airmen dodging hostile fire and shouting “Archibald, certainly not”, the refrain of a then popular music hall song of the same name first performed by George Robey in 1911. This habit probably originated with the pilot and commander Amyas Borton (1886–1969).
Meanings
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(World-War-I, slang, uncountable) Anti-aircraft artillery.
On a cloudy day one can hop in and out of the clouds, greatly to the annoyance of some Archie commander who, just when he has got range and direction and is about to let fly, finds that his bird has disappeared into a cloud. He fills thatcloud with HE but his quarry emerges from another nearby with a gesture of derision which the gunners below may imagine, though cannot see. On a sunny day, Archie is up early, for he knows that aircraft will be silhouetted against a blue sky. Then the experienced pilot hops in and out of the sun, there being no clouds, while the Archie commander rubs his smarting eyes and uses strong words.
2014, Martin Bowman, Lost Wings of WWI: Downed Airmen on the Western Front 1914-1918, →ISBN:But then, dodging airbursts of Archie on the Western Front hadn't exactly been a joyride either.
2012, Pat Kelleher, The Alleyman, →ISBN:He was seen by an aeroplane, our Archie gunner and a whole division to crash in their lines just opposite our trenches, much jubilation and more congratulations.
2013, Tyrrel M. Hawker, Hawker VC- The First RFC Ace: The Life of Major Lanoe Hawker VC DSO: 1890-1916., →ISBN:
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(World-War-I, countable, slang) A piece of anti-aircraft ordnance.
Quickly our five machines dodged the Archies as we crossed.
2016, Lieut.-Col. Harold Evans Hartney, Up And At ‘Em, →ISBN:An inquisitive aeroplane, which had been hovering over the scene, was picked off as by an Archie and made a forced landing, man and machine buried in filth.
1929, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, When the World Screamed:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| archie | alternative | lexicographic | |
| Archies | Number=Plur | lexicographic |