2006-11-22 19:54:57 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ Australia ➔ Other - Australia
Look, in all honesty you can go to wikipedia, history sites and find the meaning of the word/words, pom pomme pommy and the p.o.m. but really we do it mostly to get up their noses ~ same as they call us colonials etc., all good fun, bit like a love/hate sibling relationship ..........btw the "ashes" do not belong to the poms and will be left in Aus!!!!
2006-11-22 20:06:46 · answer #1 · answered by renclrk 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The origin of this term is not confirmed and there are several persistent false etymologies.
One theory is that, as the majority of early immigrants to Australia were British, it is rhyming slang for "immigrant" from a contraction of the word "pomegranate", or possibly more directly related to the appearance of the fruit, as it bears a more than passing resemblance to the typical pale complexioned Briton's skin after his or her first few days living under the hot Australian sun.
Another theory is that POM is a shortened acronym of Prisoner of His/Her Majesty (POHM). As many of Australia's first settlers were convicts, sentenced to transportation, this theory holds that upon arrival in the country they would be given a uniform with POHM emblazoned on the back, and that convicts with an extended stay on Australian soil would no longer have to wear the shirt and would often refer to newer entrants into the country as "Pohmmys". Other suggestions hold that POM is a different acronym, such as "Prisoner of Mother England" or "Port of Melbourne". These etymologies are believed to be false, as the term "pommy" was coined long before acronyms were used in common parlance. Moreover, there is no record of prisoners in Australia ever wearing such uniforms.
2006-11-22 22:54:55 · answer #2 · answered by Born a Fox 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I dont think any of the other answers is right :( I always thought it was because the British used to have pom poms on their berets during the war :) omg.
2006-11-22 20:30:37 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is often thought that it derived from Prisoners of Mother England but most now believe it relates to Pomegranates as immigrants looked like pomegranates after catching the sun and turning red!
2006-11-22 20:02:39 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No they were British Subjects. There was a strict pecking order The English looked down on the other Brits (scots, Welsh, Irish) who in turn looked down on the Dominions (Australia, NZ, Canada & Sth Africa) next down was India and then all the others at the bottom of the pile
2016-05-22 21:26:09 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The pomegranet idea is the hot (excuse the pun) favourite. The other reason is that they can't call them convicts.
2006-11-22 20:05:15 · answer #6 · answered by Ranjeeh D 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
apparently it's a shortening of "prisoners of his/her majesty" because that is what they were originally some say still should be
2006-11-22 19:59:17 · answer #7 · answered by peter.w 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because we sent all our prisoner there, it stands for prisoners of mother England. pomes.
2006-11-22 19:59:02 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋