[Origin uncertain.

1

  The tune is said to have been composed in 1755 by Dr. Shuckburgh, a surgeon in Lord Amherst’s army, in derision of the provincial troops (Hist. & Misc. Coll. New Hampsh., 1824, III. 217–18).]

2

  1.  The title of a popular air of the United States of America, considered to be characteristically national.

3

1768.  Jrnl. of the Times (Boston), 29 Sept., in Lossing, Pict. Field-Bk. Revol. (1851), I. 480. Those passing in boats observed great rejoicings, and that the Yankee Doodle Song was the capital piece in the band of music.

4

1775.  Pennsylvania Even. Post, 22 July, 317/2. General Gage’s troops are much dispirited;… and disposed to leave off dancing any more to the tune of Yankey Doodle.

5

c. 1775.  T. L., Yankee Doodle, or the Negroe’s farewell to America (song), in N. & Q., 1st Ser. V. 87. Yankee doodle, yankee doodle dandy, I vow, Yankee doodle, yankee doodle, bow wow wow.

6

1836.  Haliburton, Clockm., Ser. I. xvii. He … walked off, a whislin Yankee Doodle to himself.

7

  2.  A Yankee. Also attrib.

8

a. 1807.  J. Skinner, Amusem. Leis. Hours (1809), 78. Syne after him cam Yankie Doodle, Frae hyne ayont the muckle water.

9

1814.  Moore, Parody of Letter, 48. I might have withheld these political noodles From knocking their heads against hot Yankee Doodles.

10

1825.  J. Neal, Bro. Jonathan, xxiii. II. 319. One of your yankee doodle invitations, that,—happy to see you another time.

11

1830.  Scott, Jrnl., 5 Sept. (1890), II. 351. We have had … Yankees male and female, and a Yankee Doodle-Dandy into the bargain, a smart young Virginia man.

12

  Hence Yankeedoodledom, Yankeedoodleism, = YANKEEDOM, YANKEEISM (above).

13

1845.  Central Jrnl. (Kosciusko, MS), 7 June, 2/5. The English Journals give up the Texas question as a ‘gone coon,’ and begin to anticipate that *Yankee-doodledom will soon seek to annex California and other parts of Mexico.

14

1861.  Death of Lincoln Despotism (Bartlett).

        And hold them Abe Lincoln, and all his Northern scum,
Shall own our independence of Yankee Doodledom.

15

1836.  Fraser’s Mag., XIII. 468. The man’s whole life … was a long series of Frenchified *Yankeedoodleisms.

16