From my knowledge, it's derived from this little piece of doggerel: "Yankee Doodle went to town, "Riding on a donkey, "Stuck a feather in his hat, "And called it macaroni."
It derives from the pre-Revolution period, when the citizens of the Thirteen Colonies were pushing themselves forward. "Macaroni" was apparently a derogatory term applied to upper class affectations. Where I read this? In some very good and well-researched books on American folklore and folkmusic from the mid-fifties to the late seventies. Regretfully I don't recall what they were titled, but edited by the likes of Lomax, etc. Some things I have heard from people who have lived in the Southern States of the USA suggest that Dixy doesn't see itself as Yankee - that's New England, according to them. And if so, I doubt that the West Coasters see themselves as Yankee either. Not the way the ROTW (Rest of the World) sees them, of course. Wesley Parish On Sun, 15 May 2005 04:17, Daniel Carrera wrote: > 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. > > Cheers, > Daniel. -- Clinersterton beademung, with all of love - RIP James Blish ----- Mau e ki, he aha te mea nui? You ask, what is the most important thing? Maku e ki, he tangata, he tangata, he tangata. I reply, it is people, it is people, it is people.
