What is a yank?

Question

I really have no idea so please don't answer in a mean way......I've been reading some questions and answer's on here and I still haven't figured it out yet.

Does it mean the American people?

Answer 1

Yank is short for Yankee, which is reference to people from the US. During WWII there was a slang for every country and it army.
The Germans were called Gerries.
The Russians were called Ruskies
The Japanese were called Japs
The Australians were called Aussies
The English were called Limey's
The Canadians were called Cannucks
The Americans were called Yanks
The Polish were called Pollocks

Some of these names stuck and some have been forgotten. Some of these names were derogatory and some not. Each one has an origin, most of which started at the onset of WWII.

Answer 2

It's a term given Americans by the British and Australians.

It is also:

Yank was a weekly magazine published by the United States military during World War II. Founded and edited by Major Hartzell Spence (1908-2001), the magazine was written by enlisted rank soldiers only and was made available to the soldiers, sailors and airmen serving overseas. It was published at facilities around the world -- British, Mediterranean, Continental, Western Pacific -- for a total of 21 editions in 17 countries. Yank was the most widely read magazine in the history of the U.S. military, achieving a worldwide circulation of more than 2.6 million. Each issue was priced at five cents because it was felt that if soldiers paid, they would have a higher regard for the publication. Each issue was edited in New York City and then shipped for printing around the world where staff editors added local stories. The last issue was published in December, 1945.

Answer 3

If the term is used by someone in the British Commonwealth it means an American (citizen of the USA.)

If used by an American of Southern heritage it means someone north of the Mason-Dixon line, in other words a Northerner, especially one from a state that fought for the Union in the American Civil War.

In modern times it can be either an insult or term of endearment, depending completely upon the intentions of the speaker and the sensitivities of the recipient.

In the old days, however, it was most definitely an insult... and a hilarious one at that.

It was coined in a soldiers' verse by a British officer in 1755 and was popular (with British troops at least!) before and during the American War of Independence. In his bawdy song "Yankee Doodle" literally meant one who pulls hard on his penis, in other words a masturbator.

In a stroke of sheer genius someone on the American side recognized that the only escape from this "attack by humor" was to take it up, make it our own and sing it with pride until it acquired a NEW meaning.

The first "feather in the cap" of America's fledgling Public Relations industry.

Answer 4

Brits and Aussies call ALL Americans Yanks. Southerners call northerners Yanks.

Answer 5

A Yankee. Someone from the Northern part of the U.S.

Usually New England or the Great Lakes States.

Answer 6

Yep, we Brits call you Yanks but not as an insult, we have a whole vocabulary to do that!
A Yank is also a tug or to pull hard.

Answer 7

Down here in the south a yank is one from up north.

Answer 8

it's what English and Aussies call Americans and it's an insult when they say it. a Yankee was a member of the federal military when the south still had slaves.

Answer 9

It's a name that Brits and Aussies call Americans. For some reason, they think it's an insult.

Answer 10

It's short for Yankee .The British started it , the Indians and then the Confederate army and the Southern people .