John = Jan (Jahn does not exist as a name), and Cheese = Kaas, not Kees, which is a name. Kaas is also pronounced differently, with the aa being more like the a in wrath.
that source should work on it4s Dutch, because those translations are terrible. Now that is what I call an insult. To the dutch!
Emiel
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Here's what aquick search yielded..
When the British took over New Amsterdam,renaming it New York there was a bit of animosity between the Dutch and the British settlers. Hence in english we have words like dutch uncle, dutch courage and dutch treat all starting as put downs of the Dutch. Cheese was a staple of the Dutch diet, and the British used to put the Dutch down saying "Look it's John Cheese". The Dutch used to throw this insult back at the British - John = Jahn, Cheese = Kees. Hence "Jahnkees" or Yankees was born.
I suppose we could have been called "Turkeys", given our dietary preferences, so it could be worse.
and with that, my fellow Yankees...
Let's eat!
Happy Thanksgiving to all nations
Tom Burke
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