phr. (American).—A humorous personification of the Government or people of the U[nited] S[tates]: cf. JOHN BULL. [Usually supposed to date back to the war of 1812.]
1835. R. H. DANA, Jr., Two Years Before the Mast, 127. She was called the Catalina, and, like all the other vessels in that trade, except the Ayacucho, her papers and colors were from UNCLE SAM.
1848. J. R. LOWELL, The Biglow Papers.
| Fer I hev loved my country sence | |
| My eye-teeth filled their sockets, | |
| An’ UNCLE SAM I reverence, | |
| Partic’larly his pockets. |
