Johnny Reb

American  

[reb] / rɛb /

noun

Informal.

1. U.S. History. a Confederate soldier.

2. a native or inhabitant of the southern U.S., especially of one of the former Confederate states; southerner.

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Johnny Reb British  

noun

1. informal (in the American Civil War) a Confederate soldier

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Etymology

Origin of Johnny Reb

An Americanism dating back to 1860–65

Example Sentences

Fried chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy, coleslaw and cornbread from Johnny Rebs’ True South.

From Los Angeles Times

In 2015, he got involved in a successful effort to change the “Johnny Reb” mascot at his old high school.

From New York Times

Douglas, who said moving a statue like “Johnny Reb” simply outsources a hateful object elsewhere, said the Jefferson School’s proposal was meant to reimagine the realm of possibilities.

From Washington Post

At the courthouse, the cannons, “Johnny Reb” and the statue to Jackson are also gone.

From Washington Post

In Isle of Wight, Va., a statue of a generic Confederate soldier — people called him “Johnny Reb” — stood high atop a stone pedestal outside the county courthouse for 115 years.

From Washington Post