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Reading the etymological link [0] from Wikipedia I have an idea that it comes from a diminutive form of the first syllable to the word German. This English Stac
by adolph 5y ago
Reading the etymological link [0] from Wikipedia I have an idea that it comes from a diminutive form of the first syllable to the word German. This English StackExchange answer [1] seems to conceptually back me up a bit, calling it hypocorism [2]:
English forms nicknames in a variety of manners. Shortening, often to the first syllable . . . . Addition of the diminutive suffix, usually -ie or -y. It is often added to the end of an already shortened name. This suffix connotes smallness or endearment.
I'm certain someone will object to the idea of soldiers having a term of "endearment" for the "enemy," and so I'll stress "smallness" rather than using a name with MAN in it.
0. https://www.etymonline.com/word/Jerry https://www.etymonline.com/word/Jerry
1. https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/8767/changes-in-english-names-of-people https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/8767/changes-in-...
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypocorism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypocorism
- MichaelMoser123 5y agoStrange that the Germans were calling the British 'tommies' in return - even during the first world war; and that was one frigging war with flame throwers and poison gas! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Atkins https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Atkins https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_(Soldat) https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_(Soldat) (Well, jerrycan just sounds better than krautcan or huncan; Even on this German site you are bying jerrycans [1] and not Wehrmacht-Einheitskanister; Still, in contemporary German the word Kanister is more often used than Jerrycan) [1] https://www.kfzteile.net/angebote/?utm_term=jerrycan&q=jerrycan&utm_campaign=bing-panther-21&utm_medium=cpc&msclkid=fb1b896c4ae8156862e4e8b8b0e1e3e8&utm_content=jerrycan%20exact&utm_source=bing&cmpReload=true https://www.kfzteile.net/angebote/?utm_term=jerrycan&q=jerry...