John W. Kennedy wrote:
Yank has been used as a degoratory term, I believe it started that way. It refers to when "the colonies" *yanked* away from England.
There are several theories as to the origin of "Yankee". That is not one of them. (In fact, it is demonstrably false.)
Interesting. Can you name a few? I'm curious.
There's a summary on <URL:http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_260.html>.
--
John W. Kennedy
"I want everybody to be smart. As smart as they can be. A world of ignorant people is too dangerous to live in."
-- Garson Kanin. "Born Yesterday"
