Yankee

[yang-kee]

noun

1. a native or inhabitant of the United States.

2. a native or inhabitant of New England.

3. a native or inhabitant of a northern U.S. state, especially of one of the northeastern states that sided with the Union in the American Civil War.

4. a federal or northern soldier in the American Civil War.

5. a word used in communications to represent the letter Y.

6. Military.,  the NATO name for a class of streamlined, nuclear-powered Soviet submarines, with 16 multiple-warhead ballistic missiles: first produced for the Soviet Navy in the 1960s; in service with the Russian Navy 1992–95.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a Yankee or Yankees.

   Yankee ingenuity.

Yankee

/ ˈjæŋkɪ /

noun

1. derogatory,  a native or inhabitant of the US; American

2. a native or inhabitant of New England

3. a native or inhabitant of the Northern US, esp a Northern soldier in the Civil War

4. communications a code word for the letter y

5. finance a bond issued in the US by a foreign borrower

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Yankees

Yankee

1. Originally a nickname for people from New England, now applied to anyone from the United States. Even before the American Revolutionary War, the term Yankee was used by the British to refer, derisively, to the American colonists. Since the Civil War, American southerners have called all northerners Yankees. Since World War I, the rest of the world has used the term to refer to all Americans.

The expression “Yankee, go home” reflects foreign resentment of American presence or involvement in other nations' affairs.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Yankee¹

An Americanism dating back to 1680–90 of uncertain origin; perhaps back formation from Dutch Jan Kees “John Cheese,” nickname (mistaken for plural) applied by the Dutch of colonial New York to English settlers in Connecticut

Word History and Origins

Origin of Yankee¹

C18: perhaps from Dutch Jan Kees John Cheese, nickname used derisively by Dutch settlers in New York to designate English colonists in Connecticut

Example Sentences

But as the Yankees sat at their lockers in stunned silence Wednesday night, trying to process the stench of yet another October disappointment, a disquieting reality began to set in.

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The New York Yankees, meanwhile, dealt with frequent bullpen meltdowns, incomprehensible lapses in fundamentals and frustrating stretches of inconsistency that frequently left them searching for answers.

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And most importantly, he didn’t allow a run, powering the Yankees to a 4-0 win that earned them a matchup against the Toronto Blue Jays in the division series, which begins Saturday.

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In a display of utter domination, he torched the Yankees in two contests over the weekend, going 6 for 9 with a pair of homers and six RBIs.

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But what he was still missing was a moment—a singular, unforgettable highlight that would live in Yankees lore alongside Mr. October, “The Flip” and Aaron Bleepin’ Boone.

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