[at-l] Yankee

[jbryankramer@xxxxxxx (J Bryan Kramer)]

from the dictionary of etymology:

"Yankee - 1683, probably applied disparagingly by Dutch settlers in New
Amsterdam (New York) to English colonists in neighboring Connecticut. It may
be from Du. Janke, dim. of common personal name Jan, or from Jan Kes
familiar form of "John Cornelius," or perhaps an alt. of Jan Kees, dial.
variant of Jan Kaas, lit. "John Cheese," the generic nickname the Flemings
used for Dutchmen. It originally seems to have been applied insultingly to
Dutch, especially freebooters, before they turned around and slapped it on
the English. In Eng. a term of contempt (1750s) before its use as a general
term for "native of New England" (1765). Shortened form Yank in reference to
"an American" first recorded 1778"

The current diminutive of Jan may be Janje but what was it 320 years ago?

"Si vis pacem para bellum"

> -----Original Message-----

>
> Couple of comments from Dutch Treat: The Dutch word for cheese is spelled
> Kaas.  The Dutch diminutive for Jan is jantje.  There is no K in the
> diminuative.  Back to the drawing board.
> DT
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <bgftrme@webtv.net>
> To: "Mark Hudson" <hudsom@us.ibm.com>; <at-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
> Sent: Wednesday, February 12, 2003 9:45 AM
> Subject: Re: [at-l] Yankee
>
>
> > It started its' epithetical journey as either a Flemish or Royal Navy
> > derogative directed at Dutch pirates: "Jan Kass"= John Cheesehead or
> > "Janke", the diminutive "little Johney", and pretty soon the NY
> > "janke's" were calling the English in CT the same thing...so, in a way,
> > Cheeseheads were the first Yanqui's
> > Alex
> >
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