Origin of the word "Yankees"

[panader0]

Back in the old days, New York was called New Amsterdam. The Dutch were in charge. The nickname for the average "joe Blow" Dutchman was "Jann Kees" or Joe Cheese. I read that somewhere. Is it right?

[Dhalgren]

1. I read where Jan Kees was a Dutch pirate from the same time

period. The colonial Dutch were considered to be so "cut-throat" in their trading practices, that people they traded with began to call all of them "Jan Kees". That then became "Yankees". I read that several years ago...

[bryant69]

2. I always assumed that our early settlers, in the north particularly, were big fans of yanking things

But I haven't done any research, I have to admit.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[EstimatedProphet]

4. Now that's funny!

[ClassWarrior]

8. That'd make 'em "yankERs."

Maybe they got yanked around a lot. Sort of like living under Rape-Publican rule.

NGU.

[gratuitous]

3. LIke most sports team names . . .

"Yankees" is a shortening of a longer name. For example, the Cincinnati baseball team is called the "Reds," but they were originally called the "Redlegs." New York's other major league team, the "Mets," is a shortening of the "Metropolitans." And of course, "Yankees" is short for "Yankeessuck."

[EnviroBat]

5. Good one!

:rofl:

[mcscajun]

6. The origin's status is "Unascertained", according to the OED...

...in short, nobody really knows, but lots of people have ideas.

http://www.answers.com/topic/yankee
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_260.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yankee#Origins_of_the_word

[AlertLurker]

7. Easy. The word "eankke" in Cherokee means "coward."

[SoxFan]

9. This would explain A-Rod