English Explanatory Dictionary

Tommy Atkins

English dictionary entry

Meanings

name
  1. Generic term for any British soldier.

Word forms

Tommy Atkins

Etymology

Said to be a fictitious name inserted in document templates given to soldiers to guide them in filling out account blanks, etc. Found in the publication Soldier's Account Book (1815) and later in King's Regulations (1837). Compare also John Doe and Richard Roe.

Related words

Adolf crapaud Fritz Frog Jerry Johnny Crapaud Roastbeef Tojo tommy boy
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