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Kay | 14:52 Fri 03rd Sep 2004 | Phrases & Sayings
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How did the term come about??
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It is possible that it came from a Cherokee - word, �eankke', meaning �slave/coward', but it is far more likely to have come from the Dutch word �Janke', meaning �Johnnie'...(�J' in Dutch is pronounced like �Y' in English, so it sounds more like �Yanke' to British ears)...or even from 'Jan Kees', meaning 'John Cheese'. Apparently that was used as a term of abuse by Dutch settlers when referring to British ones in the early days of the USA. Basically, therefore, it probably just means �Johnnie'. If you click here, a link will take you to a website that tells you absolutely everything you could ever hope to know about the word �Yank(ee)'!
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Ta very much QM,I can go to sleep now:-).

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