tommy

A worker shares his tommy with a colleague during their lunch break.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A British soldier: "tommy" (often capitalized as Tommy) refers to a common British soldier, especially from World War I or World War II. It is derived from the name Tommy Atkins, a generic name used for British soldiers.
   • Food or rations: In historical contexts, "tommy" means food or bread given to workers or soldiers as part of their wages or rations. This was common in 19th-century British industry, where workers received food instead of money.
   • Bread or provisions: Specifically, "tommy" can refer to bread or other provisions that workers brought from home to eat at their workplace.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The tommy marched through the muddy trenches with his comrades. (A British soldier in the war.)
  • The factory owner paid his workers in tommy instead of cash. (Food or rations given as wages.)
  • He ate his tommy during the lunch break at the mill. (The bread or food he brought from home.)

Advanced Usage

• "Tommy Atkins": The full, formal name for a British soldier, often used in official or literary contexts.

  • Tommy Atkins was known for his resilience and sense of humour. (The archetypal British soldier.)

• "Tommy shop": A historical term for a shop where workers were forced to spend their "tommy" (food wages), often overpriced and exploitative.

  • The workers complained about the high prices at the tommy shop. (A company store tied to the ration system.)

Variants and Related Words

• Tommy (proper noun): Used as a nickname or affectionate term for a British soldier.
  • The Tommies sang songs to keep their spirits up. (British soldiers collectively.)
• Tommy gun: A slang term for the Thompson submachine gun, named after its inventor, but unrelated to "tommy" as a soldier.
  • He carried a tommy gun into battle. (A type of firearm.)

Synonyms

• Soldier: a person who serves in an army.
• Ration: a fixed amount of food or supplies.
• Provision: supplies of food or other necessities.

Phrasal Verbs

• None directly associated with "tommy" as a noun. However, in historical contexts, "to pay in tommy" means to compensate with food rather than money.
  • The employer would pay in tommy to avoid giving cash. (To give food as wages.)

Related Idioms

• "For the love of Tommy": An old, informal expression used as a mild exclamation, similar to "for goodness' sake."

  • For the love of Tommy, stop making that noise! (An expression of frustration or emphasis.)

• "Tommy rot": British slang meaning nonsense or foolishness.

  • That excuse is complete tommy rot. (Total nonsense.)