> The British used cans captured from the "Jerries" (Germans) – hence "jerrycans"
Wouldn't that make them "Krautcans" ? I thought that "Kraut" was more common as a derogative for Germans.
Wouldn't that make them "Krautcans" ? I thought that "Kraut" was more common as a derogative for Germans.
English forms nicknames in a variety of manners. Shortening, often to the first syllable . . . . Addition of the diminutive suffix, usually -ie or -y. It is often added to the end of an already shortened name. This suffix connotes smallness or endearment.
I'm certain someone will object to the idea of soldiers having a term of "endearment" for the "enemy," and so I'll stress "smallness" rather than using a name with MAN in it.
0. https://www.etymonline.com/word/Jerry
1. https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/8767/changes-in-...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Atkins
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_(Soldat)
(Well, jerrycan just sounds better than krautcan or huncan; Even on this German site you are bying jerrycans [1] and not Wehrmacht-Einheitskanister; Still, in contemporary German the word Kanister is more often used than Jerrycan)
[1] https://www.kfzteile.net/angebote/?utm_term=jerrycan&q=jerry...