Uncle Remus

American  

[ree-muhs] / ˈri məs /

noun

1. an African American character in several books by Joel Chandler Harris who narrates animal tales to the young son of a plantation owner.

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Etymology

Origin of Uncle Remus

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Actor James Baskett was presented an honorary Academy Award for his portrayal of Uncle Remus, but the movie was perhaps best known for its Oscar-winning song “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah.”

From Seattle Times • Dec. 21, 2019

Kong of the South: Uncle Remus is back, with a cautionary tale about Br’er Ape.

From Washington Post • Aug. 31, 2017

Based on the Uncle Remus stories by Joel Chandler Harris, the film was set in the South in the late 1800s.

From Time • May 13, 2016

Harris’s contentious Uncle Remus character, the product of the journalist’s long hours spent listening to the animal stories of slaves, first appeared in Uncle Remus: His Songs and His Sayings—The Folklore of the Old Plantation.

From The Guardian • Jul. 16, 2015

Uncle Remus might well have heard of him, for some of El-ahrairah’s adventures are those of Brer Rabbit.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams