tommy

¹ American  

[tom-ee] / ˈtɒm i /

noun

British.

plural

tommies

1. (sometimes initial capital letter) Tommy Atkins.

2. Slang. bread, especially brown bread, or rations, as formerly distributed to troops and workers.

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Tommy ² American  

[tom-ee] / ˈtɒm i /

noun

1. a male given name, form of Thomas.

2. Also Tommie, Tommye. a female given name, form of Thomasina.

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tommy British  

/ ˈtɒmɪ /

noun

1. Also called: Tommy Atkins.  informal (often capital) a private in the British Army

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Etymology

Origin of tommy

First recorded in 1775–85; by shortening

Example Sentences

The weapon in question was the tommy gun.

From National Geographic • Jun. 14, 2016

Modern-day bandits in developed countries are far likelier to use keyboards than tommy guns, remotely siphoning millions from the comfort and safety of another country.

From Forbes • Nov. 8, 2013

Central to the movie’s look, and feel, were those tommy guns, which the squad carried, but seldom actually used, in real life.

From New York Times • Jan. 4, 2013

Set in 1930s rural Virginia, the film is essentially a Western with tommy guns.

From BBC • May 19, 2012

The national feeling of the tommy resolves itself into this—here he is.

From "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel" by Erich Maria Remarque