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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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pommy
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Mildly abusive slang term in Australia and New Zealand for am immigrant from Britain, and hence for anyone British. Its origin is unknown and all the main theories lack conviction. One is that it is short for 'pomegranate', which could be yelled as a rough rhyme for 'immigrant'; another is that it is a version of tommy (from *Tommy Atkins), introduced by Australian soldiers returning from the *Boer War; and a third that it comes from the initial letters of Prisoner of Mother England, referring to the convict settlers of Australia.
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