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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

Tommy Atkins en · PROPN

Etymology

Said to be a fictitious name inserted in document templates given to soldiers to guide them in filling out account blanks, etc. Found in the publication Soldier's Account Book (1815) and later in King's Regulations (1837). Compare also John Doe and Richard Roe.

Meanings

  1. Generic term for any British soldier.
    • O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away"; But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play 1892, Rudyard Kipling, Tommy:
    • A voice I don't want to listen to tells me that this is England's last land triumph; that our military history ends here[…]. Tommy Atkins will serve with pluck and valor wherever he fights hereafter, as always; but the conduct of the war is passing out of our hands. 1978, Herman Wouk, War and Remembrance, Back Bay Books, published 2002, page 507:

Coordinates

Billy Yank · G.I. Joe · Johnny Reb

Relateds

Fritz · Jerry · crapaud · Adolf · Johnny Crapaud · Frog · Tojo · tommy boy · Roastbeef

Translations (3)

fi Nönnönnöö (Generic name for a soldier) · pl szeregowy (Generic name for a soldier) · fi Senjanen (Generic name for a soldier)