Re: Word usage in group versus out of group.

On Fri, 21 May 1999, John Cowan wrote:

> Raimundus A. Brown scripsit:
>
> > And of course, in the anglophone world outside of Britain I believe I'm
> > known as a 'Limey'  :)
>
> Rather old-fashioned, and probably not derogatory.  In fact, there is AFAIK
> no purely derogatory American term for a subject or former subject of
> Her Majesty.
>
Among Anzacs they are referred to as pommies.  In NZ at least it is
uncommon but not unknown.  The etymology is not entirely certain.  Most
people think it stands for (p)risoners (o)f (m)other (E)ngland, a
reference to the convict founders of Australia.  There is no historical
proof of this.  Another theory, for any particular reason, derives it from
pomegranate.

- andrew.

Andrew Smith, Intheologus                       hobbit@earthlight.co.nz

"Orcs eat Hummers."
                        - Old Orc Saying.