Quote:
Originally Posted by daveintaiwan
A false etymology common in both Australia and New Zealand is that pom originated as an acronym for "prisoner of (his/her) majesty" or "prisoner of mother England".
The Oxford English Dictionary strongly supports the theory that pommy originated as a contraction of "pomegranate". The OED also suggests that the reason for this is that pomegranate is extinct Australian rhyming slang for immigrant; it cites an article from 14 November 1912, in a once-prominent Australian weekly magazine The Bulletin: "The other day a Pummy Grant (assisted immigrant) was handed a bridle and told to catch a horse."
Can't argue with the truth... but does it mean that all immigrants are Poms?
I think I might defend the term Pom, if I heard someone calling an Indian, Greek or Finnish person a Pom.
"No, no. That's not right, only Brits can be called Poms!"
So, offended? Hardly...
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Interesting post, I also read that Pom was also short for pomegranate, well the inside of one to be specific. I read they used to call the Brits 'Poms', because when Brits were arriving in Australia, initially, they spent to much time in the sun and got badly burnt, very red, ie. the inside of a pomegranate! (Probably some truth in that.............)
Either way, give me the lifestyle and the opportunities, you can call me 'pom'egranate all day long.
Andy
