Cambridge, May 3. 1851.
_Derivation of the Word "Yankee"_ (Vol. iii., p. 260.).--Your
correspondent J. M., and M. Philarète Charles, are both incorrect in
saying that this derivation is not given in any English or American
work. In the _Poetical Works of John Trumbull, LL.D._, published at
Hartford (U.S.), 1820, in two volumes, in the Appendix, appears the
following Note:
_"Yankies._--The first settlers of New England were mostly
emigrants from London and its vicinity, and exclusively styled
themselves the English. The Indians, in attempting to utter the
word _English_, with their broad guttural accent, gave it a sound
which would be nearly represented in this way, _Yaunghees;_ the
letter _g_ being pronounced hard, and approaching to the sound of
_k_ joined with a strong aspirate, like the Hebrew _cheth_, or the
Greek _chi_, and the _l_ suppressed, as almost impossible to be
distinctly heard in that combination. The Dutch settlers on the
river Hudson and the adjacent country, during their long contest
concerning the right of territory, adopted the name, and applied
it in contempt to the inhabitants of New England. The British of
the lower class have since extended it to all the people of the
United States. This seems the most probable origin of the term.
The pretended Indian tribe of Yankoos does not appear to have ever
had an existence; as little can we believe in an etymological
derivation of the word from ancient Scythia or Siberia, or that it
was ever the name of a horde of savages in any part of the world."
I some time ago thought of sending you a copy of this "Note," but had
forgotten it, until recalled to my memory by reading J. M.'s extract.