tommy en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈtɒmi/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- (Australia) audio
- /ˈtɑmi/ (General-American)
Etymology
Generally agreed to have come from appellativization of Tommy in most senses, but the historical details are apparently largely unknown, including whether such an evolution happened several times (with one sense being independent of another).
Meanings
- (UK, countable, slang, uncountable) A British infantryman, especially one from World War I. Ellipsis of Tommy Atkins.
- (UK, countable, obsolete, slang, uncountable) Bread or breadlike foodstuff, generally a penny roll.
- (UK, countable, obsolete, slang, uncountable) The supply of food carried by workmen as their daily allowance.
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(UK, countable, obsolete, slang, uncountable) A truck, or barter; the exchange of labour for goods instead of money; the scrip by which such exchange occurs.
No. 84. April 6. * * * * * *, aged 13: Works at gimlets and centre-bits, &c.; works from six in the morning till seven at night; has worked here about two years; gets 4s. 6d. a week. Works for one of the men; every man pays his own boy; is paid in tommy; the man he works for gives him a note to the office, Mr. Parsons', for the money; Mr. James Parsons gives him the money, and he gives it to the man, who gives him the tommy for the money. It is John Parsons's Tommy-shop; doesn't know if his name is over the door, can't read. The man he works for behaves well to him; does not beat him; likes his work, has nothing to complain of. Went to a day-school about three years ago, but for a very little time. His father could not afford to pay for it; it was only 2d. a week, but they could hardly get bread enough at that time. Never goes to a Sunday-school; his clothes is ript so bad his father's ashamed on him going. Not badly grown; meagre, not unhealthy; dirty, and in rags.
1842, Commissioners for Inquiring into the Employment and Condition of Children in Mines and Manufactories, “Evidence of the Employment of Children”, in Appendix to the Second Report of the Commissioners: Trades and Manufactures, Reports and Evidence from Sub-Commissioners, Part 2. Presented to both Houses of Parliament by Command of Her Majesty, London: William Clowes and Sons, page 19:
- (countable, uncountable) A tommy bar.
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(abbreviation, alt-of, countable, slang, uncountable) Short for Tommy gun
alt of Tommy gun
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(countable, dated, slang, uncountable) Tommyrot; nonsense.
'Don't talk tommy, Guy!' she exclaimed half wrathfully. 'As if I could possibly put on two left shoes without knowing it, even if I could get them on. […]'
1927, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], Max Carrados Mysteries:
- (countable, obsolete, slang, uncountable) Synonym of dicky (“detachable shirt front”).
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| tommies | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Coordinates
Deriveds
tommy tin · soft tommy · tommy boy
Hypernyms
Relateds
tommy-rot · tommyrot · tommy rough · tommy cooker · tommyknocker · tommy ruff · tommy logge