subs. phr. (old).—In pl. = A term applied to the American troops during the Revolutionary war. The Marquis de Chastellux, in his Travels in North America, in 1780–82, says: ‘The name of BUCKSKIN is given to the inhabitants of Virginia, because their ancestors were hunters, and sold buck or rather deer skins.’ As applied to certain American soldiers, we are inclined to believe that from their wearing garments made of dressed deerskins the term was applied to them (BARTLETT).
