Need mildly derogatory term for an Englishman in 1870.

BarbaraKE · Feb 27, 2011

Hi all:

Thanks in advance for any help. I'm drawing a blank on this. I need a mildly derogatory word (or short phrase) for an Englishman that an American might have used in 1870. Nothing definitely insulting.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

A word going the other way might also be useful. I was thinking of using 'colonist' but, again, any other suggestions would be helpful.

Thank you.

pdr · Feb 27, 2011

?

Limey?

CACTUSWENDY · Feb 27, 2011

Royal blood noser.

Tea pot hugger.

Horse face.

Ol' Fashioned Girl · Feb 27, 2011

Googled 'historical insults' and got this list. What you're looking for may - or may not - be there.

BarbaraKE · Feb 27, 2011

'Limey' sounds good. Can't believe I didn't think of that one myself. And a modern reader would understand it.

'Horse face'? 'Royal Blood noser'? Were these real insults?? I've never heard them.

And thanks Ol' Fashioned Girl. I tried to google this but the phrase 'historical insults' never occurred to me. <Slaps self on forehead>

Lil · Feb 27, 2011

Bloody sassenach?

Not mild when used by a Celt.

BarbaraKE · Feb 27, 2011

Thanks all!

'Limey' and 'Yank' it will be. (Maybe modified to 'yellow-livered Limey' and 'Bloody Yank' but I'm still thinking about that. <grin>)

Rep point have been given and I appreciate everyone's suggestions.

alleycat · Feb 27, 2011

"Not a gentleman" could also be used at some point.

L.C. Blackwell · Mar 22, 2011

Don't forget, it depends on the location (or the origins of your characters). What a New York businessman might call an Englishman he doesn't like, and what a cowpuncher in Kansas would say are likely to be very different. Ditto as to whether this is an upper or lower class Englishman, whether he's been in the Army or the Church, or whether he's a drayman from the back side of Seven Dials.

gothicangel · Mar 23, 2011

Lil said:
Bloody sassenach?

Not mild when used by a Celt.

Sassenach refers to a Scottish lowlander, it's a modern misconception that it refers to the English.

Of course the lowlanders have some choice words for the highlanders too!

Lil · Mar 23, 2011

gothicangel said:
Sassenach refers to a Scottish lowlander, it's a modern misconception that it refers to the English.

Of course the lowlanders have some choice words for the highlanders too!

Among the Scots, perhaps. Among the Irish it is generally applied to the English. (My father grew up thinking "bloody sassenach" was a single word.)

Torgo · Mar 23, 2011

Lil said:
(My father grew up thinking "bloody sassenach" was a single word.)

Ah, like 'Englandbattingcollapse'.

Dgullen · Mar 23, 2011

gothicangel said:
Sassenach refers to a Scottish lowlander, it's a modern misconception that it refers to the English.
!

I believe it's a corruption/variant of 'Saxonish'.

Need mildly derogatory term for an Englishman in 1870.

BarbaraKE

pdr

CACTUSWENDY

An old, sappy, and happy one.

Ol' Fashioned Girl

Hand? What hand?

BarbaraKE

Lil

BarbaraKE

alleycat

Still around

L.C. Blackwell

Keeper of Fort Blanket

gothicangel

Toughen up.

Lil

Torgo

Formerly Phantom of Krankor.

Dgullen

Ustom Ser Itle