_Yankee, Derivation of_ (Vol. iii., pp. 260. 437. 461.).--I send you a
Note on the etymology of this word, which I do not see noticed by any of
your correspondents:
"When the New England Colonies were first settled, the inhabitants
were obliged to fight their way against many nations of Indians.
They found but little difficulty in subduing them all except one
tribe, who were known by the name of Yankoos, which signifies
invincible. After the waste of much blood and treasure, the
Yankoos were at last subdued by the New Englandmen. The remains of
this nation (agreeable to the Indian custom) transferred their
name to their conquerors. For a while they were called Yankoos;
but from a corruption, common to names in all languages, they got
through time the name of Yankee."--_New York Gazetteer_, June 1,
1775.